The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-02
RUSSIANS NUT
 ALL |CNORANT I WorEingn'n Hold Remarkable Meeting at St Petersburg UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION President of the Gathering Reviews Affairs With Lucidity, Comparing
 Conditions of Workmen In
 Other Countries.
UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION

St. Petersburg, March 1.-People's pal ace was the scene of a remarkable con vention today, when workngmen repre- senting 16O factories of St. Petersburg met for the first time in thei, lives with freedom of speech and assembly guaran- teed them. These workingmen are 25O primary electors, who, on March 3, will select fifty of their number as members of the mixed economic commission of which MT Schidlovski is president. The convention unanimously adopted a resolution to refuse to participate in the proceedings on March unless the gov ernment pledges the release of workmen who have been arrested since January 2, that the members of the committee be given absolute freedom of speech and immunity from arrest on account of the expressions of opinions, and the proceed ings of the commission be published un- censored
 Marked By orderllness. Prior to meeting in Peoples palace the delegates representing seven groups met in seven different halls. and for four hours discussed the situation. The meet ings everywhere were marked by orderli- ness and absence of incendiary speeches. Outsiders who were present were struck by the intelligent grasp of the subject displayed by the speakers and the quiet demeanor and the respectable appearance of the workmen.
 The masse convention began at p. m. A chairman and a vice chairman were elected. but throughout the meeting the proceedings were marked by primitive ness and ignorance of methods of con- ducting meeting.
 One of the earliest speakers, wheel l1.. | k1 tLusiasm when he insisted that before proceeding to elect representatives to the commission they must insist on the liber- alton of more than 5000 working men, who have been arrelted since January p In connection with the strike movement. The speaker said these men were treated by the government criminals. and it was the duty of the meeting to stand by their comrades No one knew. he said what would beco:4e of these men who were un- der arrest. Tie meeting must demand full liberty of persons. full liberty of speech. liberty of domicile and immunity from punishment for anything that might be seid by representatives. Continuing, the speaker demanded liberty of press to pub lisn reports of the commission. The same rights he said. must be accorded to worlxingmen in the provinces They must have MT. Schidlovsl1is assent before pro- ceedng to the election of delegates to the commission
 Resolution Unanimously Carried.
 These demands were recorded by the secretary of the Schidlovsli commission and then they were drafted as a resolu- ton and unanimously carried. The reso- lution concludes with the statement that unless the demands are granted by D. m., March 3, they will refuse to elect fifty representatives, and if granted ex- ception of the condition is to be pla- carded on the forty walls.
 Reviews Workmen's Condition.
 The president of the convention re- viewed with remarkable lucidity the con dtion of the St. Petersburg workmen. He said they must have the right to strike, which is the most important weapon of the proletariat. Under the present laws workmen are powerless. He described American, English and German trade unions and contrasted them with the con ditions in Russia. He pictur sd starving men begging on their knees for means to support their starving families. and said that If they had money and the right to organize they would be strong, whereas with the famished families and without organization their hearts failed them
 He demanded the abolition of the Rus
 
 sian passports system. whereby, he said, men were reduced to slavery. He pointed out that out of his earnings of $3.25 a week a workman was forced to pay s5.S7 annually for a passport.
 Religious Topic Causes Fernent.
 The speaker referred to the necessity for freedom of religion. This reference ccused considerable ferment, and for half an hour the hall was a babel of con fusion. A number of men rushed to the platform and protested. They said they were not there to discuss religion. These found much opposition from the audi ence. It was impossible for the chairman to do anything, as he was ignorant of rules of procedure and allowed every one to talk at once; but as the business of the meeting was really over. adjournment was secured, and the delegates filed out of the hall stili arguing the religious phases of their demands.
 Notwithstanding the difficulty arising from this ignorance of methods of parla- mentary procedure the convention plain ly showed that representative Russian workmen are able to intelligently dis cuss public ai,airs.