Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-18
A SUDDEN AWAKENING
Conservatives and Liberals in
Russia Aroused
AGAINST THE RADICALS
GOVERNMENT NOW ABLE TO
TAKE FIRMER STAND.
Witte Had Anticipated Reaction in
acknowledgements En-
ployes Received a Note.

ST. PETERSBURG, November 1S.-The
| sudden awakening of the conservative and
| liberal elements to the imperative necessity
for resisting to the utmost the attempt of
radicals and socialists, who are conduting
the present strike, to obtain the upper hand
has galvanized the leaders into action and
has started q healthy movement in favor
Of entirely cutting loose from the radical
wing.
NM. Dimitri Schipoff and Guchkoff and
other leaders of various groups, including
the constitutional democrats, have gone TO
Moscow to urge the zemstvo congress as
sembling there to unite all the forces which
desire to prevent anarchy in condemning
the political strike and to join in supporting
the government in it's efforts to restore
tranquility and Introduce the new regime.
The government is able to take firmer
stand because of this reaction in public
opinion.
Count Witte believed that such a reaction
must come, but he wisely waited until
public sentiment showed a disposition to
support the government before initiating
energetic measures, By his direction the
prefect of police Gen. Dedulin, issued the
proclamation yesterday instructing the
tradesmen not to yield to the threats of the
agitators and walking delegates who or
dered them to close their shops, and prom
ising the tradesmen police and military
protection
Note to Government Employees.
a government note was simultaneously
issued prohibiting government employees
from participating in organizations actively
opposing the government. 1t points out
that the restriction of political activity on
the part of government employees is not
SubverSiVe Of their liberties. but is i'm
perative to the maintenance of discipline;
calls attention to the fact that in free
countries like the United States pernicious
political activity on the part of officials
is inhibited, and recalls the fact that less
than fortnight ago the French chamber
of deputies supported Premier Reuvier's
decision not to permit the political organi-
"a tion of state servants.
The note is directed particularly against
the attempt TO organize In Moscow the So
ciety of Post and Telegraph Employees, the
avowed object of which is to compel the
convocatio of a constituent assembly and
whose members pledge themselves to DO
nate 80 per cent of their salaries to the
strike fund.
1t Is pointed out, would endanger the life
of the state, and every employe joining
the organization referred to will Instantly
be dismissed. The employees of the gov
ernment railroads are also threatened with
dismissal if they Join the strike.
The break in the ranks of the strikers in
Poland and the refusal of many organi-
cations in the interior. especially those of
the railroad men at Moscow, to strike on
account of Poland and the fierce dissen-
sions which have broken out among the
workmens leaders at st. Petersburg seem
to doom the strike movement to failure,
and temporarily at least must infict a de-
feat on the social democrats.
The government has taken the occasion
to officially deny that the measures taken
in Poland were in any way melted by Ger
many that any arrangement exists with
Germany upon the subject.
Notes.
It is reported that another manifesto
promising a general zemstov and local mu-
nicipal government to Poland may be is
sued shortly.
Owing to the better outlook the improve
ment on the bourse continued today, gov
ernment lotteries reaching 424 and imperial
As. S44.
Twenty-Five officers of the guard reg-
ments are reported TO have met a COM
mittee of social democrats at aristo-
cratic residence on the English quay last
night and to have informed the committee
of the progress being made by the revolu-
tfonary sentiment among the troops. While
many officers and men are siding with the
proletariat the officers told the committee
that none of The regiments were yet ready
to openly desert the government in a body
in q event of the conflict
The proclamation OF the prefect of police
had the desired effect in preventing the agi-
tators from trying 10 execute the threats
which they MADE laSt hlBht 10 compel the
closing of the shops, and also led to the
abandonment of the demonstrations planned
to take place In front of the prisons.
The leaders who favor continuing the
strike have had their hands full trying to in
fiuence the plebiscite of the workmen which
has been progressing in seven Industrial
districts throughout the day. The result
OF the vote will be announced at a meeting
of the workmens council tonight. The pre-
vailing opinion Is that the agitators are be-
ing outvoted and that the strike will end
on Monday.