The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-01-21
HOUR IN RUSSIA IS
ABOUT TO STRIKE
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
been forced to suspend publication ow-
ing to the strike.
The suddenness of the strike and the
far-reaching nature of the workmen's
organization was largely a surprise to
the government and employers. Start
ing with the walkout of a few thou
sand employees OF, the Putiloff Iron
works, due to purely industrial causes,
1T spread rapidly through the laboring
classes of ST. Petersburg and became
general. At first only industrial de-
mands We're presented, such as short
enlng the hours of labor and for in
crease of wages; but poverty and dis
content, under the Indictment of So
ciailstie democratic agitators, led to
the formulation of political demands
Attacks capitaIistic System
A petition was drawn up and largely
signed which, going beyond the conn
plants on which the strike originated,
attacked the whole capita1istic system
OF the country, bitterly asSailed fhA
present government as one OF bu-
reaucracy and demanded the reform
OF both, asserting that death was pref
erapie to existence under such condi-
lions. This was to have been present
ed personally to Emperor Nicholas.
reputation of workmen endeavor-
ed 10 see his majesty at Tsarskoe Selo.
ana appeal to him to come to the win
ter palace Sunday to be present at an
immense demonstration of the indus
trlal classes. 1t was planned to have
ali the workmen in ST. Petersburg,
headed by their leader, the priest
Gopon, in full canonical garb, march
10 the palace and assemble in the great
parade ground in front of the palace
and there present the petition to his
majesty. The deputation, however,
VIII be refused admission to TsarSkoe
Selo. The government believes this
Will render meeting on Sunday i'm
possible
The employers, after conferences with
the ministry of finance, which was the
nrst to recognize the gravity of the
situation, determined to offer conces-
slons in wages and other conditions of
LABOR TO individual employees, but de-
ciared it was impossible to grant an
elght-hour day without general legis-
lation affecting competitors and price
regulations for piece work.
Gopon Soul of Movement
The priest George Gopon is an inter-
estlng personality. He is idolized by
the workmen, who, since the beginning
OF the strike, have furnished him with
a bodyguard. He has been accom-
panied everywhere by a score of Two
schlks and has not been sleeping at his
own nome for week for fear of the
very contingency of arrest by the po-
lice, which is reported to have already
happened. AS peasant swine herder,
when boy, he showed such capacity
Tor learning that he was sent to the
FoltaVa ecclesiastical seminary to be
educated as a monk
His leaning toward politics led to
the exclusion from the seminary, and
TINS exclusion prompted desire to
get close to the people and share their
lot. He was determined to become a
priest in distinction from monk, and
overcame many obstacles, finally being
graduated from the st. Petersburg
ecclesiastical academy. He then took
up work among the Iaboring classes,
whose leader he speedily became He.
shows an evident genius for organiza-
ton. Father Gopon is believed to be
the heart and soul of the whole
movement.
Altogether TIA works in st. Peters,
burg have been closed by the strike
The management of the Putiloff Iron
works, where the trouble began, posted
notices last night ordering the en-
ployes to receive the pay due them to-
day and resume work This is an I'LL
timatum, and there is apprehension of
conflict. A minority of the workmen
are willing to return to work, but the
majority are determined to prevent
them.
Palace Attack Fades
In the midst of the fever of excite
ment over the strike situation the Incl
dent at the winter palace on Thursday
Is attracting a secondary considera-
ton.
Sensational reports of widespread
conspiracy and wholesale disaffection in
the army seem to be without founda-'
ton. Grand Duke Sergius Michaelo-
witch, in his preliminary reports, shows
that the caisson of the battery con-
tanned charges of grape in readiness
for possible emergency such as to
rake streets in case of rioting, one of
which was introduced into gun in
front of the saluting charge. The gum
ner's are under arrest and their ante
cedents are being examined.
The military authorities are inclin-
ed to believe that the incident was the
work OF two men, one Of whom in
serted the missiles while the other
framed the gun. An eyewitness has
reported that he had seen cannoneer
carefully training the gun, but this
does not agree with the statement
made by Grand Duke Sergius that the
gun must have been pointed down
ward, as the charge struck the ice,
ricochetting and two balls entering the
imperial pavilion. One ball also pierre
ed a palace window, others striking the
facade of the palace or actually flying
over the palace and dropping around
the statue of Alexander 1. in the palace
square beyond.
Most Think 1t Designed
Special Gable to The Globe
ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 20.-Most
of the st. Petersburg correspondents
of London newspapers adhere to the
theory that the .Neva incident" the
shooting of grapeshot in saluting the.
car, was the result of deliberately
planned attempt on the cars life.
The Telegraph correspondent says:
have made exhaustive inquiries,
with the assistance of two court digni-
taries, and the unimpeachable conclu-
sion arrived at is that the substitution
OF filled cartridge for blank car
fridge was the result of mistake