Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1905-03-03
IN RUSSIAN empire
STRIKES ARE INCREASING BY aid
OF POLITICAL PLANS.
Look for a Peasant Outbreak in the
Spring When Workmen Will Join in
Monster Movement Against the Gov
ernment-Policemen Are Kept From
Going on Strike by Soldier Guards.

| is increasing that the strikes through
ont the empire, and especially those in
St. Petersburg, are not economic IN
their origin, but inspired by a definite
political plan. The government and
employers are embarrassed by the tao
tics of the workmen, whose discomfort
| is being fed and who are increasing
their demands with each new conces-
sion.
This condition is believed to have
been fomented by crafty political agi-
tators, who are stirring up the men,
and at the same time holding them in
leash, apparently awaiting some sig
nal for concerted action. Fear is en-
tertained that this widespread agita-
ton may be connected with plan to
await a possible peasant outbreak in
the spring, with which general strike
will be synchronized, the Workmen
joining hands with the peasants.
The situation in Riga is again re-
ported to be very serious. The. au-
thorities there apparently are unable
to cope with the lawless element.
Civil War in Caucasus.
In the Caucasus the situation is ex-
tremely bad, practically amounting to
civil war In Baku the Inhabitants, bar
ricaded in their houses, are petitioning
the central authorities at St. Peters
burg for relief from the existing condi-
tons of affairs. The government is
sending reinforcements of troops, but
while these may be able to stop the
reign of terror, they will be impotent
to start the wheels of industry. Pro-
prietors fear that the oil wells will be
ruined if pumping is suspended much
longer. Conditions in other towns in
the Caucasus are equally desperate.
Owing to the gravity of the situa-
ton in the Caucasus and apprehen-
sion based on depletion of the district
troops for the war, the government
has appealed to the Armenian Catho-
lies to exert their personal influence
to persuade Armenians to cease their
agitation. The catholicos went to
Avarian, where he exhorted people to
remain tranquil.
Stop the War, Is the Demand.
Strikes have broken out at the
Lugansk coal mine and on the Siberian
railway at Chita. The strikers at the
latter place demand that the war be
stopped.
Dispatches from Batoum report that
been instituted in the quarters Of the
workingmen.
In Siberia as well as in other parts
of the empire the government has
granted considerable concessions to
railway employees, in some cases ac-
cording them a reduction of the hours
of labor to nine a day. This renders
the situation of private employers in
creasingly difficult, as they claim that
it is impossible for them to concede So
much.
More Strike Talk at Moscow.
Postal Telegraph officials at Moscow
are threatening to strike unless their
demands improvement of their con-
ditions-are granted.
Warsaw Situation Worse.
Every policeman on duty at Warsaw
is accompanied by a soldier. The au-
thorities, fearing a strike by the po-
lice, ordered this precaution, so that
in the event of an officer leaving his
post it will not be unprotected. The
measure is further intended to guard
policemen from possible attack by
strikers.
The police demand s1.50 per month,
the same scale that is paid at st.
Petersburg. The present pay here is
Sc per month.
The private coachmen and livery
stable men here struck today. The
strike of street railway employees con-
tinues
Some $4,000 strikers from the big
iron mills will return to work, all their
demands having been granted. These
include nine hour day instead of
10 IL hours, and an increase in wages
! of from, < fo OK nor cont