The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1905-02-02
PROMISES AID TO WORKMEN
Car ProcIaims Plan For Shorter
Work Day and Other Reforms:
DESIRESALL TO RETuRNToWoRK

Declares This to Be as NeedfuI to the
Good OF the Country ~ to Themselves
Proclamation Issued by Personal
Order of the Emper6r-Threat of De-
portatlon Made by General Trepon.
st. Petersburg, Russia.-Governor-
General Trepoff and Minister Of FL
nance Kokovsof issued a proclamation
which reveals the Governments plan
for breaking the strike, not only here.
but throughout Russia.
The proclamation is conceived in a
paternal tone, and points out that hon
est workmen, who want to better their
condition, should have brought their
demands to the Government instead of
being misled by ~agitators into -afhliat-
ing with a movement which is not
confined to economic aspirations.
It invites them to return to work,
promising them in the Emperor's name
a revision Of the general law so as to
restrict the houfS of labor, the inStitu-
ton of a plan for State insurance. and
otherwise to meet their demands so
far Is the law will permit, and guar
antees them protection against inter-
ference by a%gitators. 1t says: g.
"Workrlen should assist the Govern
ment in it's tranquilizing task on behalf
OF the bettcrmerts Of their conditions.
This can be accomplished in a single
manner-namely, by holding them
selves aloof from fome1ters of disturb
ance. who are alien to the workmel's
true interest and to the country's well
fare.
LET them return to their ordinary
labor, which is IS needful for the coun-
try as for themselves, for without it,
they, their wives, and children must
suffer distress; and, returning to work,
let the people be assured that their
needs are as near the Emperor's heart
as those of all his Majesty's true SUBJ
iects; that only recently, of his own
free will, the Emperor commanded that
the question of workmen's insurance
be taken up with the object Of secur-
ing them against diSablement or sick
ness, and that this measure does not
exhaust his Majesty's anxiety for the
~wcll-being of the working classes. for
at the same time the Emperor sent an
order i~nstructiDg the Minister of FL
AiitAlCe W oLdAt a law SAOI lcLluS Inc
hours of labor and for the elaboration
o6 such measures as will legaliZe work
mems discussions of their needs"
The proclamation. which. it is an
nculced. was issued by the Ernperor'S
order. Units preamble recouEts the ORR
gin Of the recent events, and declares
hat evil-disposed persons used the
workmen as their tools, leading them
cstray by false and impossible prom
iseS. 1t says:
The result of this criminal agitation
has been breaches of the peace. involv-
ing the inevitable Intervention of armed
forces. These evil-wishers have not
been restrained even by the difficulties
in which the fatherland is involved in n
time of trying wal, while the worknen,
their blind tools. have dicregardcd the
fact that demands were being made in
their name which had nothing in COM
mon with their needs, besides forget
ting that the Government always has
shown and ever shows itself consider
ate of their needs, and is now ready to
listen attentivcly to their just desires
and satisfy them wherever possible"
This document will be followed either
by an imperial manifesto along the
came lines, il the hope of preventing
the spread Of tic strike, or by specific
proclarlatiOnS by the local authorities
wherever strikes are in progress. By
promising to yield the question of the
hours OF labor, (which arc now legally
eleven in Russia. the authorities be-
licvc they will meet the main 5riev-
ance OF the workmcr.