Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-03-02
Discomfort IS FED.
strike Throughout Russia Is Ar
Stunning Vast Political Phase.
PEASANT OUTBREAK IN The SPRING


st. Petersburg, Feb. 27.-Evidence is
Increasing that the strikes throughout
the empire and especially those In
Ct 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
d being fed and who are increasing
their demands with each new conces-
zion.
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 waiting some Sig
nal for concerted action. Fear is en-
tertained that this widespread agita-
tIon may be, connected with plan to
await possible peasant outbreak In
the spring, with which a general
ystrike will. be synchronized, the work.
men joining hands with the peas
ants, The election Of labor represen-
tatives to the imperial commission
which is to investigate the causes OF
6iscontent In st. Petersburg passed on
quietly yesterday,
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 In
the Caucasus the situation is extreme
~ bad, practically amounting to civil
war In Baku the inhabitants barri-
caded in their houses are petitioning
the central authorities at St Peters
burg for relief from the existing con-
dition 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
20 start the wheels Of industry. Pro-
prietors fear that the oil wells will be
utterly ruined II pumping Is suspended
much longer. Conditions In other
towns in the Caucasus are equally
desperate.
In Siberia as we'll as In the other
parts Of the empire, the government
has granted considerable concessions
70 railway employees, in some cases
according them reduction Of the
hours Of labor to nine a day. This
renders the situation Of private en-
ployers increasingly dlficult, as they
claim that 1t is impossible for them
20 concede 90 much.
Owing to the gravity Of the situa-
don in the Caucasus and apprehen-
sion based on depletion Of the district
troops for the war, the government
has appealed to the Armenian Catho-
lIcos to exert his personal infu.
ence to persuade Armenians to cease
their excuses. The Cathilocos went
% Farivan, where he exhorted the
people to remain tranquil.
All the Russian railways except the
Central Asian have been placed under
martial law.
A Soldier with Every Policeman.
Warsaw, Feb. 26.-Every policeman
on duty here is accompanied by asol-
der. The authorities, fearing a strike
BY the police, adopted this precaution
70 that in the event Of an officer leav-
lag his post It will not be unprotected.
The measure Is further intended to
guard policemen from possible attack
b. strikers. The police demand $3.50
ger month, the same scale that Is paid
m st. Petersburg. The present pay
hsre is 80 per month. The private
eOachmen and livery stable men here
struck. The strike Of street railway
employees continues. Some $4,000
strikers from the big iron mills will
rsturn TO work. all their demands hav-
ing been granted. These include
-mlne-hour day instead of ION hours
nnd an increase in wages Of from 5
70 Is per cent.