Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-11

Dec. J.-AnCtlcr CRISIS Is at hand IN !
VoiVinS the indefinite prolongation of |
the strike. the probable Immediate pre- |
cipit3tion of Il general strike through |
out Russia and . possible final strug- |
gle between the government ana the |
proictariat
This sad change for the worst is the |
result of the shedding of the first blood |
in the telegraph. this evening. almost |
simultaneously With the action of NJ |
DurnoNo, minister of the interior, ill
throwing down the gauntlet to the |
labor organizations By arrrstng NJ |
kruStalCif, president of the executive
committee of the Norkmen'S Council, |
without warning.
About , o'clock, several companies
Of COssackS clattered through the ;
streets leading to the headquarters OF
the council in Targovia street. Having
barred the approaches. 4 force. of troops
and police surrounded the building. af-
ter which secret service men rushed
in and seized kruStal; if. The luttcr
made no resistance and the affair WAS
conducted quickly. 1t was Impossible
for kruStalrff to conceal the papers Of
the organization in which the police
evidently expect t. find evidence prov
ing the ultimate object to be an armed
uprising against the government.
y disturbance in which two strike
breakers We're killed and Il policeman
ana several others wounded, occurred
ut the same hour in front of the gener-
NJ poStofiicc. The strikers for two days
have been seeking to persuade the vol
Untecr and regular carriers to refuse
TO work. At the door of the building,
today, the strikers, enraged by the re
fuSal of the volunteers to quit. drew
knives. when q carrier attempted to
defend himself with a revolver. Both
the carrier and companion were fa-
tally stabbed and sank dead on the
spot. \ squad of police was stood off
by the strikers and Workmen who SYM
pathiZed with them. Both sides eX-
changed a fierce fusilade during which
a policeman and several workmen We're
wounded.
AS the strikers We're withdrawing Z
Cossack patrol came gal!oping to the
rescue. one of the strikers turned ana
threw an initiation bomb and the Cos
sacks wheeled in order to avoid what
they presumed to be deadly missile.
The crowd managed to get into an open
courtway close to the door and to es-
cape.
News of the arrest Of krustaleff Gre
ated an immense sensation among the
) Workmen. All the Socialists. labor and
| kindred organizations are holding
meeting. tonight at which most inflam-
matcry speeches are being made in de-
nuncidtion Of the government and all
are talking of a general strike in or
der to save their leader.
| krustaltff as he is called, though
| that is not his right name. is regarded
as the brains of the revolutionary
NOV ement. He has displayed genius in
| organizing both the industrial and pO-
| liticaI strikes which nave terrorizcd
| the government. His offer Of financial
support TO the telegraphers, yesterday,
prevented collapse Of their strike.
Iii some quarters it is believed that
the government, realizing that 4 great
! struggle with the wOrkmen and the So
ciaIst organize tons. is inevitable liz
January. arrested Krustaleff with the
| intention of deliberately precipitat TING
| matters by challenging the orGaniZa-
lions before they were fully prepared.
! This show of strength also gives color
! to the report that the douma election
| law " hiCh is now expected will be
| promulgated, next week, is to be fol-
| lowed by energ.tic measures TO re-
! store order evch # it be necessary to
| declare martial .ew in various parts Of
the empire, on the ground that it would
be impossible to hold the elections IN
| the present state of the country.
While such n program undoubtedly
would receive the sympathy of that
section Of TIE population when desires
| the restoration of order above every
thing. especially of the business inter-
csts like the manufacturers OF st. Pc
tersburg who, yesterday, passed a res
olutiou in favor of prosecuting the aSl-
tators to the full extent of the law, II
| would provoke the Socialists and reV0-
! Intionnries TO desperation. The moder-
nj, liberals also believe that such pol
lev would be suicidal and would be
s,;re Ia bring in it's wake repression.
then an armed conflict with the pro-
lctariat and finally bloody revolution
Many persons believe that Count
Wittn will rot lend himself to such a
program. that his fall Is imminent ana
that when he goes he VIII leave reac-
tion and revolution face to lace 1t Is
AGAIN runored that the premier ALREADY
has resigned and will be succeeded pF
! Gen. Count Alexis Ignatieviff. Another
ruulor is to the effect that Lieut. Gen.
| liistrhenko. one Of the heroes OF the
| VAR in Nanchuria, who IS now on ms
way TO st. Petersburg, will assume the
dictatorship.
The Associated Press is unable to
obtoin confirmation of any of these ru-
n,,rs. On the contrary. it learns from