The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-02-04
GAR MEETS WORKNEN
Tells Them He FOrgives Them and
Will Aid Them.
WILL INVESTIGATE GRIEVANCES


Population Received by Russia's Ru'
Ter and It is Expected They viii
Be Content to Wait For Promised
Reforms.
81. Petersburg. Feb ,. go Personal
assurances of his intention to amei
torate the conditions and remove the
rauses. in so far as they are eco
homie. which led to the recent strike
were delivered by Emperor Nicholas
Yesterday to workingmen representing
all the leading factories OF ST Peters
burg. who at his invitation journeycd
TO Tsarskoe-Selo and were received
in audience in the hall of the AleXan'
der palace. where ne has his winter
residence.
This interview face to face with
heir little father in whom their
.aith has not been shaken by the
events OF the bloody Sunday of Jan.
nary -. has had a far greater and
moIe roassuring effect than any mum
Der of prOclamations by ministers and
governor generals. and the workmen
of St Petersburg are now generally
inclined to accept the promises OF
Governor General TrepOffff and Fl
nance Minister KokOsof at their face
value. The gift of the imperial fam
lily of $4,000 TO aid the families OF
the victims of the conflict on January
- also has had an excellent effect,
and as the news slowly permeates
the laboring classes of Russia it is
expected that it will make them con
tent to wait for the promised re
forms.
Like a wave caused by the falling
of a stone. the strike movement. how
ever. is spreading over the great sea
of Russian industrial life; and while
81. Petersburg and Moscow. where
The trouble began. are now placid, the
wOrkmen of Poland and other prov
inces are not yet calm. and the ripple
has reached to far-On lrkutsk and
other Siberian towns.
Emperor Nicholas adopted the ira
ditional fatherly tone in his talk with
the workmen yesterday. He chided
them for allowing themselves to be
mised into engaging in movement
imperiling the internal order of Rus
sia and aiding the foreign foe. and Tor
attempting to demand by force what
he otherwise would be willing to do
voluntarily. The wOrkmen received
the royal assurances of reform with
cheers. and after a lunch at the i'm
perial table returned to ST. Peters
burg in the best OF humOr to report 10
their fellows. as enjOined the words
of his majesty. No attempt was made
BY them TO present their desires.
which already are sufficiently evident
On arriving at the palace work
men were admitted to one Of the halls.
The emperor entered the hall accom-
panied by Grand Duke George Mix
hailovitch. General Hesse. the minis
Ter tot the imperial court and the COM
mandant of the palace The work
men bowed deeply to the emperor
who said. 'GOOd-day. my children. -
The workmen replied: I'VE wish
your majesty good health"
The emperor then said: Il have
summoned you in order that you may
near my words from myself and com
municate them to your companions
The recent lamentable events with
such sad but inevitable results have
occurred because you allowed your
selves to be led astray by traitors
and enemies to our country. When
hey induced you to address a petit
ion TO me on your needs they de-
sired to see you revolt against me
and my government They forced you
TO leave your honest work at period
when all Russian workmen should be
laboring increasingly in order that we
might vanquish our obstinate enemy.
Strikes and disgraceful demonstrations
ed the crowds 70 disorders which
obliged and always will Oblige the au-
thOrities to call out troops. AS re-
suit innocent people were victims.
know that the LOT of the wOrkmen
8 not easy. Many things require i'm
provement. but have> patience. You
will understand that it is necessary
to be just towards your employers
and to consider the condition of our
industries. But to come to me pc a
rebeliOus mob in "rGei 70 declare
your wants is a crime. In my solicit
Jude for the working classes | will
take measures which will assure that
everything possible will be done to
improve their lot and secure an In
vestigatiOn of their demands through
legal channels. | am convinced of
the honesty of the wOrkmen ard their
devotion to myself. and | pardon their
transgression. Return to your work
with your comrades and carry out the
tasks allotted to you. May God assist
you"