Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-10-27
BLOOD SHED IN
RUSSIAN STRIKE
Strikers and Engine Drivers
Ia Open Con-
flict
IN ST. PETERSBURG YARDS
Revolver Shots Exchanged 6y OPP
posing Parties - Seems Certain
Services Of Witte viii De Called
Upon to Avert Crisis.

y. st. Petersburg, Oct. 26.-An en-
3Hounter took place last evening be-
tween strikers and engine drivers
who we're preparing to take out
trains. Revolver shots were exchang-
ed, and q number Of persons were
killed or wounded.
st. Petersburg, Oct. 26.-Confronted
by a situation more crucial than any
since the beginning Of the political
and social upheaval Of Russia and
which at the time this dispatch is
filed shows no signs of amelioration,
the emperOr's ministers, under the
leadership of Count White. spent al-
most day yesterday in conference
in the hope OF finding some way out
of the crisis into which the revolu-
tionists and the socialists have cast
the country.
The general strike on the railroads
Is complete except in few border
provinces, and st. Petersburg, Mos
COW and other large cities are almost
as closely beleagured as If they were
invested by besieging armies. At the
same time the industrial strike has
assumed large dimensions and the
turbulent elements in several locali-
ties are offering open resistance to
the troops.
The ministers, who had been In
session during the day, resumed their
meeting after a short interval for din
ner and continued their delibera-
ttions until long after midnight. The
result of these deliberations is not
known.
The ministers were summoned to
meet, not as the committee Of minis
tiers. of which Count White is presi-
dent, but as council of minister's, Of
which Count SolsRy is properly the
chairman, and the selection of Count
White to preside. which was done by
a ministerial cabinet Is actually
though not formally an accomplished
fact 1t is understood that an edict
formally establishing a ministerial
cabinet, which will bear the old name
Of ''sonyet", or council, will be pub.
slished in the Official Messenger Sat
urday- next, together with an imperial
rescript addressed personally to
to Count White, entrusting him with
/ the simultaneously created position
|zof premier. There appears to be some
question as to whether the count will
take the portfolio Of france or that
Of the ministery of the interior.
st. Petersburg, Oct. 26.-Over half
Of European Russia is In the grip OF
striking railroad men and the strike
continues to spread rapidly in all
directions. The roads in the Volga
region are at standstill and yester.
day a general strike was proclaimed
on the two remaining lines running
out Of st. Petersburg. Before to-
morrow the capita, is expected to be
cut of from the outside world by way
Of the continent. This will also In
volve the suspension Of postal COM
munication.
The League Of. Leagues has seized
the opportunity to come to the support
i Of the railroad men and has adopted
resolution favoring strike of all
professions. The telegraph operat-
ors are joining in the movement and
the suspension Of railroad traffic 1t is
feared, will be followed by a complete
obliteration Of communication between
interior points The situation is
critical and pregnant of all sorts Of
dire possibilities. p
The factories in the affected Gis-
tricts have been forced to shut down
for lack of fuel, and Moscow espec-
tally faces not only food. but
water famine Fortunately st. Peters
burg will have communication open
through Finland
The social democrats. believe they
have the government at their mercy
since, with the railroads stopped, the
authorities are powerless to trans
port troops. This is all the more
serious as bloody collisions have al
ready been reported at various places
and a dangerous agrarian movement
has again broken out in the govern
ment of Samara.
The strength displayed by the So
cial democrats has amazed the au-
thorities, who we're taken quite as
much by surprise at the evidence of
their power as they were at the time
of the Gopon rebellion.