The news & observer., 1905-10-27
Ministers Seeking a Way
to Escape Disaster
ALL ROADS LIE IDLE
Large Cities as Closely BeIesguereG
as if Invested by Besieging Armies
and the Turbulent Elements in
Some Localities Offering Open
Resistance to the Troops
CIV the Associated Press. }

| ST. Petersburg. Oct. 25.-4 a. M
| (Thursday) Confronted by situa-
tion more crucial than at any since
| the beginning of the political and So
cial upheaval of Russia, and which
at the time this dispatch is filed, shows
| no signs of amelioration. the Emper-
ors ministers under the leadership of
Count Witte. spent nearly all of yes
tcrday in conference in the hope of
finding some way out of the crisis into
which the revolutionists and the So
cialiSts have cast the country.
The general strike on the railroads
is complete, except in a few border
provinces and st. Petersburg, Moscow
and other large cities are almost as
closely beleagurcd as if they were
invested by besieging armies. At tie
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 scs-
sion during the day, resumed their
meeting after hort interval for din
ner and continued their deliberations
until long after midnight. The re-
suit of these deliberations is not
known.
The ministers were summoned to
meet not as the committee of minis
ters of which Count Witte is president,
but as council Of ministers of which
Count Solsky IS properly the chair
man, and the selection OF Count Witte
to preside which was done by direc-
tion of the Emperor, shows that
ministerial cabinet is actually, though
not formally an accomplished fact. 1t
is understood that an edict formally
establishing a minister al cabinet.
which Will bear the old name of
"Sovyet" or council, will be publish
cd in tho Oncial Messenger Saturday
next together with an imperial re-
script addressed personally to Count
Witte. entrusting him TIL the stimuli
taneously created position Of premier
Few Routes Open.
The Finaldin railroad TO Helsing
fors and the steamers constitute st.
Petersburg's only means of communi-
cation with the outer world this morn
ing. The postal authorities are now
refusing to accept ordinary mail, and
commercial correspondence is at
standstill. The strike is complete in
the great factory region on both banks
of the Neva above the city, and in
several other industrial quarters.
Forty thousand men are out, but they
are conducting themselves in a most
orderly manner. The store clerks
union tonight proclaimed Il two
weeks sympathetic strike for polt
cal reasons, but it is probable that it
will be only partially obeyed. Prudent
inhabitants are laying in stocks of
provisions so as to prepare for amer
gencies. AS consequence the prices
of provisions have risen sharply.
Large meetings of Workmen Werc
held last night in the university and
the higher schools at which the SEN
timent was unanimous for contfnu-
ing the strike or the railroads to the
bitter end The proceedings at sever
al of the meetings were of a strongly
revolutionary character, the orators
calling on the auditors to rise and
shay all "Chinovis' and the police and
to meet tho troops with armed forces.
Thea, speeches were received with
enthusiasm. The police were power
less to interfere. the precincts of the
university being forbidden ground 10
them under an imperial ukaSe.