The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-21
TROOPS CROWD STREETS
Government Forced, However,
 to Promise W0rkmen'S < Demands.
Starting With the Walk Out of a Few Men from Iron Works, 100000 Laborers are Now Idle in St. Petersburg, and Politics
 is Mingled With Ques-
 tien of Wages.

St. Petersburg, Jan. 21.-(2:3o a. m.) With the Russian capital seemingly on the verge of an incipient revolution, thousands of workmen parading the streets. agitators and fanatics sowing the seeds of disorder. half the city in darkness, and without fire protection, owing to waikouts, the situation was hourly more tense when the authorl- ties decided tonight to adopt energetic measures to preserve order, prevent rioting and overawe the violent minded, at the same time, seeking to placate the striking workmen by offering sat- isfaction of their demands. insofar as they are just and reasonable. thus act ing with combined firmness and mod eration.
 The Government tonight augmented the garrison of the city with 2,5oo cav airy and 1000 infantry from Tsarkoe- Selo and filled the streets, esplanades, especially in the disaffected quarter, with heavy patrols of soldiers.
 The refusal to permit a delegation of workmen to present a petition to Elm peror Nicholas at Tsarskoe-Selo has made it known that the great demon- stratlon planned for Sunday, with It's unlimited possibilities for an outbreak, will not be permitted to take place.
 Concessions to the Workmen.
 At the same time, acting in conjunc- tion with a conference of employers, 1t has been determined to offer conces- sions in the terms of employment, which the employers declare the great majority of the workmen would be in- elined to accept If they were guaran- teed protection from the more violent faction. '
 Late tonight it was reported that z Tsessal CiBJssts, tdc ieauef of the work men, hati been quietly spirited away from his body guard and taken into custody, In furtherance of the e<plan to disorganize the clements that are threatening the peace of the city.
 The authorities believe that by these steps they have the situation well in hand and announce that they expect a peaceful solution of the problem.
 The situation has entered an acute stage today, and the strike had as- sumed an open political phase. The day was one of intense excitiment Mill after mill and factory after factory closed. Throngs of workmen paraded the streets. and when their colleagues refused to join them. broke the gates and forced out the men. The whole in- dustrial centre is idle. All the textile mills and every printing office In St. Petersburg are closed. One electric light plant and one water plant have shut down and over 100000 men are out.
 Ineendiary Speeches Made.
 Throughout the day workmen's meet ings were held at which incendiary spa eches were made, the widest threats being uttered as to what would come in the event of the authorities and employers failing to meet their de- mands. The nervousness and dread of what the next few days might bring forth was increased by reports that the workmen of Moscow, Kieff, Kharkoff Kishinefe and other large cities in the interior might join the movement While the government and employers temporized the telegraphers and rail- road employees threatened to join the walk out paralyzing the communica- tions of the country. Many foreigners are preparing to send their families abroad. Every newspaper in St. Petersburg has been forced to suspend publication owing to the strike.
 The suddenness of the strike and the far reaching nature of the workmens organization was largely surprise to the government and employers. Start ing with the walkout of a few thou sand employees of the Putiloff Iron Works, dut to purely industrial causes, it spread as rapidly as conhagra- tion through the laboring classes of St. Petersburg and became general At first only industrial demands were|pre- sented such as shortening the hours of labor and for increase of wages, but = poverty and discontent under the ex- citement Of soclalistic democratic agitators led to, the formulation Of political demands.
 The Cry of the Oppressed.
 sl,-,w and v signed, which going beyond the com plaints on which the strike originated, attacked the whole capitalistic system of the country. bitterly assailed the present government as one of bureau- cracy and demanded the reform of both, asserting that death was preferable to existence under such conditions. This was to have been presented personally to Emperor Nicholas. A deputation of workmen endeavored to see his ma jesty at Tsarskoe-Selo and appeal to him to come to the winter palace Sun day to be present at an immense demonstration of the idle classes. It was planned to have all the workmen in St. Petersburg headed by their leader. the Priest Gopin. fin full gorge ous canonical garb, march to the palace and assemble in the great esplanade and in front of the palace
 The strike priest, Father Gopin, who was abducted by the police was going from assemblage to assembIage ad- dressing the workmen. It had been decided to hold a great mass meeting from all quarters of the city in the palace square at p. m. Sunday, Janua- ry 22. disregarding any opposition on the part of the authorities, even by armed force. The strikers agreed to attend the meeting unarmed said they were not willing to meet violence with violence. and declared they only wished the Emperor would see them and an- swer the petition.
 Father GOpin had undertaken to head the procession in clerical garb and carrying a cross.
 The strikers say they are ready to die in front of the palace. but insist