Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-25
IN GRIP OF STRIKE
Remaining Lines Are Now Tied Up
 at St. Petersburg.

sss ~se SsS~ 0-
 St Petersburg, Oct 25.-More than half of European Russia is in the grip of the striking railroad men, and the strike continues to spread rapidly in all directions. The roads in the Volga region are at standstill and to-day general strike was proclaimed on the two remaining lines running out of St Petersburg. Before tomorrow the capital is expected to be cut off from the outside world by way of the con tinent. This will also involve the sus- pension of postol communication.
 The league of leagues has seized the opportunity to come to the support of the railroad men and has adopted resolution in favor of general strike of all professions. The telegraph op- orators are Joining in the movement and the suspension of railroad traffic, 1t is feared, will be followed by complete obliteration of communication between interior points. The situation is critical and pregnant of all sorts of dire possibilities. The factories in the shut down for lack of fuel, and Mos COW especially faces not only food but water famine. Fortunately St Petersburg will have communication open through Finland.
 The British ambassador, Sir Charles Hardings, who bade farewell to En- peror Nicholas yesterday, previous to leaving St Petersburg on mission in connection with the proposed Anglo Russian understanding, was unable to start for England this morning because no trains were running. He will leave the capital on the first available steam CT
 Photographic communication between St Petersburg and Kharkoff is broken.
 The workmen of the Putlloff, Kal- joino, Alexandrovski and Nevski works struck to-day.
 The social democrats believe they have the government at their mercy, as with the railroads stopped the au- th0rities are powesiess to transport troops. This is all the more serious as bloody collisions have already been reported at various places and dan ger0us agrarian movement has again broken out in the government of Sa- mara.
 The strength displayed by the social democrats has amazed the authorities, who were taken quite as much by sur prise at the evidence of their power as they were at the time of the "gapon rebellion"
 The distress in the central provinces is greatly increased by the enforced suspensioHU Uf the famine relief work.
 Prince Hilkoff, the minister of rail- roads, whose appeals to the strikers at Moscow were so unavalling that he could not get an engineer to bring him to St Petersburg, but who with lirc- man stOking drove his own engine, ar- irving here black and dust grimed. is not blameable for the failure of the government to keep its promises made in the spring to increase the wages of the railroad men. That responsibility rests on the minister of finance Prince Hilkoff expects to meet the railroad delegates here, but they have already apparently burned their bridges at meetings held last night and which continued until dawn this morning, A dozen of these of the most enthusiastic character were held. The largest, which was held in the university, was attended by about 10.- GOO persons, including students who Fare making common cause with the workmen and whose leaders are mak- ing speeches in favor of a resumption of the students strike unless they are allowed to discuss political questions. The students Joined the railroad men in passing resolution in favor of the immediate convocation of a constitu- ent assembly elected by direct univer- sal suffrage and demanding that the laws governing labor be sanctioned by the representatives of the people and the immediate grant of politlcal freedom and declaring that thus only can an armed revolution be avoided.
 These resolutions were adopted af- ter . deputation which called on Count witte had reported. The count re- celved the-deputation as a private In. dividual. He spoke to them with his usual bluntness and told them plainly that some of their demands would be granted while the granting of others was impossible. Count Witte inform ed his visitors that law permitting greater freedom of meetings than al- lowed hy the laws of Italy and Aus a-Hungary and providing for free dom of the press had already been elaborated. Martial law on the rail roads. he said. was an anachroniSm which would be abolished. The de- mand for a constituent assembly. the count said. could not be realized nor could universal suffrage be admitted ne ali the people were not prepared to exercise the right of franchise. In this connection the count spoke Of the power yielded by capital in America where universal suffrage existed.
 He thought it possible to meet the demands for an eight hour day. ps- necially for outdOr workers md waru- Iy welcomed the general measures ad- vocated with the view of improving the condition of the workin9men o. pecialy In the way of schools. bospl- tals. etc
 Count WItte warned the dpDutation that n continuation of the strike could only result in bIooished either bv com pelIing the interfe-ence of the military or hy the famine stricken poDulaccs of the cities turning upon the strikers.
 Remember he said. ~fbe rnvern- nent may fall hut with it you win perish also bv playing into the hands of the bOurEeoisie you are lighting Tn conclusion Count Witte advised the men to rpfurn to work but his ad- rine however vss hewled down and fle resolution fo strike was adcptei Prince Hflknr believes that the strike ranuot he proirnrrd ss the mrn ore uifhnuf funds Besides fits he declares It Is impossible for the men