The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-16
DICTATOR RUM0R
ALARMS B0URSE
Russian Capital Stirred by Re-
ports of New Uprising
-: in South.
Czar Counsels with His Cabinet
Over the Situation in
g. Russia.

St. Petersburg, Nov. 16.-5:45 p.m.-
A false emperor has suddenly made his
appearance near Penza and already his
followers number $4,000.
This is the startling report receiveds 8
this afternoon in dispatch from Sim
brisk.
Penza is in the heart Of the vast
region extending westward from the
V Volga, where agrarinn uprisings on a
large scale have been occurring, and if
the report turns out to be true that the
self at the head Of the peasantry, the
government will soon face, besides it's
other troubles, formidable agrarian
rebellion. It required year to sup
press the famous rebellion led by Pugat-
icheff, who impersonated the dethroned
and murdered Peter III in the time OF
Catherine II. That uprising was started
in the same region on the banks of the
Volga. --#--
Rumor of Dictator.
A panic prevailed on the bourse to-
Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholoaievitch,
commander of the imperial guards had
been appointed military dictator. There
was stampede of holders of industrial
stocks who hastened to unload. Gov
ernment lotteries fell 25 points to 400,
auu Imperial lOuIS uiOppcu W CoT2,
lower point than touched at any time
during the war.
M. Vouich, chief of Premier Witte g
chancellory, authorized the Associated
Press to positively deny the rumors
that dictator had been appointed. He
also. declared that it had not been de-
cided to declare martial law in st. Pc
tersburg.
Cabinet IN session.
+, A. special meeting of the cabinet, with
| Emperor Nicholas presiding, is being
held this afternoon at Tsarskoe-Selo to
consider the situation. This is the first
meeting Of the cabinet held under the
direct presidency of his majesty since
the creation of a responsible ministry
The emperor, who arrived at the palace
| at Tsarskoe-Selo last night from Peter
hof, called today's meeting upon Count
Witte s suggestion.
| Yesterdays meeting of the ministers
at Count Witte's residence in the an
mex Of the winter palace was prolonged
until O'Clock this morning After it
ended Count Witte decided to make a
personal appeal to the workmen anSl
drafted the following, which was sent
today to the factories, mills and other
works and posted thruout the industrial
! section: e.
| W1tte Appeals to workers.
"Brother Workmen: Get to your
work. Cease making disturbances and
have pity on your wives and children.
Do not listen to bad advice. The en-
peror has ordered us to devote special
attention to the labor question: For II
this purpose his majesty has created a
ministry Of trade and commerce which
must especially seek to establish just
relations between workmen and eniploy-
ers. Have patience. All that is possi-
BILE will be done for you. Listen to
| the advice of man who sympathizes
with you and wishes you well.
/ The Workmen's Reply.
| When the above appeal was read to
the workmen at the Westinghouse
works, the leaders replied:
i "Witte promises us soft bed, bnt
hard one.'
Like the workmen of other factories,
the Westinghouse employees Informed
the manager that the strike would pro-
ceed until Saturday, when it would be
decided whether to continue it or call
it off.
; Outlook Improved.
The outlook is much less threatening
today, the general strike promising to
J collapse within few days, The appea
! to the country to Join in the movement
: met with no response, and the dissen
2 sions in the workmen's council are In
creasing.
, 1t is now apparent that extremists
| took the occasion to order a genera
t strike hastily and without due prepara
7 tisn, in the belief that the whole coun
3 try would rise at their bidding ant
continue the revolutionary movement
TT. ID &ho
of general strike as a weapon will
: which to terrorize the government, thu
{, leaders believed they could invoke i
r at moment s notice, but popular sym
t pathy failed to respond and the leader
u are reluctantly compelled to admit tha
: they cannot force last-ditch fight, bu
must content themselves with calling
+ the present strike a demonstration. =
g Toilers Opposed Strike.
e While the organized workmen of 81
u Il Petersburg obeyed the order to strike
$ many did so grumblingly. In the fac
of winter, and the necessity of provid
ing for their families. many of them di
not want to stop work. At the Russo
American Rubber Works this mornin
a antistrikers beat off and drove away
j strike deputation, which came. to orde
the workmen out.
None of the papers, except the Off
$ cial Messenger, appeared this morning
f but the printers of each newspape
J. themselves published fly sheets an
IS nouncing that the strike was for. tn
r purpose of abolishing the state of sMg'
t, the death penalty and martial la
Is thruout Poland.
VI It is now definitely established tina
cry set up by the socialist leader
y against the execution of the Kronstad
l. mutineers was premature, as their trial
k have not yet actually begun.
s. The snowstorm which began las
r night is still raging today. There al
l. many. patrols in the streets, but the cit
is quiet.