Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-11-20

duce movement for an eight-hour
day.
ST. Petersburg, Nov. 90 las a. m
After the severe reverse which they
suffered early yesterday morning when
at the end Of a seven-hour debate. the
council of workmen decided to abandon
the industrial strike, the leaders of the
extremist Socialist factions Of the st.
Petersburg workmen are again engaged
In 4 hard and apparently losing fight
in defense OF resolution for an eight,
hour day. which was the slogan of last
weeks strike, but which was abandoned
at the last moment in favor OF an APP
peal for the lives of the mutlneers at
Cronstadt and the liberty of Poland,
When the council convened last night
Socialist representative introduced
an amendment to the resolution calling
off the strike, providing that the men in
returning to work hereafter labor only
eight hours, laying down their tools at
O'Clock in the afternoon instead Of 6,
While insisting on the same rate Of pay.
Encouraged by their earlier victory, the
conservative leaders at once opened a
vigorous opposition to the resolution.
pointing out the determination OF the
employers to regard any attempt TO
obtain shorter hours by revolutionary
means as the signal for lockout Of the
great mass Of workmen Of ST. Peters
burg and that they were in opposition
TO entering on d prolonged combat Of
endurance at the very outset of long.
cold winter.
a number OF orators even questioned
the wisdom of an eight-hour day itself,
declaring that Russia at present was
not ripe for 1t, while others who are
in sympathy with the movement for
shorter day, declared that II would not
be wise to fritter away their strength
at this time when a great decisive COM
bat IN January was imminent.
At ! o'clock this morning the debate
was ON in full swing with no signs Of
abatement. the decision seeming large
ly to hinge on the question as to wheth-
en- the owners would stand to their guns
and shut down rather than reduce the
number of hours.
Apprehensons that the defeat OF the
reds in the council might inspire them
to take violent measures yesterday
against the troops or the merchants
who refused TO close their places OF
business Saturday when ordered by
the leaders. were happily without foun-
dation though rumors OF collisions be-
tween workmen and troops IN the Vasl-
iostroV and Putiloff districts were In
circulation. At police headquarters,
however 1t was said that there had
been no collision, though perhaps few
shots might have been fired IN the air
by over exuberant demonstrators.
Nevertheless the patrols in the streets
were doubled yesterday, These were
generally commanded by nom command
ing officers showing that in spite Of the
rumors OF dlsaffection among the troops
the government was not afraid to trust
the soldiers Of the guard at large with
out commanding officers.
The high sounding proclamation with
which the council Of workmen an
nounced the end Of the strike, declar-
ing that demonstration" had served
It's purpose by saving the lives OF the
mutlners at Cronstadt, while Of course
It is principally blind to cover defeat.
as the trials Of the mutiners are still
in progress Is at the same time shrewd
tactics for use in the propaganda which
the council Is actively pushing, among
the army and navy Such a claim,
however. cannot disguise the fact that
the strike was inaugirated to compel
the government not only to pardon I'M
condltionally the mutlners, but to abol-
ish martial law IN Poland, and 10 COM
pei the calling OF q constituent assem-
bly,. none Of which objects has been
achieved.
The refusal Of the affiliated organiza-
tions in the Interior to respond to the
call and the revol, OF many OF the bet
ter class Of wor6men here against the
dictation % political agitators and
walking delegates by no means repre-
SCENTS the full measure OF the real de-
feat OF the strike movement The
strike, by alternating public sympathy
and opening the eyes OF intelligent Lib
erals and Moderates to the fact that the
first duty OF the hour was 10 stand by
the government In It's efforts TO tram
quillze the country and 20 make head
against the tide OF Socialism and rev.
olutiOn which was threatening Russia
with anarchy, aided greatly In the for
nation Of the new law and order party,
which has now sprung into formidable
being.
Interest has now shifted to Moscow,
where the 2emstvo congress opened yes
terday. The members OF the new party
from all parts OF the country have gone
there to make a fight In the congress
for union OF all the conservative and
Liberal elements TO hold up the hands
Of Count Witte, to condemn the pollti-
cal strike, TO seek further political sal
walton through the doors opened by the
manifesto though Il is neither expected
nor desired that the Constitutional
Democrats viii abjurc their program,
while Joining In the movement to aid
in the restoration OF tranquility. II Is
expected that a sharp combat will de-
velop with the large faction OF the
zemstvolsls which Is arraycd with the
Socialists. The result Of the congress
e. awaited with the deepest interest
The failure OF the strike has shown
the country as q whole how little SYM
pathy there Is with Poland In her de-
mand for complete autonomy. At Mos
COW the railroad men refused 10 strike
on the ground that they ala not svm-
plthi2e with the Poles IN their struggle.
II seems that In that part Of Russia the
people remember only too well the end
less wars with tho Poles and connot
forget that the white ca gle OF Poland
once waved from the nnnacles OF tho
kremlln. so sacred 20 Moscow The pos
sihilItv OF the revival Of the ancient
KINGDOM NJ Poland IT, therefore viewed
with dsp'easure while the Pan-slavists
and even the Liberals are afraid OF the
soec.er OF possible Acknowledgement