The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-22
INDUSTRY PARALYZED
Streets Blocked, Buildings Barred, the
The Great Wheels Of Newspaper
Presses Still. The Authorities
Claim to Have the Situation in
Hand, But There are Fears of a
Political UpheavaI and Throughout
the Empire Flies the Cry, Strike.
CIV Associated Press

st. Petersburg, Jan. 81. 2:30 a. Mt
saturday. 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 walkouts, the
situation was hourly growing more
tense when the authorities decided to-
night to adopt energetic measures to
preserve order, prevent rioting and
oVerawe the violent minded, at the
same time seeking to placate the strik-
ing workmen by Offering satisfaction
OF the demands in so far as they are
Just and reasonable, thus acting with
combined firmness and moderation.
The government tonight augmented
the garrison of the city with $500
cavalry and 1000 infantry from Tsars-
koe Seloe and filled the streets, espe-
cially i'm the dfsaffected quarters. with
heavy patrols of soldiers.
The refusal to permit a delegation
CT workmen to present a petition 10
Emperor Nicholas at Tsarkskoe Seloe
has made it known that the great
demonstration planned for sunday,
with its unlimited possibilities for an
outbreak, will not be permitted to take
place At the same time, acting in con-
junction with a conference of en-
pioyers, i has been determined 10 offer
concessions in the terms Of employ
ment. which the employers declared
the great majority of the workmen
uonld be inclined TO accept if they
were guaranteed protection from the
more violent faction.
Late tonight it was reported that
Father Gopcn, the leader Of the work.
Inen, had been quietly spirited away
from his body guard and taken INTO
custody in furtherance of the plan to
disoreaniZe the elements that are
threatening the peace of the city.
The authorities believe that by these
steps they have the situation we'll in
hand, and announce that they expect a
peaceful solution of the problem.
The situation had entered IN acute
stage today, and the strike had assum-
sumed an open political phase. The
day ~as one of i.tense excitement.
Mil after mill and factory after fac
tory closed. Throngs of worKmen
paraded the streets and when their
colleagues refused TO join them broke
down the gates and forced out the
men. The whole industrial centers are
idle. All the textile mills and every
printing office i'm st. Petersburg is
closed One electric light> plant and
one water plant has shut down and
over loo, 600 men are out.
Violent Threats Made.
Throughout the day workmen' S
meetings were held at which incen-
diary speeches were made, the widest
threats being uttered as to what wouId
come in the event of the authorities
and employers failing to meet their
demands. The nervousness ana dread
OF what the next few days might bring
forth was increased by reports that
the workmen of Moscow. kieff,
Klharoff, K;shineff and other large
cities in the interior might join the
movement While the government
and employers temporiZed the tele-
graphers and railroad employers
threatened TO join the ,walkout, para
lSZing the communications of the
country. 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 workmen,s or
ganization was largely a surprise to
the government and employers. Start
ing With the Walkout of n few thou
sand employees of the Putiloff Iron
Works due to purely industrial causes,
lit spread as rapidly as a confiagratton
tbro,ob tho laDOripp classes