Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-10-30
GREAT GLOOM IN RUSSIA;
CAR MAY QUIT country
Great Railroad Strike Spreads Until
There Is Practically State of
Anarchy All Over Empire.

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 today a
general strike was proclaimed on the
two remaining lines running out Of st.
Petersburg.
Before tomorrow the capital is ex-
pected to be cut off from the outside
world by way of the continent. This
will also involve the suspension of rail-
road communication.
The League of Leagues has seized
the opportunity to come to the support
of the railroad men and has adopted a
resolution in favor of general strike
of all professions.
The telegraph operators are joining
in the movement and the suspension of
railroad traffic, it is feared, will be
followed by complete obliteration of
communication between interior points.
The situation is critical and pregnant
with all sorts of dire pos sibilities.
The factories in the affected dis
tricts have been forced to shut down
for lack of fuel, and Moscow especial
ly faces not only food famine, but a
water famine.
Fortunately st. Petersburg will
have communication open through
Fir and.
The British ambassador, Sir Charles
Hardlnge, who babe farewell to EN-
peror Nicholas yesterday, previous to
leaving st. Petersburg on a 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
steamship.
Telegraphic communication between
st. Petersburg and Kahrtoff is broken.
The workmen Of the Putiloff, Koljoino.
Alexandrovia and Nevsky works struck
this morning.
The Social Democrats believe they
have the government at their mercy.
since, with the railroads stopped, the
thorties are poweYless to transport
troops.
Four hundred and forty employees of
the Vienna Railroad have decided to
strike. The last train leaves Warsaw
at $3.50 this afternoon.
st. Petersburg, Got. 26.-After q
night Of inexpresisble terror, Russia to-
day is plunged into the deepest gloom.
Following the declaration by the work
ingmen yesterday afternoon of a gener-
al strike to reinforce the railway strike
which has paralyzed the industry of
the country, rioting and street fighting
kept st. Petersburg in state Of terri
BILE unrest all night. What makes the
situation seem hopeless is that the
crisis, apparently, is not yet reached.
So serious are conditions that the
czar is planning to leave Russia for a
two months visit to Denmark. The
czar's visit will be ostensibly to recup-
crate from the strain Of the last two
years, but in reality those behind the
government desire him out Of the way
and in a place of safety should an up
rising evolve itself out Of the present
labor difficulties.
Count Witte, according to informa.
ton from Peterhof, will hold an office
equivalent to that Of regent during the
absence of the emperor, anu will hold
full powers as head of the government.
| ministers Discuss Strike.
A meeting of the council of minis
ters was held last night under the pres.
idency Of Count Witte to discuss the
strike situation and the danger which
threatens the empire unless the move.
ment can be checked.
No attempt has been made to dis.
guise the fact that the government
faces crisis, end that only judicial
concessions to the strikers aid the
people generally can have any effect
in bringing order out Of the present
chaos.
| Since this warning was uttered the
situation has grown unmeasurably
worse. Thousands of additional men
are on the streets, where they become
the prey of agitators who try to incite
them to deeds of violence. If there
was danger in the situation then and
the stability of the Romanof dynasty
was threatened at that time, then it
may be stated that this danger has in
CREASED tenfold today and with it the
chances of the czsr losing his throne
have grown greater.
Gar Is Isolated.
The czar himself is victim Of the
railway strike, and the situation in
which he is placed we'll illustrates the
difficulty which the government may
have to face.
Nicholas is shut up at Peterhof, and
as no trains can be run it is impossible
fov him to return to St. Petersburg.
Communication with his ministers is
carried on by messengers on horseback.
Should an emergency arise calling for
the sudden moving Of large force Of
soldiers to Peterhof, it would be diff
cult to get them there in quick time.
The tie-up on the railroads has come