Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-01-25
RUSSIA FACES
MORETROUBLE
Strike OF Union Men Has 4 Very I'm
portant Bearing on the War In
the Orient.
MAY DELAY THIRD SQUADRON
Fear Of a Red Flag Demonstration
Situation is Full Of Oanger-Pre-
cautions Taken.

st. Petersburg, Jan. 1S.-The strike
situation is becoming very grave. To.
night there are $1,000 men out on
strike, and the movement is spreading
to the big cotton mills which employ
over $4,000 operatives. Meetings have
been called for tomorrow, at which
Socialistic Democratic leaders will use
their utmost endeavors to convert the
strike into vast political demonstra.
ton, which, at the present crisis,
might have most serious deyelop.
ments. The authorities are adopting
every precautiOn to avoid an outbl eak.
but the Socialist Democrats are press.
ing on the strikers, and there is great
danger of q collision with the troops.
which would he almost sure to be fol-
lowed with 4 red flag demonstration.
accompanied with great bloodshed.
The community is full Vt sensational
rumors and rioting is generally ex-
pected.
In conjunction with the Epiphany
celebration, which will occur tomor.
row, the meetings Of strikers will make
the day q critical one for the police.
Thus far, however, the strike has pre-.
served purely economic aspect. The
great industrial quarter Of st. Peters.
burg has the appearance OF an arm.
ed camp. The idle factories are sur.
rounded by cordons OF police, and pa
trolls OF infantry march about the
snow-c0vered plants.
Inc strikers are led by priest
named GApon, who is idolized by the
workmen and who rep. esents them.
Hitherto the workmen have been un-
organized and previous strikes in st,
petersburg have not involved more
than 10000 men. The strike leaders
claim to have funds enough to hold
out Tor a month, but this Is doubted
and the lack of money and the pri-
Nations OF winter and perhaps gov
eminent interference are expected to
make the strike short and sharp.
The strike has an important bearing
an the war in the far east, as every
days delay in completing government
contracts at the iron works means the
loss OF precious time in the starting
OF the third Pacific squadron.
Following are the demands of the
PutflOff works strikers:
Ffrst-The dismissal Of the fore
mEn, who is objected to by the union,
and the reinstatement of the men who
were discharged for belonging to the
union.
Second-Eight hours work per day.
Third-The valuation of work to be
made by joint committee of work.
men and foremen.
FOurth-The appointment of a joint
committee of arbitration.
Fhth-A minimum wage Of so cents
per day for unskilled male labor.
Stxth-Overtime work not to be oh. |
igatory, and to be paid for at double
wageR.
Sevenfh-The men not to bear the
,Ost of condemned work when not re.
'ponsible for it.
Elghth-A minimum wage of 65
,ents per day for unskilled female la.
'or. and the establishment of a creche
or children.
Ninth-Improved medical attend
nee.
Tenth-Improved sanitary condi-
ions In the workshops, especially in
he smithies.
Eleventh-Immunity from punish
nent for strikers.
Twelfth-The average rate of pay
uring the strike.
Today employees of the Neva Ship
uilding works decided to support the
trikers. Subsequently 10000 men Of .
he Neva works informed their man.
gers that they had gone out on a {
eneral strike. The situation is re- {
arded as threatening. The strike at
lie Neva works involves the suspen. !
on OF the construction of submarine I
oats OF the protector type, which {
as being carried out under the su-
ervision OF an American engineer,
nd also the work on two ocean going
essels similar to those of the vol
lteer fleet and several gunboats and X
rpedO boats, besides the preparation v
war material urgently required for L
aval and military purposes. The n
'mpletion OF the gunbOats and tor
edo boats had been ordered within q
70 months. Il
Large forces OF military and police s.
I've been sent to the works. 1t is
ared that the men employed at the fl
bukhoff steel works will join in the X
Ovement, thus adding 10000 to the Il
nks OF the strikers. el
One Of the cotton mills has joined C,
the iron strike movement and il II
e rest follow they will add nearly
hundred thousand men to the ranks III
the strikers. The best feature of al
e situation is that the iron and steel
'rks, which were working overtime, tn
ing to the government orders, are ia
'pOsed to meet the mems demands. al
The whole movement still remains ht
ictly in the nature OF trade dis tn
te. although the Social Democrats eli
; trying hard to give it a political
aracter. The authorities are TAX
the greatest precautions to pre-
1T disorders tomorrow, the feast of
Epiphany, especially around the ca
lter palace. where the emperor and G.
} whole imperial family have as CO
nbled for the ceremony OF blessing tn
waters. fo
It . meeting Of the workingmen with IS
distinction Of belief today, 1t was a
ided to support the strike. aa
he employees at the additional fac nj