The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1905-01-27
The Governor General of st. Pet
ersburg Issues a Proclamation
Pacific in Character.
MAKES PROMISES OF REFORM.
The WOrkmen Are Assured That the
Car is Framing Certain Laws
For Their Benefit.
A System of State Insurance That
Will Protect Them From Want in
Case of Sickness or Disability
To Be Created.

st. Petersburg, Jan. 26.-Gov. Gen.
Trepoff and Minister of Finance Ko-
kovseff issued a proclamation which
reveals the governments plan for
breaking the strike, not only here, but
throughout Russia. The proclamation
is conceived in paternal tone, and
points out that honest wOrkmen, who
want to better their condition, should
have brought their demands to the
government instead of being misled
by agitators into affiliating with a
movement which is not confined to
economic aspirations. 1t invites them
to return to work, promising them, in
the emperor's name, a revision of the
general law so as to restrict the hours
of labor, the institution of a plan for
state insurance and otherwise to meet
their demands so far as the law will
permit, and guarantees them protec-
tion against interference by agitators.
This document will be followed either
by an imperial manifesto along the
same lines, in the hope of preventing
the spread of the strike, or by specific
proceedings by the local authorities
wherever strikes are in progress.
Shorter Hours of Labor.
By promising to yield the question
of the hours of labor, which is now le-
gally II in Russia, the authorities be-
lieve they will meet the main griev-
ance OF the wOrkmen. This, together
with the guarantee of protection, the
authorities hope will induce those
strikers who are Indifferent in politi-
cal demands and whose class they de-
clare constitutes a great bulk of the
men, to resume work.
1t is certain many strikers were
forced out against their wishes, but
the general effect of the proclamation
is still problematical.
Though the strikes have been
spreading to various towns, the situa-
ton, while disquieting, is not acute
anywhere. The great demonstration
with an accompaniment of bloodshed
which was anticipated at Moscow did
not occur, and the strike in the an
cient capital has not spread rapidly,
only about 10000 workmen being out,
according TO latest reports Cossacks
charged and dispersed a crowd of g.
600 workmen. Only few blank vol
legs were fired. The Moscow military
have received orders not to use ball
cartridges unless they are driven to
do so by the direst necessity.
Disorder at Riga.
In several Baltic province towns
there has been considerable disorder,
especially in Riga, where the military
are in complete possession. In the
streets of Helsingfors there was a re-
sumption of rioting with blOodshed,
some 80 persons being wounded. If
a general movement breaks out among
the Firms it is likely to take the form
of an armed uprising, as almost every
Finn has a weapon in his house.
Sir Charles Hardinge, the British
minister, received from Capt. Grove,
the British consul at Moscow, confir-
mation of press dispatch from Mos
COW announcing the public posting Of
a London telegram imputing the dis
orders to British and Japanese infiu-
enceS and he will ask explanations
from Foreign Minister LamsdOrff. 1t
is not expected, however, that the af-
fair will lead to a serious diplomatic
incident, and it is thought the Rus
sian government will disavOw respOn-
sibility for the course of Acting Chief
of Police Roudeneff The dispatch to
Ambassador Hardinge makes no men
ton of Roudeneff's offer to meet Capt.
Grove.