Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-22
THE FIRST GUNS
Fired in the Struggle Which Will
Test Count Whites Strength.

st. Petersburg, Dec. u. 2.35 A. NJ
The first guns in the battle which may
determine the fate of Premier Whites
experiment with Moderate constitution
alism and introduce either reaction or
complete revolution were fired yester-
day at Moscow where the general
strike was successfully inaugurated.
The leaders of the government of the
prOletariat last night were making
their last preparations here for a gener
al engagement which will be on at noon
today. The workmen's council has been
sitting continuously since O'Clock yes
terday afternoon receiving reports and
issuing final orders. The leaders pro-
fess to be greatly encouraged at the
news from Moscow and the reports
from district meetings which were held
in all sections of St. Petersburg yester-
day, declaring that now there is no
question that the tie-up will be COM
plete. They admit that many of the St.
Petersburg workmen, especially the
married men, would prefer to continue
at work but they are counting on the
great majority favoring the strike to
swing the recalcitrants into line and
produce paralysis of industry even
more complete than during the strike of
January last. If their expectations are
| realized st. Petersburg today will be
isolated from the rest of the world with
| railroad traffic stopped and telegraph
wires and cables cut
The workmen's council last night is
sued proclamation declaring that the
government had cast to the winds the
| principles of the imperial manifesto of
| oct 30 and was now basinG itself on
| reaction, trickery and deceit The pro-
| clamatiOn ended with sunmoning all
the people of Russia to join in Il gcncr-
| al strike and not to cease their StruC-
| gle until the demands for Il constituent
assembly, universal suffrage the re-
| lease of the arrested leaders of the pro-
letariat. land for the pe;,san;ry. etc.
| are granted.
The editors of the Radical papcrs arc
determined to print the manifesto this
morning. 1t is utterly revolutionary i'm
its phrasing and consequently the
editors are taking infinite precautions
| to prevent the confiScation of the issues
| by the police.
The government leaders yesterday al
so devoted the day to reviewing their
|
sequence the consideration Of the pro-
! posed election law WAS not finished.
The final decisions will be reached at
another session of the cabinet to be
held at Tsarskoe-Selo Friday.
The first test Of the railroad strike
viii occur on the departure of the
| Berlin train from here at noon today.
| NJ. NemechaicfT, minister of communi-
| cations Will attempt to keep the foreign
communications open and the workmen
| will resist
| Indications are multiplying that tn.
| governments grim warming to the Dco-
| pie of the smaller towns to take tho
| Jaw into their own hands if the railroa d
| strike is called will bear fruit NJ.
| Nemechaieff is counting upon this as
| well as on financial reasons to keep
many of the petty employees in line.
At the meetings Of various liberal and
revolutionary organizations held last
| night the sentiment as a rule was in
| favor of the strike.
In response to Il number of requests
| from editors Of local papers who We're
| expecting their employees to strike the
workmens council has decided to allow
| the Radical organs to appear. In Mos
| COW, however, all the newspapers will
be compelled to cease publication.
The Physicians Union decided last
night that the dictates of humanity re-
quired the members to attend all sick
persons but it was resolved to devote
all fees received to the strike fund and
| to boycott all doctors not doing so.