Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-02-04
CAR PROMISES
WORkMEN REFORMS
Russia's Ruler Receives DeputatiOn
and Says He Will Aid Them.
WILL INVESTIGATE GRIEVANCES

WILL INVESTIGATE GRlEV ANCES
St Petersburg. Feb. 2. - Personal
assurances of his intention TO amel-
lorate the conditions and remove the
causes, i'll so far as they are eco
nomic. which led To the recent strike,
were delivered by Emperor Nicholas
yesterday to workingmen representing
all the leading factories of St. Peters
burg. who at his invitation journeyed
to Tsarskoe-Selo and We're received
in audience in the hall of the Alexan-
der palace, where he has his winter
residence.
This interview face to face with
their little father" in whom their
faith has not been shaken by the
events of the bloody Sunday of jan
uary %. has had a far greater and
more reassuring effect than any num-
Der of proclamations by ministers and
governor generals, and the worl<men
of st. Petersburg are now generally
inclined to accept the promises of
Governor General Trepoffff and Fl
nance Minister Kokosoff at their face
value The gift of the imperial fam
lily of $4,000 to aid the families of
the victims of the conflict on January
% also has had an excellent effect,
and as the news slowly permeates
the laboring classes of Russia it ia
expected that it will make them con-
tent to wait for the promised re-
forms.
Like a wave caused by the falling
of a stone. the strike movement. how
ever, is spreading over the great sea
of Russian industrial life; and while
St Petersburg and Moscow. where
the trouble began, are now placid, the
workmen of Poland and other prov
inces are not yet calm, and the ripple
has reached to far-off Irkutsk and
other Siberian towns.
Emperor Nicholas adopted the ira
ditional fatherly tone in his talk with
the workmen yesterday. He chided
them for allowing themselves to be
misled into engaging in movement
imperiling the internal order OF Rus.
sia and aiding the foreign foe. and for
attempting to demand by force what
he otherwise would be willing to do
voluntarily. The workmen received
the royal assurances of reform with
cheers, and after lunch at the i'm
perial table returned to st. Peters
burg in the best of humor to report to
their fellows, as enjoined. the words
of his majesty. No attempt was made
by them to present their desires,
which already are sufficiently evident
On arriving at the palace work
men were admitted to one of the halls.
The emperor entered the hall accom-.
panied by Grand Duke George Mix
hailovitch. General Hesse, the minis
ter tof the imperial court and the COM
mandant of the palace. The work
men bowed deeply to the emperor,
who said: "Good-day my children .
The workmen replied: Eve wish
your majesty good health"
The emperor then said: II have
summoned you in order that you may
hear my words from myself and com
municate them to your companions
The recent lamentable events with
such sad but inevitable results have
occurred because you allowed your.
selves to be led astray by traitors
and enemies to our country. When
they induced you to address a peti-
tion to me on your needs they de-
sired to see you revolt against me
and my government. They forced you
to leave your honest work at period
when all Russian workmen should be
laboring increasingly in order that we
might vanquiSh our obstinate enemy.
Strikes and disgraceful demonstrations
led the crowds to disorders which
obliged and always will oblige the au-
thorities to call out troops. AS a re-
suit innocent people were victims. l
know that the lot of the workmen
Is not easy. Many things require i'm
proyement. but have patience. You
will understand that ii is necessary
to be just towards your employers
and to consider the condition of our
industries. But to come to me as a
rebellious mob in order to declare
your wants is a crime In my solici-
tude for the working classes will
take measures which will assure that
everything possible will be done to
improve their lot and secure an in
vestigation of their demands through
legal channels. l am convinced of
the honesty of the workmen and their
devotion TO myself. and | pardon their
transgression. Return to your work
with your comrades and carry out the
tasks allotted to you. May God assist
you
After leaving the palace the depu-
tation proceeded to neighboring
church. where they prayed, and, after
kissing ikons, placed lighted candles
before the shrines. Subsequently they
were given dinner in building which
formerly was the high school of Tsar-
kne-Selo
Vote On Statehood Bill February