The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-12-10
Preparing for a Fierce
Struggle in January.
A PARTIAL VICTORY
Salaries to be Increased, Though PO-
IitiCaI Demands Have Not Been
Granted. Government Circles
Grow Optimistic. RebeIIiOus
Troops Stay Officers.
(Bv the Associated Press }

ST. Petersburg, Dec. 7.-Eveiing,
via Edytkhunen. East Prussia. Dec. S,
A much more optimistic feeling pre-
walls in government circles at the
prospect of a complete collapse of the
postal and telegraph strike and the
definite passage of the danger that il
might be complicated by an immedi-
ate general strike throughout the en-
pire. The WOrkmen'S council and the
railroad mems affiliated organizations
this afternoon came to q final decision
that il would not be wise to employ
the supreme fighting tool except to
achieve the highest political ain1
and to reserve al their strength for
the great struggle projected for the
middle of January In the meantime
they will devote their energies to per,
fecting and extending their organiza-
tions and to the accumulation of theiI
resources. Without the support of
allies, with the meager fund of $40 :
600 exhausted and with many reluct-
ant and Doverty-stricken members re-
turning 20 work tho leaders of the
strikers union realize that they cannot
hold out any longer. At the same time
1t is reported that even in defeat they
have won partial victory in the
promise that their salaries. which are
on a very low scale will be increased
by the addition of $2.500.000 for sal
aries to the budget. Not anv of theil.
political demands however, have been
granted
A period of comparative calm last
ing a few weeks may now supervenC
and both sides will use it in prepara-
ton for the January struggle. The
,,o1 Cd ar 9lrp9 DIV niZinQ
a movement to defy the new press law
even before it is issued. rhe law abol-
ishes the censorship in cities, but not
in the country.
TO Relieve Discomfort.
AS the publishers have agreed to act
together there certainly will be an
other struggle Together with an eye
TO the future tho government is max
ing a great effort to relieve the discon-
tent in the army by removing the
causes of complaint. The sum OF
$1S,500,000 has been added to the
military budget for the improvement
of the soldiers food and clothing.
Though the Moscow Zemstvos say
they are ready to support Premier
WHITE on conditions laid down in the
discussions of the congress. M. Petrun-
kevitch who is credited with the am
the idea of co-oneration is now too
late. and that the only salvation for
the government is the retirement of
the whole White ministry and its re-
placement by "a ministry having the
confidence of the people
"The union of al the Russian peo-
pie" formed of all the reactionary or
CARNATIONS which participated in the
landlords congress at Moscow is dis.
playing great activity in founding
branches to resist the revolution ana
arming it's members to fight the
strikers. In st. Petersburg 5000 per-
sons have been enrolled and the city
has been divided into districts each
under a leader Tho result IS sure to
be fighting in the event of a general
strike.
In many regions of Russia the local
authorities are simply unable to any
longer protect the estates both owing
to the insufficiencY of the troops and
the temper of the soldiers. The mill
tary commanders have secretly noti-
fled the landlords that it is doubt
full whether the troops will fire upon
the peasants.
Rebels Kill Officers.
Hardin. Manchuria. via Warsaw.
Russian Poland Dec S.-Many officers
are being killed by rebellfous troops.
Reserve officers are not permitted
to return home. All messages from
Manchuria are censored.