Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-21
REVOLT SPIRIT
In Russia Is Almost at
the Exploding Point.
Though St. Petersburg Officials
Say They Have Control.
Feeling Of Unrest in Russia ASSUMING
Alarming Proportions.

! st. Petersburg, Jan. 21.-2.30 A. M
With THE Russian capital seemingly on
he verge Of an incipient revolution,
thousands of Workmen parading the
streets. agitators and fanatics sowing
he seeds o! disorder. half the city I'm
darkness ana without fire protection.
| owing 10 walk-outs. the situation was
hourly growing more tense. when the
authorities decided. tonight. To adopt
energetic measures to preserve order,
prevent rioting and overawe the violent
minded. al the same time seeking TO
placiIIe the striking workmen by Of
fering satisfaction of their demands in
s"far as they are just and reasonable.
linus acting with combined filnness
ana moderation.
The government, tonight. augment
ii the garrison of the city with $500
cavalry ANA 1000 infantry from Tsar-
sknr- Selo ANA filled the streets. eSpec-
sally in the disalfected quarter, with
heavy patrols of soldiers.
The refusal to permit delegation
hf Nurkmen to present a petition to
emperor Nicholas at Tsarskoe- Selo
has made il known that the great
demonstration planned for Sunday,
With its unlimited possibilities for an
outbreak. will not be permitted to take
place. AT the same time. acting in con-
junction with Il conference of en-
i,!oy,s. it has been determined to Of
er concessions i'm the terms of EN-
Enjoyment which the employers declared
the ma jority Of the workmen would be
Inclined to accept if they We're guarar-
iced protection from the most violent
action.
Late tonight. il was reported that
h'ather GOpOn. the leader OF the work
zen, had been quietly spirited away
prom his bodyguard and taken into
>iStody. in furtherance of the pian To
i:sorsaniZ" the elements that are
threatening the peace Of the city.
The authorities believe that by these
trps they have III" situation well i'm
and and announce that they expect a
eaceful solution Of the problem.
The situation had entered the acute
stage. today. and the strike had as
'uncd an open political phase. The day
NaS one of intense excitement Mill
after mill and factory after factory
losed. Throngs Of workmen paradcd
lie streets and when their colleagues
refused to join them, broke down gates
ma forced out the men. The whole
Industrial center is idle. All the tex
lie mills and every printing office in
It. Petersburg are closed. One electric
Ight plant and one water plant have
shut down and over 100 900 men are
.ut.
Throughout the day workmen's meet
ings We're held at which inCendiary
speeches were made. the widest threats
being uttered as to what would come in
the event of the authorities and en-
nloNers falling to meet their demands.
While the government and employers
tcinporiZed. the telegra piers and rail-
road employees threatened to join the
Waik-out paralyZing the communica-
iionS Of the country. Many foreigners
are preparing TO send their families
AbroPd. Every newspaper in st. Peters
burg has been forced to suspend pub
LEGATION owing to the strike.
The suddenness Of the strike and the
far-r"aching nature of the workmen's
organization was largely a surprise to
re government and employers. At
first only Industrial demands were pre-
scented such as shortening the hours OF
labor ana Tor the Increase of wages, but
poNtltS anu ulScollIent, Onuer the in
element Of Socialistic Democratic ag-
itators. led 10 the formulation Of po-
litical demands.
petition was drawn up and lagely
signed which. going beyond the COM
plants on which the strike originated
attacked the whole capitalistic system
Of the country. bitterly assailed the
present government as one of bureau
cracy and demanded the reform of
both. asserting that death was prefer
able to existence under such conditions.
This was to have been presented per-
sonally to Emperor Nicholas.
deputatiOn of wOrkmen endeavor-
ed to see His Majesty at Tsarskoe-S elO
and appeal to him to come 10 the winter
palace. Sunday. to be present at an i'm
n'ense demonstration of the laboring
masses. 1t was planned to have all the
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