The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-16
Bitter Gold Keeps Russian
 Strikers Indoors
PANIC RE|GNS IN THE CITY
British Embassy Has Advised the I'm mediate Removal of Women and children-Wtte's cabi-
 net Holds Session.

St. Petersburg November 16-Q2:35 a. m1-A fierce notheast blizzard and snow which blew down on St. Petersburg to- night prevented bloodshed in the Rus sian capital. The bitter cold by keeping the strikers indoors did more to prevent disorders than did the Cossacks, who were patrolling the streets. Heavy military re- serves are stationed in all the districts, but up to midnight there was no rioting. There were rumors of collisions in various parts of the city. but on investigation these turned out to be false. The social democrats had an impress sive response on the part of all organ nations of workmen to the solidarity in the struggle with their Polish comrades for autonomy, and to protest against the execution of the mutinous sailors at Cronstadt. The men walked out of all the big mills and factories, and the em- ployes of the Baltic and Warsaw rail- roads, the printers and other classes Of laborers struck, but the shops in the cen- ter of the city were not closed. Troops took charge of the electric light stations, which were operated by sailors so that the city was not placed in darkness to- night.
 Believe Strikers lII-Advised.
 No dispatches have arrived from the in- terior, however, to show that the work men in other cities are responding to the demand for cooperation and dissension has broken out among the leaders, some of whom believe the strike to be nasty and ill-advised and who say that If 1t does not succeed the result will be loss of prestige. At meetings tonight this faction urged the leaders to announce to- morrow that the strike was only intended as a demonstration, but the radicals, whose aim Is to keep up the revolutionary agitation at all hazards, refuse to listen to such counsel. They insisted that it was vitally ne, .asary for the success of their propagaAe6 among the army and the navy that they should get credit for saving the lives of the mutiners and that if they could force the government to eecede from its position regarding Poland, they would have it by the~ throat. At strike headquarters the reports were being circulated but the leaders refused to admit that the question of abandoning the strike has not yet been raised.
 Panicky Feeling Renewed.
 The situation has caused renewal of the panicky feeling among the inhabi- tants whose nerves were already shat tered by the events of the last fortnight. and hundreds of persons who had just returned are again leaving for Finland. The foreign residents are becoming more and more alarmed. and many of them are hastily preparing to go abroad for the winter. In case the Finish social ists should join their Russian comrades and tie up the Finish railroad, the only egress would be by water, and the freez- ing of the gulf of Finland last night hence would close the exit The foreign embassies share the public alarm, and the British embassy is advising the im- mediate removal of women and chill dren.
 There are all sorts of wild rumors about interference by the foreign pow CTS in circulation, and the Bourse Ga zette prints report that all the great powers have joined in notification to Russia that they intend to interfere to prevent anarchy. This is as false as the story circulated that MT. Eddy, the American charge d'affairs, has telegraphed for warship and the cruiser Minneap- oils was now proceeding hither. The American embassy has not asked for warshp and has not been advised by the state department that one is coming.
 Witte's Cabinet in Session.
 Count Witte and his cabinet were in session throughout the afternoon and evening discussing the situation, and number of prominent liberals were called in for conference. Grand Duke Nicholas was present part of the time. The possi- bility that the government might be com pelled if the sltution grew worse to de- clare martial law in St. Petersburg was considered. but as far as has been learn ed no immediate decision in this matter was reached.
 While the League of Leagues Is dis posed to back up the strike, the workmen are undoubtedly alienating much public sympathy by their recklessness. Many liberals openly declare that the strike Is a tactical blunder which may prove dis astrous, but their temperate counsel Is rejected.
 M Hessen, editor of the Pravou, and one of the staunchest of the liberals, and who was one of the famous delegation that tried to prevent bloodshed January 22 and later was arrested and lodged in the St. Peter and St. Paul fortress, while clnging stoutly as ever to his ad- vocacy of constitutionalism, believes the present salvation of Russia can be work ed out through the Emporer's manifesto of September 90, when the douma meets, but openly expresses the fear that the strike may ruin all by strengthening the reactionary forces. M. Hessen said to the Associated Press:
 Ruin Emancipation Movement.
 
 q am convinced that a prolongation of the strike will ruin the emancipation movement, as it is sure to drive into the ranks of the reactionaries a large section of society that is now with us, but the sympathy of which will be alienated. I fear we are being hurried along into anarchy. The struggle at present should be directed toward the organization of parties and programmes of opposition. Once we are united the government must yield to our demands"
 In government circles 1t is recognized that the situation in Poland requires a skilful hand at the helm. Governor Gen eral Scalon will probably be replaced by a man of Count Witte's choice. The name of General Menske is mentioned in this connection, but 1t Is doubtful If he will accept the office under present condi- tions.
 In response to inquiries Count Witte is said to have reiterated his assurances that the Jewish question will be referred to the douma for settlement, and he is also said to have declared that the Elm peror's will for the realization of the reforms announced in the manifesto of Co., tober 20 are iudexfblo.