Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-08-05
WORKERS ENTER STRIKE
WITH HEAVY HEARTS
Dissensions Rife Among Lead
erS Over 0ppOrtuneneSS of
Of Battle-Attitude of Army
Still PrObIematicaI.

St Petersburg, Aug. 4--With gem
'eral strike formally declared and the
country apparently on the Threshold
of gigantic struggle, minor issues
fade In the background II fthe stg.sr,
inaugurated today gathers sufficient
headway to endanger the life of the
state 1t has virtually been decided
that Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaie-
witch will be named commander of all
troops in the empire, where martial
law exists" which would be tanta-
mount to the decreeing of a military
dictatorship. 1t Is possible, however.
that the government will not be driv-
EN- to this extremity as the showing
made today by the ST. Petersburg pro-
letariat was not Impressive.
Although nearly 10000 workmen
are reported to be out at nightfall
many of the men appear to be enter
ing the struggle with heavy hearts
The spontaneity with which practical
ly the entire nation arrayed itself
against the old regime last fall is
lacking; the endurance of the people
has been sapped by the long strain,
the sympathy of the more conserva-
tive liberals has been alienated by fear
of a revolution, and the lowest ele-
ments of the population have been or
ganized into what are known as
Black Hundreds" and are ready to
enter the fight on the side of the gov
ernment If the signal is given.
Discussions also are rife among
leaders over the opportlineness of the
battle. But these will probably be
short lived If the response of the
country shows that the nation en-
dorses the movement Moscow and
st. Petersburg on rather St Peters,
burg alone, are expected to decide the
Issues The railroaders. upon whom
the initial success depends, although
committed have not yet formally or
dered strike. On the ulterior OBJ
ject Of the proletariat leaders, which
at present is masked. must depend the
attitude of the troops. If the military
supports of the government stand up
as they did at Sveaborg and Cronstadt
the leaders acknowledge that the
game is lost, but, even so, they de-
clare that defeat. II 1t forces the dis
affected portion of the army to show
It's colors, Will only prepare the way
for final victory. The wavering of the
tltude of a major portion of the crew
Of the armored cruiser Pamayat Azo-
va, which remained nominally Loyal,
and which they believe would un-
doubtedly have thrown its lot with the
rebels IL the rebels had received the
expected support from the Reval
fortress, they cite as being In their
favor and they are confident that Il
put TO a test thousands of soldiers will
refuse to fire on the people and that
weak spots will develop In the army
where the government least expects
them
While the authorities are anxious,
they manifest equal confidence that
the army will not fail the emperor m
crisis and that the strike will prove
dismal failure. Indeed the faction
now In control seems to welcome an
immediate test. in the conviction that
II will be able to crush the revolution
for a long time to come. The weakest
noint In the revolutionary armor Is
believed to be lack of competent lead
ers
Tonight brought Increased excite
nent throughout the Industrial sec
tlons of the city. Although the police
are reinforced bv mounted patrols IN
the central districts of the CITY. all Is
dulet there. In the workmens quar-.
ters. which the Associated Press ron.
resentatiye visited. there was fer
ment
Dragons and Cnssacks were IN evil
dence In the principal streets and po.
lice piekets armed with rifles. were N
almost every corner. Nevertheless thu
correspondent heard orators addressinl
crowded meetings AZ MANY nlac"e
The police displayed open sympathy