The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-05
RUSSIA ON EVE Of
GREAT STRUGGLE
Nearly Seventy Thousand Work.
men Have Now Struck, and
End Is Not Yet.
LIFE OF THE STATE
MAY BE In DANGER
Gar Seems Not to Realize
Great Gravity of Exist
ing Conditions.

ST. PETERSBURG, Aug 4.-With a
general strike declared and the country
apparently on the threshold of q gi-
gantic struggle, minor issues fade in
the background. II the strike inaugu-
rated today gathers sufficient headway
to endanger the life of the state it has
virtually been decided that Grand Duke
Nicholas NicholaIvitch will be named
commander of all the troops in the en-
pIre, "where martial law exists,
which would be tantamount to the de-
creeing of o military dictatorship. 1t is
possible, however, that the Government
will not be driven TO this extremity, as
the showing made today by the st. Pc
tersburg proletariat was not impressive
Although nearly 10000 workmen are
reported TO be out at nightfall, many
Of the men appear to be entering the
struggle with heavy hearts. The spor-
taneity with which practically the en-
tire nation arrayed itself against the
old regime last fall is lacking; the en-
durance of the people has been sapped
by the long strain, the sympathy of the
more conservative Liberals has been
alienated by fear OF revolution, and
the lowest elements of the population
have been organized into what ara
known as Fblack hundreds - and are
ready to enter the fght on the side OF
the Government if the signal is given.
Leaders Not III Harmony.
Dissensions also are rife among the
leaders over the opportureness Of the
battle. But these will probably be
shortlived IL the response of the
country shows that the nation indorses
the movement Moscow and st. Peters
burg, or rather ST. Petersburg. are ex-
pected to decide the issues. The rail
readers, upon whom the initial success
A., -
yet formally ordered strike. On the
Interior object of the proletariat lead
ers, which at present is masked, must
depend the attitude of the troops. II
the military supports of the Govern
ment stand up as they did at Svea-
borg and Cronstadt the leaders ac-
knowledge that the game is lost, but,
even so. they declare that defeat, if it
forces the disaffected portion of the
army to show its colors, will only pre-
pare the way for final victory. The
wayerirg OF the artillerists at Cron-
stadt and the attitude of a major por-
ton of the crew of the armored cruiser
Panayat Azova, which remained nomi-
nally loyal, and which they believe
would undoubtedly have thrown its lot
with the rebels IL the rebels had re-
ceived the expected support from the
Reval fortress, they cite as being in
their favor, and they are confident that
II put 10 test thousands of soldiers
will refuse 10 fire on the people and
that weak spots will develop IN tho
army where the Government least ex-
poets them.
Trusting in the Army
While the authorities are anxious, they
manifest equal confidence that the army
will not fall the Emperor in a crisis and
that the strike VIII prove failure. In
deed, the faction now IN control seems
to welcome an immediate test in the
conviction that il will be able to scotch
the revolution for long time to come
The weakest point In the revolutionary
armor IS believed 10 be lack OF compe-
tent leaders.
Tonight brought increneed excitement
throughout the industrial sections OF the
city. Although the police are reinforced
by mounted patrols in the central dis
tcts OF the city. all Is quiet there. In
the workmens quarters, which the AS
sociated Press representative visited.
there was ferment. Dragons and Co.'S
sacks were in evidence in the principal
streets, and police plckets. armed with
rifles, were at almost every corner
Nevertheless the correspondent heard
orators addressing crowded meetings at
many places. The police displayed open
sympathy with the men, turning their
Workmen Are Aggressive.
On Basil island the workmen have be-
gun TO close the shops and hnve even
stopped cabs. turning the occupants OF
them into the streets and instructing
the drivers to return home.
Searchlights from cruiser at the
Baltic works and from the roof OF the
building are sweeping the Neva, and sew
eral torpedo-boats built In the United
States are scurrying up and down the
river No collisions OF Importance were
reported UP to midnight. There Will DO
10 newspapers published tomorrow ex-
cept the Novoe Vremya, whose men do
not belong 10 the union. The caemen
have agreed TO strike Monday
Little Money on Hand.
So far as ascertainable the revolu-
tionists have no great supply OF funds.
The leaders say that the major portion
of what they had has been "eonfls-
Gated -
Secret information was received
here today 10 the effect that the work
men g council OF Moscow proclaimed
strike there today, The railroad men
have not yet issued a proclamation
calling n strike. but the leaders expect
to call one not later than Tuesday.
The revolutonists claim to have pos
tive information that a conference OF
the chiefs or the military ana secret
police was held here last night at which
the question whether troops will obey
orders to fire on the people was con-
sidered The officers expressed grave
doubt as TO whether the soldiers, esPe-
cially those of the guard regiment,
would obey without provocation The
revolutionists add that it was arranged
that Government spies shall give the
necessary provocation by firing on the
was therefore prepared by the revpM-