Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-13
100000 Socialists With
10000 Sympathizers
Hold Monster Meetings and
Attempt Several Parades.
Crowds Broken Up by Officers.
Many Reported Injured.

Berlin. Jan. 12.-The determination
Of the Socialists to secure direct uni
versal outrage combined with their
Indignation against Chancellor Won
BueloH's court declaration refusing
their demand gave rise to an unusual
scene and a monster popular demon
stration, accompanied by disorders in
the streets of the Prussian capital In
which 10000 organized Socialists par
ttcipated, while 5000 sympathizzers
from time 10 time actively Joined in
the manifestations.
One Of the most remarkable features
of tocay's uprising was the number
of women who engaged in the DEM
constructions, and they appeared even
more earnest in their activities than
the men. The authorities took the
sternest measures to prevent dis
order the strictest precautions TO pro-
tect tho Assembly and other public
buildings and Prince Won BueloW's
residence. against the outburst Of fury.
Groups in the streets were dispersed
In the most vigorous manner and coll
hs!Ons between professions CT mani
festants and the police resulted in the
injury of considerable number OF the
denonstraters but so far as is known
no fatalities occurred. The police re-
Trained from making arrests only in
the event of extreme violence.
Notwithstanding the police commits
slOners warning that repressive meas
ures would be applied. many thou
sand Socialists gathered in the morn
int of
the various districts of the capital
and thence proceeded in groups, sing
ing revolutionary songs, towards the
eight halls in the city where mass
meetings had been announced.
Frow 10 O'Clock in the morning the
entire police force had been on duty.
Two hundred men with officers were
hidden in the fire stations and large
bodies We're held in reserve at the po-
lice stations. while public buildings
were requsitioned also, SO the police
force was quartered to act in any
emergency. In the clubhouse of the
Landtag. before which the dernonstra
ton In Friday occurred. a heavy guard
was stationed. No group of more than
two pedestrians was allowed to pass
on any pretext. The Chancellor's
palace on Wilhelm strasse was on
tircly cut off by cordons Of police while
the envlrons of the imperial palace,
with the square In front were closed
to the public. Squads of police, both
on foot and mounted patrolled the
central thoroughfares
The Socialists showed great deter
mination In their attempts to hold
professions. although the police made
enGertic endeavors to prevent this.
Long before noon, the time fixed to be-
gin the meetings, all the halls were
completely packed and the police drew
up in force around tho doors to hold
the crowd in check. The speakers did
not advise violence. but declared that
II violence occurred the responsibility
would fall upon the police and the
privileged class.
Resolutions favoring universal suf-
frage and a secret ballot were adopt-
ed by acclamation, after which the
audience streamed into the streets.
The police Immediately attempted to
dispersG the throngs, which showed
an evident Intention to march in pro-
cession towards the palace square. In
most cases, the professions were soon
broken up. Two formidable columns
however, marched as far az Alexander
Platz. within u short distance of the
Emneror's palace. where the police
charged them. using the fats Of their
sabres freely and inflicting many in
Jurles. Eventually they succeeded WITH
the greatest difficulty in scattering the
demonstrators. Who retired hooting and
cheering IRONICALLY towards Inter Der
Liden. Thousands of spectators al.
ready had gathered there from curiosi.
ty and the police followed the broker
ranks cf the paraders. clearing the en-
tire thcroughfare rs far as Branden-
burg Gate. where most of the people
ned rapidly along the paths to Tiergar.
ten. Many of them. however. escaped
along the side streets
Later some thousands Of the demon.
strator2 gathered short distance fro,r
Chancellor Won Buclow's residence and
began shouting down the chancellor
who had driven through into Friedrich
strasse. Their attitude became SC
threatening that both the mounted and
root police charged them fiercely, strik
ing right and left with the fat of their
sabres. Scores of the demonstrators
were knocked down ard trampled upon
and the great crowd at length was
broken up into small groups. among
whom there were many injured. An
other serious collision occurred al
Jungfern bridge. where many suffrac G.
lists suffered Commissions. Thousands at
tempted to reach Berlin from the
suburbs after the meetings there. but
round every thoroughfare barred.
Towards evening quiet was restored
IN the center of the city. but several
small groups marched in the OUTLYING
streets. singing the "Marseillaise." The
main force of the police was withdrawn
at night. hut patrols continued to rre-
vent groups from forming.
In the suburbs during the day IA
other meetings that were held attract
ed even greater crowds of men and
women than the meetings in the city.
Bath Anvil: Editor Durham of the
richmond Bee and his team If
ccIShty bowlers was in town Monday
evening and attempted to take home