Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1905 — RUSSIA HAS GOT A MOVE ON AT LAST [ARTICLE]

RUSSIA HAS GOT A MOVE ON AT LAST

Responsible Ministry with a Premier Seems To Be an Accomplished Fact. GREAT STRIKE HASTENS EVENTS Edict Eatabliahing the New Order of Soon. Imperial Council Sits Long Considering the Criaig Caused by the Strike Whole Empire Tied Up. |. St Petersburg, Oct. 26. An encounter took place last evening between strikers and engine drivers who were preparing to take out trains. Revolver shots were exchanged and a number of persons was killed or wounded. St. Petersburg, Oct 26.—Confronted by a situation more crucial than any since the beginning of the political and social upheaval of Russia, and which at the time this dispatch is filed shows no signs of amelioration, the emperor’s ministers, under the leadership of Count de Witte, spent almost all of yesterday in conferences in the hope of finding some way out of the crisis into which the revolutionists and the socialists have cast the country. The general strike on the railroad is complete except in a few border provinces, and St. Petersburg, Moscow and other large cities are almost as closely beleagured as if they were Invested by beseiging armies.

Significance of the Council. At the same time the industrial strike has assumed large dimensions, and the turbulent elements in several localities are offering open resistance to the troops. The ministers who had been in session during the day resumed their meeting after a short interval for dinner, and continued their deliberations until long after midnight. The result of these deliberations is not known. The ministers were summoned to as the committee of ministers of which Count de Witte is president, but as a council of ministers of which Count Solsky is properly the chairman, and the selection of Count de Witte to preside, which was done by direction of the emperor, shows that a ministerial cabinet is actually, though not formally an accomplished fact. Edict to Come Saturday. It is understood that an edict formally establishing a ministerial cabinet, which will bear the old name of “sovyet,” or council, will be published in The Official Messenger Saturday next, together with an imperial rescript addressed personally to Count de Witte entrusting him with the simultaneously created position of premier. There appears to be some question as to whether the count will take the portfolio of finance or that of the ministry of the intenor. Only One Railway Running. The Finland railroad to Holslngfors and the steamers constitute St. Petersburg's only means of communication with the outer world this morning. The postal authorities are now refusing to accept ordinary mail, and commercial correspondence is at a standstill. British Ambassador Hardlnge, who is en route to London on important international business, had to go by steamer, not being able to leave the city by rail. ■

FACTORY STRIKE IS COMPLETE Prudent People Laying in Food—Gorky’s Drama Is Presented. The strike is complete in the great factory region on both banks of the Neva above the city, and in several other industrial quarters. Forty thousand men are out, but they are conducting themselves in a most orderly manner. The store clerks' union has proclaimed a two week’s sympathetic strike for political reasons, but It is probable that It will be only partly obeyed. Prudent inhabitants are laying in stocks of provisions, so as to prepare for emergencies. As a consequence the prices of provisions have risen sharply. Large meetings, mainly of workmen, were held last night in the university and the higher schools at which the sentiment was unanimous for continuing the strike on the railroads to the bitter end. The proceedings at several of the meetings were of a strongly revolutionary character, the orators calling on their auditors to rise and slay all “chlnovniks” and the police, and to meet the troops with armed force. These speeches were received with enthusiastic cheers. At Ekaterinoslav fifteen persons were killed and twenty-six injured in a conflict between troops and strikers at the Briansk works where the strikers had erected wire entanglements. The courts, banks and other public offices have been closed. It Is reported that the strikers have taken possession of a train which was approaching Ekaterinoslav and have destroyed the station buildings along the line. The whole empire Is practically held up by the strike, which Is political in its purposes and not economic.