Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-05
FRANCE IS UPHELD
By the Chamber of Deputies in the
Shooting at Fourmies.
C0NSTANS CALLED A MURDERER.
A Notion to Inquire Into the Riot Rejected
by a Large Vote.
BURIAL OF THOSE WHO WERE KILLED

PARIS, May At was announced yester
| day that a section of the Lett would joir
| with the Socialist and Boulaugist deputie.
in demanding vote of censure to-day
! against NJ. Constans, the Minister of the
Interior. on the ground that the latter wa.
responsible for the slaughter of men, women
and children shot down by the troops al
Fourmies on labor day. M. Constaus to.
day, after replying in explanatory terms to
question as to the Fourmies affair, and
giving his version of the matter, holding
that neither tine Government nor the troops
were to blame for the disaster, was aston
ished to sec NJ. Roche, the deputy repre-
senting the seventh electoral district of the
Seine, spring to his feet and shout fiercely,
Murderer"
A tremendous sensation followed. Men,
bers shouted out and threatened each other
vigorously. Finally order was restored,
and the Chamber voted that M. Roche
should be excluded from any further par
ticipation in to-day's session. and that he
should be declared censured by the Chamber
for the term he had applied to the Minister
of the Interior.
No sooner was this course OF action de-
cided upon than NJ. Roche again spraug to
his feet, and shaking his fist at those OF his
associates VINO had been most active in
bringing about his proposed expulsion, the
angry Deputy yelled: You are lot of
varlets worthy of your master"
Removed From the Chamber.
This was more than the presiding officer
could submit to, so he ordered NJ. Roche to
lie removed by iorce from the chumber.
This was eventually done amid one of the
widest scenes ever witnessed in the Cham
Der of Deputies.
The excitement began with NJ. Dumavs
interpellating the Government in regard to
the Fourmies plot He threw the entire
balme for the trouble upon Minister Constans.
NJ. Bower in supporting N. Dumay. commented
upon the brutality of the ,fficial instructions.
NJ. Roche said he had inquired into the causs
of the riot and had found that Immediately
after the stone had been thrown. without sum-
moning the people to disperse, the troups
opened hre and continued firing for four
minutes There were more soldiers than peo-
pie in the streets and the troops were made to
act the part Of butchers OF women and chill
dren.
At this point vehement protests were raised
and N. Roche was called to order. -
NJ. Constans denied the accuracy Of NJ.
Roches statement A mob of 1000 said the
Minister, received the soldiers with a shower of
stones. One officer was knocked down, and
the rioters were on the point of forcing their
way through the troops when the commander
was unheeded, and the commander then
ordered his men to fire into the air.
Soldiers Obeyed Their Orders.
This however. had no effect and he then
ordered the soldiers to fire point blank. The
soldiers obeyed and the result was the killing
of seven persons and wounding of IA. Soldiers,
added tho Minister. had right to use their
arms when IN danger. The conduct OF the
army and the police throughout France
May day had checked serious social disorder.
NJ. Roche at this point cried. Murderer"
A number of members Immediately arose and
protested against NJ. Roche's language, and
the President ordered that the offender be
temporarily expelled. Quiet having been re-
stored, NJ. Milleraud demanded that commit
tee be appointed to inquire into the Fourmles
riot.
NJ. de Freycnet. Premier and Minister of
War, opposed the motion. He did not desire to
set up barrier of arms against political and
social claims. He would rather cooperate with
Parliament to improve the lot of the working
classes. GApplause1
NJ. Milleraud's motion was rejected-3l2 to
Is. The Chamber of Deputies. by vote of 358
to 80 passed q resolution declaring confidence
in the Government.
The funeral of the people who were killed at
Fourmies was very largely attended.
The procession was very long. being partici-
pated in by large number of workmen's clubs
with red and black flags draped. The nine
cOflns we're surrounded by the relatives of the
left, and the Socialists then took charge some
violent addresses being delivered Many
women, carrying banners. placed wreaths upon
the graves. The troops keeping order IN the
streets shouldered arms while the coffins were
passing.