New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-24
FRENCH STRIKE SITUATION SERIOUS.
REFUSAL OF THE MINERS TO ACCEPT THE GOV
ORNAMENT ARBrrRAToRs THE GREAT

REFUSAL OF THE MINERS TO ACCEPT THE GOV.
ORNAMENT ARBITRAToRs THE GREAT
BELGIAN STRIFE MAY BE RENEWED.
Paris, Nov. 23.-There is now no doubt that the
strike Of the coal miners in the Department OF Pas de
Calais Is general OF the 10000 and more miners
In the coal fields Of that department there were to-day
only 100 at work. The condition Of affairs is hourly
becoming more alarming. and it will be only by the
exercise of the greatest tact that serious conflicts be
tween the strikers and the authorities be avoided
With the remembrance Of the bloodshed which resulted
om the collisions between the troops and the rctous
worknen at the May Day celebration at Fourmes, tho
military authorities show little hesitation in dealing
With the dsorderly strikers. The result is that the
strikers taking courage from the seeming desire to
avoid b,oodshed and becoming more dangerous.
Meetings were held to-day at various places In the
Department, at which addresses were made by strike
leaders and by Socialist agitators The meetings degen
Grated into rotous gatherings, at which many bitter
threats made against the mine-owners The mill
tary authorities, who kept we'll informed OF every
thing going on at the meetings, gave orders that the
disordery crowds should he dispersed. Troops were
hurried to the various places of meeting, and, after
great difficulty, succeeded in scattering the mobs.
At one Of the pits at CoureIes few men have been
steadily working since the beginning of the strike, de-
spite the arguments and threats of the strikers To-day
Of the latter gained the month Of the pit in spite
of the precautions taken keep them away and placed
dynamite cartridges in advantageous positions. The
cartridges exploded but, though they did extensive
damage, loss OF life is known to have been occa
stoned.
The miners have refused to accept the proposal to
submit their troubles TO the arbitration Of board TO
be appointed By the Government. and insist that the
arbratorS shall consist of selected by the Gov
eminent, the employers and the miners. VI. Yves
GuyOt the Minister Of Public Works, has sent instruc
tons to Doua insisting that the masters appoint five
delegates to form committee Of arbitration in con-
junction with FIVE representatives to be appointed by
the miners.
The Municipal Council of this city has voted 10000
francs to assist the miners in their strike.
Brussels, Nov. GA meeting was held at Serans
yesterday that promises to result in serious dis
turbance in the Belgium labor world Il will be re-
called that the great strike Of Belgian wOrkmen few
months ago not for higher wages or shorter hours
but for the establishment of universal suffrage In
Belgium. The Government at that time made many
promises, but the worlsngmen who. upon the faith
of those promises ended the strike, now find them
selves no nearer the realization OF their hopes than
they were at the beginning of the struggle The dele
gates Of the labor organizations represented al
tha meeting yesterday decided that unless the
promises of the Government to grant universal suffrage
wore soon uIhllct. they would again start general
strike to force the granting Of their demand.