The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-26


and employers alike tho right to form syndi-
Gates aud to delegate to a committee OF their
own choice the mission OF REPRESENTING them.
BY this simple act this letter put the company
In the wrong and at tho same time IL
rendered doubly interesting in the eyos OF
the population tho cause OF the laborcrs.
which everybody recognized rs lust. Feel
log that they had public sentiment with them.
tho omnibus drivers and their comrades hcsi-
tated no longer. At night meeting they re-
solved to go on strike. md when morning mr.
rlvod Paris woke up without its omnibuses.
The aspect OF our streets. deprived Of the APP
rearance OF these popular vehicles. and encum-
bered by crowds ofwandering destrians. had
something OF the picturesque in 1t: hut the
sudden cessation OF a trans port service so es-
sential. and which the Iarisians wsre SO long
accustomed to- was none the less serious in
convenience for tho inhabitants. The greatest
annoyance caused by it was felt by people in
humble stations clerks and tho like. who. on
account OF tho high rents in tho centre OF the
town. are obliged to live far away from their
business places. such n state OF things could
not possibly be prolonged For two days
the company still tried to resist and
to re- stabllsh the circulation. ono way
or another, OF the omnibuses with personnel
recruited right and loft The strikers opposed
tho starting of tho buses. The few that
succeeled in getting ont had iheir horses I'M
hitched In tho middle of the street. in the pres
encc OF crowds who had chcered ana assisted
In the work. Tho police. on tho other hand.
simply did Just what was necessary to Prevent
too much disorder. An appeal on the part OF
the directors TO the Minister Of tho Interior
only served 10 MAKO them understand tina, the
Government also considered thcm In tho
wvoEg. md put upon them the responsibility
~,
town. Seeing that everybody was aGainstth"
and ackn ow!odgiue thoir error too late tho
directors were Obliged TO capitulate. and re-
uuested the PRESIDENT o. the Municipal Council
to become the mediator between them aud
their employees. Tho result was fnll and COM
plc.e satisfaction given 10 the strikers upon all
points. commencing with the reduction OF
days work to twelve hours.
This prompt and complete success was the
cause of u half dozen strikes OF similar kind
At Lyons, bordeaux. and MarseilIes the omni-
bus companies and the tramway companies
suffered the Same fate as that of the companies
In Paris. and Were obliged To max concessions
to their employees. This imitation extended
even 10 London. Notwithstanding tho fact tina.
our neishbors are more accustomed in tho
matter OF strikes to give us an example than
to receive one. There also the companies
were obliged TO yield Tho suppression OF the
service Of public vehicles entails such conse.
quences In .:roat cities that only one thing can
be thought OF. and that Is the reGstab ishnent
of circulation as quickly rs possible and ut
any cost. This strike. therefore, won the
battle oil along tho line almost in a
few hours CT account OF tho embarrassment
caused by the cessation Of work and the
impossibilty in which the companies found
themselves to dispense with the services OF
Al. -. T.. T..
the claims were Just and well founded. The
trade of an omnibus driver is. beyond contra
dction. ono OF the hardest in existence and
the amount OF daily work exacted from him
by his company was positively abusive. The
omnibus drivers only asked for and obtained
Justice and il oil strikes had motives so clear
ly legitimate they would meet with the same
public sentiment which facilitated the victory
OF tho drivers over the companies.
But tho movement did not stop there A
crowd Of honest people. who up to that time
had remained tranquil and appeared to be
content with thoir fate began suddenly to have
o taste for Improvements. They reelected that
they. too. played n part in tho daily lie OF So
Getty: that whom it pleased thom to cease the
performance OF their duties they might create
an embarrassment No less great than tuat
when the Omnibus drivers had brought about:
aud. consequently. they imagined that they
had an opportunity at The present time to pre-
sent thcir claims. First came the hair Dress
ers. who refused to shave or cut hair nior
g or O'clock in tho evening. Thea came
the grocers' employees, who refused to sell
coffee or sugar except between tho hours OF
s clock In the morning and O'Clock in the
evening Beaind them came tho drug clerks,
hoto! walters. bakers. butchers cooks. confec-
TONERS. anu others The demands of this last
nttl hnt ~ r. rtu DAFT
greater portion OF them did not specify any
claim very precisely but they were Unanimous
in declaring themselves discontentod. and. for
want OF better, they loudly deman ied the sup
preston OF tho intelligence Offices They de-
clared that the syndicatos OF each corporation
should have tho exclusive right OF mediating
between employees and employers.
This Is q characteristic sign OF the mania for
reform d onhrdnce which is manifesting itself
moro md moro earnestly among our Social
lists They do not appear to understand that
to make appeals for tho intervention Of the
Government. in all sorts Of things is 10 run
counter to the doctrines OF liberty which form
the basis OF their creeds. and which have been
the instrument OF their successive victories
over the old order OF things In tho matter OF
the intelligence Offices. in particular the de-
MANI for their Adjustment by law is Just as
illogical rs 1t is useless. Those whom tho
business Of the place.nnders otIends and
who think that lhey have reason to COM
plain OF T.. have within their reach q
direct and very simple means OF nnRihilating
Il. without recurring 10 le2isativo prohibition.
All they have to do ID to stop all communion.
ton with such o!.ccs whose existence depends
soey upon their customers. They would be-
suddenly obliged to Close their doors. II tho
customers refuse to COMO Tina. ia Just tho
observation that the Minister OF the Interior
made to a delegation who came to him with
demand for the immediate closing OF all the
intelligence Offices.
Another rejection ought to arros. those who
mako this claim, and that is that It would end
in creating for the profit OF corporations
monopoly which would lie the cnus. OF far
moe opposition than is now offered o tho IN.
teliigence Offices. Syndicates have been and
still are, although they may be abused q little.
m excellent thing for the concentrations OF
tho efforts OF ,Le WACO workers and for en-
aiding them to mako demands upon their
patrons which, II made Individually would run