New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-24

IN TRADES-UNIONS-LIQCOR AND
THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.
Paris, February s.
France. like the United States. is country
ruled by universal suffrage. In both countries
universal suffrage is thought by many to be
| overmarDuated. And in both the blame-or
CREDITS largely given to the man who deals
across his counter intoxicating drinks to the
/ gullible voter
What Is peculiar to France is the growing
! tendency Of liquor-sellers to get themselves
elected to office. instead Of electioneering for
professional politicians. This is everywhere the
case In the large manufacturing centres where
Socialist workingmen in the majority. So
| far its results chiefly visible In the local
elections but the tendency Is bound to
gain the representation in Parliament Gam
BETA in moment of anger, declared that the
Chamber of Deputies was made up Of sous
veternares' (under horse doctors. a profession
under the control of GovernmenD With the
present advance Of Socialism. it promises to be-
come a Chamber of saloon keepers, or of what
is equivalent in France. The municipal councils
Of several cities have already reached this stage
in the evolution Of popular government.
Roubaix is one of the most important manu-
featuring towns In all France. Four-ffths Of
the whole quantity OF wool in Northern France
| about 100.000.00O pounds-pass each year
through its testing houses. Woo-combing and
weaving give occupation to the greater number
Of its 100000 inhabitants, and to the $4,000 Of
Tourcong which is practically continuation
OF 1t. and the 10000 more Of the suburbs The
Roubaix fabrics, wool and linen, have found a
ready market through the whole world When
the coming in of the Mckinley tariff disturbed
the American trade some of the manufacturers
sent out agents to examine the propriety Of
founding branch factories in the United States.
They did not understand the instability Of our
! own political determinations. They have still
less understood-perfaps 1t was impossible-the
movements of the democracy around their very
homes.
1t is in some towns OF the Northeast near
the Belgian frontier, that the employers Of
labor have taken the most interest in re-
ligious associations among their workmen. The
Harmed brothers. who have several times led
giant workingmens pilgrimages to Rome gave
the example "Patronages" pensions. clubs.
and all the rest OF the machinery by which
Catholic Socialism tries to bind together the
employer and the employed have been estao-
lished-not without success. But the electoral
body. for the most part. remains Socialist pure
and simple that is. irreligious and hostile to all
the present order Of society In the elections to
Parliament recurring every four years. this
gradual triumph Of militant Socialism is not so
apparent. Jules Guesde. the leader OF the Col
lectivists was elected in 1898 from one cir
| transcription OF Lille. while Paul Lafargue. Kari
Marks son-n-law. who was already Deputy
| lost his seat in another. The Able Lemire. the
Christian Socialist priest also elected at
/ HazeDrouck.
But in the local elections. Socialism tri-
ROuhaiX taken
as an example. IT is the saloon-keeper who does
IT, Thus in the present year. of the thirty-one
municipal councillors, twenty-eight are liquor
sellers.
First Of ALL the Mayor owns land runs In per-
SOM the "Brasserie Socae." OF his three as
sistants one has another "brasserie' properly
a large pleasantly furnished output for beer.
with which the attractions or a care ana
restaurant are also mingled, together with the
sale OF all liquors.; the second Keeps one OF
those old-fashioned popular "estaminets' which
leong to this part Of France and Belgium ana
the third has an ordinary wineshop. where
liquors are also sold over the zinc or the
councillors proper eight more have estamnets.
all Of which bear unblushingly the name OF the
city official on the sign Then there are eleven
Notwithstanding which approaches TO the
English bar for both sexes-with fantastic titles
that often toll of the politics which they chiefly
suuunrt Thus one is AT the Three Fights
rhe proposed eight hours for work. play ana
sle.p) Another is The Proletaran' and yet
another THE Social Woman.
The full extent Of the political influence ana
Condiments of these City Fathers does not APP
near at first sight. The office OF Municipal Coun-
clllor is unpaid. at least directly But the Couh-
ell can vote special commissions TO us members
for which they can demand proper indemnity.
Thus some Of the RoubaiX councillors were sent
, tho Congress II Socialist municipalities held
M Saint Denis outside Paris. others made the
vIsi, Of various Socialist institutions and hospitals
,rbrs, y, the Councillors. who had received $40
each fol- such travelling expenses, were atterward
accused Of net having gone on their mission al ALL
Inn, NJ slnply putting the money in their pockets.
rb. sum may seem trhng in countries where
all expenditure is more lavish. But the principle
remains the same.
!, IL certain that these Socialist municipalities
are suspected Of working the city to their own
necuniarv advantage. They have not accredited
the system which would place all property in the
hands Of a State governed by men like them
selves
II is in m, workingmen's "syndcates' or trades
unions that the real power Of the liquor seller
comes 10 light. 1t Is an actual fact that in the
greater part Of these unions IN the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Department Of the Nord Chile. Roubaix. etc)
saloon keepers form the working majority. To
understand how this is possible, some knowledge
is needed Of the liquor-seers rise In his career
He is regularly one Of the workingmen them
selves sometimes a foreman, or one blessed with
an inheritance or other piece of good luck. which
allows him To leave off work and open wine
shop In France no special license is needed for
according
the tariff OF the city. is required before engaging
In any commerce. The grocer's business in Paris
warrants the addition of liquor counter III the
shop is to be kept open after midnight, an extra
permit has to be paid for. But there Is no limit
TO the number OF such shops. and the only mora
qualities required of the applicant are that MS
judicial record be clear: that H. tnat lie sha"