New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-16
Nineteenth Street and Sixth Avenue.
WoRKINGMEvS UNIONS IN FRANCE.
POLITICS PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART N THEIF
ORGANIZATION.

POLITICS PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THEIR
ORGANIZATION.
The incidents relative TO the strike in Paris serve
as illustrations Of the SPECIAL traits which charac-
terize those outbreaks OF agitation in France,
as compared 10 what they are in England or Amer
lea. The intervention OF the Municipal Council OF
the city OF Paris, which votes "secours' of 20 900
francs. and that OF the General Council OF the De-
partment Of the Seine. voting also another Sc
cours' Of 10000 francs apparently for the support
Of the starving families Of the strikers but in real
ty 70 bring into prominence the Aldermen and de-
partmental legislators, one more evidence Of the
part that politics play in French strikes. Il Is
usual to have the subsidies voted by the Radical
majority Of the councils. which are nOminally the
rulers OF Paris and It's suburbs incosed In the De-
partment OF the Seine: but il IS no less usual that
such votes are annued by the Project Of the De-
partment, who IS really the master Of the situa-
ton. as the representative OF the Minister Of the
Interior so thar under the Third Republic as well
as under Napoleon III the municipal authorities Of
Paris and the central government are constantly
at loggerneads.
Another ordinary feature of French strikes
which IS not TO be IN America or Eng
land but which has not failed to appear In the
present trouble is the active Intervention OF the
Deputies in the Chamber who in favor Of
Radcalism and Socialism. Thus it Is that several
Deputies OF the Extreme Left are taking an active
part IN the strike speaking AT the meetings
writing articles in newspapers, raising popular
subscriptions for the strike fund and adjurng the
Government not 10 interfere by calling soldiers 70
maintain public order The political character ~
tho rresent strike at Paris IS increased by the in
reference of the Municipal Council between the
laborers and their employers, though this inter-
fe-ence was assumed az first without anv design
10 favor or 70 niure either Of the parties but only
70 sateguard the mpneyed interests OF me CITY.
The Council fixed, long while ago. schedue ol
prices whose maximum cannot be increased "
contractors for public works. These conditions
o-s sometimes made too hard by unforeseen CIR
cums.ances and the contractors are compeNed 20
attsr1pt 10 make both ends meet by reductions "a
the wages Of their worEmen.
rbe conflict this time began between the naVVies,
or ",errassiers" employed for the construction %
The orleans Metropolitan Railroad in PARIS pro
ronaa.,on through the city OF the Orleans fTa"ay'
,o- the building Of the Opera Comique' ana iOr se
a,,I otber enterprises OF public character Far'
+Io,,,s-. abou. the gravity and the exten' OF inc
s,rkA place the number Of the strikers at e's"'s
thousand. g., -. ... nm
The strikes duration and especially Us vast p'o-
nortions are due TO the organization Of me rteuCn
iabor unions which Is somewhat different from 'na'
r.nI,ad states or In Great Britain. In the
,vo latter countries the unions are exclusively
,rade aNair while In France they become poiluc4l
occupations or rather are forced into politics oy
tho leaders who caused, for instance the t"eIi'"
..Xa,ionaI Congress of the Labor Party" he!d az
NAMES in September, 1884, 10 ADOPT 'sso'u''o''s
Ike zee ,Ss noli,icai ground that the proetaran
g. he sn,,a OF the capitalist, even superior 20 him.
EseaTss nroletarians are In the majority ..
1t Is on! of 5oIitcai power. that organized
ia6orers v L be able 10 emancipate Ihense' III THO
This hoqs there are other Organizations
ihere are In America the kniehts OF labor ,he
Centra c&oS are no. 50 individual their Anglo
Saxon brethren. They are tohd VI sa!Iis's ~
verts according the Ideas and customs Oh .he
aa"ean,zatfor prevailing IN France exists also IN
Italy and Spain. Those countries are honest
ccmbed with local unions OF ulllelv.' 49, 20
one INFLATED 10 he central parry ana th0se Genres
O1e .1asea;es 10 national congresses which them
selves send their representatives, TO me inter-
,ntoI Erore for discussing the general interests
NJ The laborng classes In France there are unions
Of carpenters engineers masons "a zach , Oh e'e1S
,bsv are directed N all their actions oy the resou-
tiC "a adopted at the central assembly, 10 "hich
they send delegates every year Ill.
These trades-un ons In France are gehe,aIy cameo
~yr5ics ,es-for Instance the syndicate OF he
Soachmen % such and such town The delegates
81 tasse onresses In IS7 II was at one OF these
meetings held at Paris In 80 oy tne syn iS
Of the union OF me naV.Ies now on hos as
taf3r BjanGust and Communist, who had Just re,
turned from New-York. wrers ne spenL sa,i,,ra
Years in exile. died suddenly from hedrt ia'iu'e
while delivering berry speech -, -. .rahor
Outside Of the Organization ea1eo tne $500
Party and led by Auenanne ana some gsni1a
DEPUTIES there Is other regular laooI o t
Jop ~ France. but the proetar!ans are easily KEPT
together by the institution d .he bina ~ ~
scfai hu,dings lent to the workingmeh unions y
fhe municipalities. apd wneTe eNeIy t3O1ss .
rSrded 20 meet asd discuss ouesI0hS- tH'''