The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-29
STRIKE OF THE WASHERW0MEN
Paris Exposition Furnishes Long
Desired 0DnOrfunity.

IS more disturbing to ParlSlans lAdH L
incomplete condition Of the expositio
grounds. The Paris washerwomen hay
struck for higher wages and shorte
hours, and serious Inconvenience has a
ready been caused. The hotel manager
and keepers of restaurants bitterly con
| plain that half their linen is not re
turned from the wash and private fam
lies are also feeling the pinch. tn
strike commenced at Boulogne-Sur-Sein
and spread to several other environ
where laundries are situated The laun
dry work people in Paris number be
tween 20oJ0 and $4,000. and if the striker
succeed in securing their adhesion tn
mass of Parisians will have to go un
washed. The fact that the influx Of visi
tors to the exposition has begun, neces
| stating heavy demands on the laundries
gave the washerwomen an opportunit.
to pue the screws on their employers
whoS lsatur4lly, are much incensed b!
this atternP tto force their hands now
when they ave already concluded con
tracts IN many cases with hotels, restau
rants and other establishments for th'
| exposition season at determined rates
| wages, but the strikers thus far have
! refused to compromise. Bands of work
| people gather in the neighborhood of the
laundries where work is still partially
continued and try to persuade the non
strikers to join them. 0 fears Of disor-
ders have occurred, but the police are
taking precautions. and detachments oil
gen d'armes have been drafted to the dis
tricts where trouble is possible
The ebuIlition of labor difficulties calls
attention to the serious possibility OF
much graver disturbances arising from
the throwing onto the labor market of
thousands Of workmen by the compile
ton OF the exhibition and of the central
depot of the Metropolitan railway These
great undertakins attracted to Paris vast
numbers of province carpenters, ma
sons, painters and unskilIed Iaborers and
the problem the government has now to
face is the dispersal of these men
through the country to avoid a great la
Dor crisis in Paris, the consequences of
which it will be difficult TO foresee The
first measure of the government has
been to post at all centers of work pIac-
ards enumerating the undertakings in
the provinces directed by the minister of
public works. 1t is estimated that three
days will absorb about 1900, and free
transportation will be given to the places
where the men are requested. There
still, however, remains a large residuum
for whom jobs are wanted. The acting
secretary of the labor exchange calcu-
lates that $4,000 Workmen came to Paris
last year. OF this number perhaps two
thirds intend to return to their homes.
The secretaries of the several trades
unions take a more pessimistic view Of
the situation. The secretary of the paint
ers' organization, for instance. reckoned
that the completion of the exhibition
viii leave oyer 10000 painters alone un-
employed, while a committeeman of the
unskilled laboreTs' union claims that the
number of that class who will be thrown
on the streets will reach 10000, few Of
whom will consent to go to the provinces.
This latter reluctance is an important
factor in the crisis, as the countrymen
intoxicated by the glitter Of the metrop-
oils, are disposed to hang on as long as
possible.
The fortnight's work on the exposition
since the opening has done much to
bring order out of the chaos which OBJ
tanned when President Loubet declared
the exposition open Percepible progress
is being made daily; and sightseers can
find sufficient to repay them for the
trouble Of visit. The galleries are fill
ing up with the exhibits, which are be-
ing rapidly installed. The foreign sec
tons in this respect are further adj
vanced than Frances own buildings, and
the American exhibits are keeping well
abreast of those of other countroes
Most Of the foreign nations pavilions
are now on the eve of inauguration and
several have been opened, Bosnia and
Hungary being the latest to unclose
their doors. Both of these offer charm
ing interiors and are characteristically
and artishcally representa- tive of their
respective countries.
Two small fires within the exposition
grounds have caused an outcry from the
French and have brought home to the
administration the danger of &. conf1agra-
ton. In view of the meager facilities
for lighting fires, measures are now be-
ing taken to remedy this situation. One
outcome of this agitation has been the
enforcement this week of the bylaws Of
the exhibition prohibiting smoking in
side the buildings. Several men have
been arrested and prosecuted for this
oHense. One case came before the
courts, which decided against the exhi-
bition authorities. on the ground that
the prefect Of police alone is empowered
to regulate this matter. According TO
some authorities Commissioner Pocard.
by the Illegal arrest. has rendered him.
self liable 10 penal servitude. This
eventuaHty however, is not likely TO fail
to the lot Of the controlling mind Of the
great worlds fair.
4 fresh conflict has arisen between the
cabinet and Cardinal Richard. whose ac-
don at the time of the Assumptiouist
-athers' trial brought him into serious
trouble with the government. He was
notable absentee from the inaugural
ceremony of the exhibition, no invitation
having been sent him. He was very in
ignant at this neglect and referred the
matter 10 The papa nuncio here Monsir-
2or Arinciido, who declined To intervene.
mis- week Cardinal Richard announced
us intention To visi; the exhibition in
lrder to bless the pavilions o. the Cstho-
&c missions. The government refused
am permission TO do SO. according 10 the
,lericais at the instisation Of the Social
81 minister Of commerce. IL Miuerand.
Who is said to have characterized the
'aFdinai's intention as a manifest at
-aek upon the government AMI a clerica!
lLates- aSainst The lernocra u, sr.ri. -