Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-24
Priests Declare They Have Prevented, Not
Encouraged, Outbreaks,
INTIMATE THEY MAY CHANGE TACTICS
Newspapers Take Divergent Views Of the
Situation.
SOME URGE THE PREMIER TO GO FORWARD
Others Assert that at the Critical
Moment In the Contest He
Has weakened and
Must Fall.

Copyright, 1903, by Press Publishing Coz
PARIS. May Z.-(New York World Ca
blegram-Special Telegram IA dangerous
situation is confronting Premier Combes.
Conservative observers fear grave dis
orders and already there has been con-
siderable bloodshed. The disorder in the
Chamber of Deputies only reflected that
throughout France. The priests declare
that trouble was only averted at the time
the nuns and monks were evicted by their
interceding with their parishloners to be
calm, but that row they 1.-THE priests) will
change their course IL persecution is per-
sisted In and Will wash their hands of
responsibility for the outcome. Thus far
in the street encounters. especially at
Plsisance and Belleville, the weapons used
have been chiefly confined to bladders,
bludgeons and so-called brass knuckles.
But man. persons have been seriously
injured, nevertheless.
At La Villette, which is the slaughter
house quarter. the butchers hocked to the
priests, who encouraged them. Father
Oriole caused a riot by an address at the
Church of ST. Jean Baptiste. One priest,
however, when handed a revolver by a
sympathizer, hid it under his gown. Dur
Ing this riot Police Project Lepine was
hurt by a bottle.
The newspaper editorials are all heated,
but the editors are of different minds. The
Lanterne, a government organ, says:
The ministers and members OF Parlia-
ment must listen to the voice Of theii
country and show themselves worthy Of
their task. Now that the debate is oper
between church authorities in France and
the rights of man, let US destroy this
shameful compact which binds us still tC
A. - -
worm-eaten edihce-the last stronghold Of
the reaction. Down with the church,
The Autorite In an editorial entitled
'Combes' End asserts:
"Combes at the supreme moment o.
struggle mas shown his cowardice. Tn,
feeling Of France is not with him. Neces
sarily he leaves his baneful work un
finished and hesitates in his persecution
He who had thought to cause Catholic.
70 tremble. to dictate to the pope, t.
terrorize the bishops, TO cause fire anC
bloodshed. lies now like a hideous reptile
stamped upon--no longer able to bite
What good In he2 Combes is finished and
before long he will be thrown Into tn,
Parliamentary garbage box like a piece o
putrid meat"
A cartoon directing attention to the sub
ject represents President Loubet an,
EICtnloE SOHABSS No OB CAbAIS AaNlHba
friendly chat. Loubet remarks:
1T seems that. owing to you, II I go I
Rome, permission to kiss the pope's to
will be refused me-"
Combes replied: Don't you owe me
great deal for a service like that7"
Another cartoon shows two deputies 4
front OF the Chambers, one accompanie
by his young son. The first deputy asks:
What did you do during the Parlia
mentary vacation, dear ~colleague7"
N Second answered.; II had my son TAX
his first communion and also put the IN
ishing touches on my bill for the immed
| ate closing OF all churches"
y Before they were turned out OF the
monastery the monks of La Gran
Chartreux destroyed the keys, numberin
1900. The authorities nave been obliged
order ali the locks removed and new key
made. It is estimated that this work wi
take the French locksmiths a full year.
Police Project Lepine has decided not
run for deputy In Montbrison. The stron
I public feeling against him. as being r.
sponsible for the arrest by the ''agenr
de moeursr' Cmorality police) OF the sist
\ and wife OF the editor OF the Lanterne I
questionable characters, Is believed to hay
caused him to withdraw.