Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-25
FRANCE IS IN PERIL
Law and Order Bows Before
 Mob Violence.
CLENEyCElU UNDER THE RED FLAG
Riots Increase Because of Mild Meas ures of the Government-Tr0ops Prevented From Enforcing
 Order-Big Strikes Are On.

Order-Big Strikes Are On. PARIS, April 25.- France at the pres ent moment is face to face with the
 gravest peril that can menace a de-
 mocracy or any form of government.
 The law has bowed before the mob
 in more than one disturbed district,
 with the inevitable result. Rebellion
 has begun, and anarchy threatens to
 follow swiftly not only at the scenes
 of the prevailing riots, but in Paris
 itself.
 As precursor of the expected May day violence come advices from Monte
 limar that the authorities there found
 bomb to which burning fuse was attached on the window sill of the li-
 brary of ex-President Loubets villa,
 where he and his family are spending their Easter vacation. The fuse was extinguished, and the bomb was found to be of an extremely deadly nature.
 The ranks of the strikers are being
 constantly augmented, and on May day, the labor day of France a serious general movement is probable.
 Since the retirement of Prime Min ister Waldeck- Rousseau the country has not had strong government in its internal administration. Virtual treason has been talked openly in cer- tain quarters for months past. When M. Clenenceau, who is the real head nf Eo11 dr1,t ,;e,f,. tn,, into power six weeks ago every one expected a stern, Draconic administra- tion. He had been known for twenty years as the lion of French politics. He had made and remade cabinets at his pleasure, scorning to take office himself, yet he was the most feared man in French political life.
 His first action, or that of the cabi- net. was virtually to suspend the exc cution of the separation law. Then came the Courrieres disaster The ig- norant, superstitious population at first regarded the calamity as visitation of God to punish France for divorcing the church and state. and they made violent demonstrations against the representatives of authority. This out burst exhausted itself and popular wrath turned against the mine owners.
 A strike began. Clemenceau went to the mines and had all but restored order when several survivors of the disaster. brought to light three weeks after the accident. disclosed the fact that many more might have been reached if the work had been intelli- gently conducted. The miners became convinced that the companies had de- liberately sacrificed many lives by covering certain shafts in order to smother the fire. This was untrue, but the idea naturally infuriated the popu- lace. High handed outrages were con- mitted and soon developed into a reign of terror. More than .i0. 900 men joiHed fin open defiance of the law and it's representatives.
 NJ. Clemenceau sent troops to Pas de Calais, but they were instructed to be mild with the erring miners. The strikers attacked them. More than 100 soldiers were wounded, yet not shot was fired.
 The minister of the interior went once more to the disturbed districts. He told the leaders of the strike that they really must not act in this violent way. He even went so far as to inti- mate that if things got much worse the soldiers might be compelled to use their weapons. ...-.
 At the close of his visit there was an scene. NJ. Clemenceau walked in friendly way down the street with a large company of revolutionists. There was a red flag in the group and some sang the seditious song 1nterna- 
 They met column of cavalry and NJ. Clemenceau's companions joined in loud misses and jeers. and the minister of the interior listened in silence. He made no attempt not to identify him. self with the insult to authority.
 IL is not to be wondered at that the is spreading like wlldfre among all the malcontents in the coun. try.
 Great strikes are how in progress at Brest. Toulon and most of the seaports. and every preparation has been made i In Paris for general outbreak on May ! day or earlier.
 The foregoing Is merely a precursor ] ,f the national labor movement fo he ! May l.'when it is expect 1 ed that the entire proletariat will quit Tor a day and perhaps for a longer pe- -iod of time.