Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-02
VIOLENCE in PARIS
Numerous CLASHES Between Police and
Soldiers and Mobs in Street,
MANY PERSONS ARE BADLY INJURED
Over One Thousand Arrests Are Made
During the Day.
DEMONSTRATION LACKS ACTIVE HEAD
Imprisonment Of Leaders Depnvss the
Movement Of Unity.
DEMONsIRATION NCKs AcTM HtAO
MASS MEETING IN LABOR EXCHANGE
Several Thousand Men vote 60 Remain
IdIe untn Bieht-Hour Day is
Granted-Riota In other
cities.


PARIS, May The long dreaded May
day failed 70 bring the revolution which
inhamstory journals predicted, but noe
the less It brought scenes of extreme vio-
ience The labor districts which thousands
OF troops controlled with difacuity and even
central portions Of Paris. have taken on
the appearance OF a siege, with regiments
OF infantry and cavalry csmped about the
Arc Dc Triompe. the bourse. the Bank of
France and the great railway station,
while military sentinels paced before banks
and private establishments The main
thoroughfares in the residential portion Of
Paris remain tranquil. In the west end far
removed from TIotous scenes people were
disposed TO treat the events in the labor
quarters as harmless effervescence. 1t was,
however, much more than that. Through
out the afternoon dragons, republican
guards and curiassiers charged disorderly
masses, sweeping the Place De Ia Repub-
haue and tho broad boulevard De Maganta.
Toward niRhtfall cavalry charged with
drawn swords and many persons were
wounded on both sides. The manifestants
overturned omnibuses and threw hasty
barricades. Over 900 arrests were made
during the day.
At no time did the demonstration reach
the magnitude OF a revolt, but WAS rather
a leaderless tumult. In which the serious
labor element. struggling for a principle,
was hopelessly confused with violent agita-
tors anarchists. revolutionists. roughs and
a large number Of curious. The workmen
never succeeded in forming a procession or
In assembling more than scattered bands.
The feature OF the demonstration was a
meeting OF several thousands In the labor
exchange. at which a resolution was
adopted not to return TO work until the
eight-hour day shall have been accepted.
Police Lose Control.
The worst hour OF the day was toward
o'clock this evening. when the police
practically lost control and were compelled
TO rely on mounted troops. The latter.
forming in lines twenty yards across and
fifteen yards apart. swept around the Place
de Ia Republique, driving the disorderly
rcwds into the surroundine streets. Most
OF the mob sought refuge In the Bouie-
ward de Magenta and at the Quai de Valmy,
which became centers of disorders. Here
trumpets sounded repeated commands to
dlsperse and the cavalry ga1loped into the
crowds. trampllng and injuring many. A
body of foot guards became surrounded
by manifestants and was rescued with
difficulty by cavalry with drawn swords.
Here considerable number were wounded.
BY O'Clock calm had been in a measure
restored and most of the troops returned
to their barracks.
Throughout the disorders the authorities
succeeded In executing their original plan
OF holding the disturbers strictly within the
limits OF the labor district and not permit
ting them TO press towards the wealthy
commercial and residential sections.
Tonight vehicular trafic is completely
suspended. Cabs. omnibuses and street cars
are not running, the result being to give
the usually busy boulevsrds a singular as
pect of desertion. Enormous crowds Of
curious~peopie all the streets. The Opera
and other state theaters are open, the
Opera having two squadrons of currassiers
in the basement. while Felix weingartner
is conducting a Beethoven and Berlioz fes-
tival in the auditorium. Ten OF the lead
ing theaters are closed on account OF the
exceptional conditions. The banks were
closed throughout the day.
At 10 O'Clock tonight dragons stlll oc-
cupted the streets surrounding the Bourse
and the other great financial establish
ments-
The temper of the workmen tonight Is
threatening. They claim That the police
aetod brutally and cite many incidents of
innocent people being beaten and arrested
They declare that today was only the be-
ginning OF the movement.
During the afternoon ths crowds Of
strikers increased on the Place de la RE
publiQue neoessitatlng the frequent inter
ventlon Of the troops. dragons charging
and forcing back the disturbers OF the
peace toward the canal.
riot Act is Read.
Prefect Lepine left the prefecture OF
police IN an automobile and personally di-
reeted the situation on the Place de la
Republque The number Of arrests totalled
80 AZ o'clock The Boulevard Magenta
then became the center Of disorder and a
magistrate read the riot act and the
tr0mpeters OF the republican guard sounded
an order TO disperse but the manifestants
y refused TO move. whereupon the guards
charged repeatedly, driving the crowds be-
fore them. Many were wounded and
trampled.
Prefect Lepine, who witnessed the move
ments OF the guards and Dragons. was at
one time surrounded by crowds which
ieered him Generals Bazaine- -Hayter and
Mollard then conferred with NJ I.eplne
CONCERNING the action OF the troops The
police "a the time appeared to have reached
the limit OF their capacity and dragons
and mounted republican guards began tax
ing the place OF the police and charging
al the sailop, the crowds kissing and shout
fng Down with the army" while some OF
the most excited OF the rioters erected a
barficade across the Rue des Cendriers
which the troops and police soon tore down.
Disorder at other Points
Reports from the provinces show that
there were violent demonstrations al Mar
sailles. Hrest, Bordeaux 81. Etienne. Lyons
and Rouen. AZ Marseilles PROFESSIONS
carrying red hags and creating violent dis
order came In collision with the troops and
a number Of persons were injured Al
Bordea0x professions paraded the streets
zinging revolutionary songs and the cavalry
charged them, wounding many AT Lyons
a crowd Of manifestants attacked the street
Cars. breaking the glass windows. where
upon the dragons charged the rioters.
Continued on Second Pagsl