New-York tribune., 1906-04-25
FRANCE NEAR A PANIC.
TROOPS BEING GATHERED.
Fears of Violence from Labor Dem
onStrationS on Nag I.


paris. April 24-The gravity Of the strike
rncvernent throughout the country, which as
,uned alarming proportions last week at the
height Of the excitement caused by the San
Francisco disaster. has momentariy improved
but fhe people are IN great fear Of crisis on
NayL when all the ranks Of labor VIII make a
r4eautic eight-hour demonstration. Whether
this VIII be accompanied by violence and blood
sbed IS only con3ectural. but the people are in
tensely alarmed and the authorities are adopt
ing extreme military and police precautions.
The garrison at Paris is being rapidly
srengthened. and II is expected that 10000
troops vii be available here on May / In the
mining regions there IS another camp in which
IN army corps Is ready. and similar precautions
are being taken al other centres.
The labor organizations do not conceal the
fact that they intend 10 make supreme effort.
These bodies are partly composed Of anarchists
and revolutiouists, who counsel violence, but the
responsible leaders insist that the movement
has q pacific object. Nevertheless It is feared
ihat the lawless element may get the upper
hand. and this inspires the public with feeling
OF terror bordering on panic
Some Of the newspapers freely assert that the
movement is the prelude OF a revolution in
which The rroletaTiat intends 20 overthrow the
existing regime. The alarmist rumors add 70
the real danger os the situation Some OF the
reports picture the business anG residential parts
Of Paris as about 70 be sacked. the streets bar
r.caded and. IN brief a veritable renewal OF the
Commune. This has had the effect Of greatly
alarming the more nervous OF the people. some
Of whom are sending their valuRbles abroad and
are preparing their residences 70 resist attacks
STATE OF LABOR AGITATION.
The actual state Of the labor agitation is as
follows:
About forty thousand miners in the north are
stin striking and frequent affrays take place,
but the presence there Of twenty-five thousand
troops and wholesale arrests Of the ringleaders
have measurably restored calm. In the same
parr of the country the iron and glass workers
o. Denatn are on strike. but most Of them re-
suned work to-day, owing TO the stern repres-
sion Of the authorities.
Al Brest al branches OF labor have voted for
general strike similar TO the general strike az
Lorient and al many other points.
In Paris the striking postmen have resumed
work but 1000 book printers. 6.c0O employees Of
The jewelry trades and 1000 persons employed
in the paper trades are stiu out These strikes
however. have not been accompanied by violence.
The military AID police are extremely vigilant
Squads OF soldiers are stationed outside and
inside the factories whose wOrkrnen are on strike
and mounted patrols traverse the streets and
bouevards, giving outward evidence Of strong
military preparations.
Al this is merely a precursor of the national
labor movement 10 be begun MAY J. when IL Is
expected that the entire proletariat viii stop
work for cay, and perhaps for longer. The
;nRsons and many other branches OF labor de-
oaed to-day 10 quit from May 10 Is without
violence. Employees % grocers, dairymen, butch
efs and bakers and ali purveyors of food sup
plies, as vel as hotel servants, are meeting to-
night and there is promise OF a decision for a
similar cessation OF work. A complete suspension
q Operations throughout the building food. in
uusIla. commercial and other branches is
ponable. Fears are entertained that the gas,
sectrlc and other utilities on which the public
: dependent VIII be affected. but the companies
SAseri ltat they nave fear Of interruption
speclal precautions are being taken 10 prevent
Se interruption q metropolitan and other means
Aco,LInunicalion. " Many jeYelry and other stores
caT1y4ng valuable stocks probably viii close 70
tle'ebl me possibility OF excited crowds engag-
iHg IN lo0ung
THE GOVERNMENT AWAKENING.
II The mean time the government appears TO
nave awakened 10 the necessity of stern precau-
uois This is indicated by the assembling of
~oops. An official communication tonight an
no1noes that The Ministers viii meet on Satur-
Jay 10 complete precautions.
one of the chief difficulties is the fact that the
@Vpfoaca Of The elections makes the political eie-
H'esis hesitate TO offend labor by the threat OF
severe repression. However the early temper
I.ng win the disordery miners IN the Pas-de-
-sials district has ben succeeded by vigorous
measures, the nassing OF troops and the arrest
'G u oisordeTly persons NJ. Clemenceau who.
= minister Of The Interior. bears the brunt OF
espynsibiilty. hrst sought 10 avoid intervention
- H4e military, but now is enerseucally gather-
.eg lie civil and military forces. When three OF
-s ctAet agitators visited n Clemenceau to-day
=. musQuey declared that they were OUTSIDE
* N-s DfeastWOrks, as they had favored violence
- ne therefore refused 10 treat win theLl
-. ne inilueutl bourgeois classes demand OF
- -.lulstry the sternest repression. Wflile TIE
,iiSs-ig influential Socialist element DEMANDS
- - tAere be 10 Interference with The rlght 70
.1saAe or with elght hour demonstrations. me
-Iufna,lite" and other Socialist organs declare
"a Terror is being Systematically worked up on
- even ~ elections with the purpose of lnynF-
-s iae Socialists poll. II Is probable thai cleo
~enser-flg IS responsible for some % The WIG
s,iiee wl-ich are ahoat, but nevertheless TIE
f8-s siloa a. best IS .peEaciLg and ful! o. posi-
N'Aues " danger.