Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-05-05
MANY MAY DAY
RIOTS IN PARIS
Thousands of Soldiers Il City
Against Strike Mob.
OVER 1000 ARRESTS MADE

Paris. May 2.-The long dreaded
May Day failed to bring the revolution
which inAammatory journals predicted
but none the less IL brought scenes
Of extreme violence. The labor dis
tricts. which thousands Of troops con-
trolled with difficulty. and even cen
eral portions of Paris. have taken on
the appearance OF a siege. with regi-
ments OF infantry and cavalry camped
about the Arc de Triomphe. the bOurse,
the Bank of France and the great rail-
way station. while military sentineis
paced before banks and private estab-
iishments. The main thoroughfares in
the residential portion OF Paris remain
tranquil. In the west end. far removed
from riotous scenes. people were dis
posed to treat the events in the labor
quarters as harmless enervescence. II
was. however. much more than that.
Throughout the afternoon dragons,
Republican guards and cuirassiers
charged disorderly masses. sweeping
the Place de Ia RepubliQue and the
broad boulevard de Magenta Toward
nightfau cavalry charged with drawn
swords and many persons were wound
ed on both sides. The manifestants
overturned omnibuses and threw up
hasty barbados. over 1000 arrests
were made
At no time did the demonstration
reach the magnitude OF a revolt. but
was rather a leaderless tumult in
which the serious labor element. strug-
Cling for a principle. was hopelessly
confused with violent agitators. anar-
rhists. revOlutionists. rougkS and a
large number of the curioul The work
men never succeeded IN forming a pro
cession or ever in assembling more
than scattered bands. Their chief &C
ton was a reunion of several thou
sands In the labor exchange. at which
a resolution was adopted not TO return
to work. until the eight-hour day shall
have been accorded.
The worst hours OF the day were
towards evening. when the police prac-
tically lost control and were compelled
10 rely on the mounted troops The
latter. forming I'm lines 90 yards across
and Is yards apart. swept around the
Place de Ia Republlque. driving the
disorderly crowds into the surrounding
streets. Most OF the mob sought ref
uge In the boulevard de Magenta and
az the Quai de Nalmy. which became
centres OF disorders. Here trumpets
sounded repeated Commcnds 10 dis
perse. and the cavalry galloped into
the crowds trampling and injuring
many. A body of foot guards became
surrounded by nantes ants and was
rescued with difficulty by the cavalry
with drawn swords. A considerable
number were wounded.
Throughout the disorders the au-
thOrities succeeded I'm executing their
original plan OF holding the disturb
anccs strictly within the limits OF the
labor district and not permitting them
20 press towards the wealthy CONNER
cial and residential sections. The
banks were closed.
Reports from the provinces show
that there were violent demonstrations
az Marseilles. Brest Bordeaux. St.
Etienne. Lyons and Rouen. At Mar
settles professions carrying red flags
and creating violent disorder came in
collision with the troops. and a mum
Der of persons were injured. Al Bor-
deauN professions paraded the streets
singing revolutionary songs. and the
cavalry charged them. vou- ding many.
Al Lyons a crowd of manlfestants at
tackled the street cars. breaking the
glass windows. whercuron the dra-
goons charged tho rioters. wOunding a
large number There were lesser dis
turbances az many points.