Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-05-05
MANY MAY DAY
RIOTS IN PARIS
Thousands of Soldiers Held City
Against Strike Mob.
OVER 1000 ARRESTS MADE

MAY Day failed 10 bring the revolution
which inilammatory 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 siege. with regl
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 sentinels
paced before banks and private estab.
lishments 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 effervescence II
was. however. much more than that
Throughout the afternoon dragons,
Republican guards and cuirassiers
charged disorderly masses. sweeping
the Place de- la Republique and the
broad boulevard dc Magenta Toward
nightfall cavalry charged with drawn
swords and many persons were wound
ed on both sides. The manifestants
overturned omnibuscs and threw up
hasty barbados. over 1000 arrests
were made
At no time did the demonstration
reach the magnitude of revolt. but
was rather leaderless tumult in
xht,,b tho x,nrtnnc Labor cfruU.
Cling for principle was hopelessly
confused with violent agitators. anar
chlsts. revolutionists. roughs and a
large number of the curious. The work
men never succeeded in forming pro.
cession or ever in assembling more
than scattered bands. Their chief ac.
ton was reunion of several thou.
sands in the labor exchange at which
resolution was adopted not to return
10 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 in lines 20 yards across
and Il yards apart. swept around the
Place de la Republique. driving the
disorderly crowds into the surrounding
streets Most of the mob sought ref
uge in the boulevard de Magenta and
at the DUAL dc Valmy. which became
centres OF disorders. Here trumpets
sounded repeated commands To dis
perse. and the cavalry galloped into
the crowds. trampling and injuring
many. 4 body OF foot guards became
surrounded by manifestants and was
rescued with diligently by the cavalry
with drawn swords A considerable
number were wounded.
Throughout the disorders the au-
thorities succeeded In executing their
original plan of holding the disturb
anccs strictly within the limits of the
labor district and not permitting them
to press towards the wealthy CONNER
cial and residential sections. The
banks were closed
Reports from the provinces show
that there were violent demonstrations
at Marseilles Brest. Bordeaux, st.
Eticnnc Lyons and ROuen. Al Mar
settles professions carrying red flags
and creating violent disorder came in
collision with the troops and a num-
Der OF persons We're injured. Al Bor-
deaux professions paraded the streets
singing revolutionary songs and the
cavalry charged them. wounding many.
At Lyons "a crowd Of manifestants at
tackled the street ears, breaking the
glass windows. whereupon the dra-
goons charged the rioters. wounding a
large number There were lesser dis
turhances at many points.