The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-29
FRANCE LOOKS TO TROUBLE.
SUSPECTS NAY DAY ATTACKS BY
ENEMIES or THE REPUBLIC.

FEN dus From Paris by Those Who Expect
an Outbreak vernme Weakness
Has Allowed the Situation TO Reach
n Very Serious Point OF Anarchy.
Special Gable Despatch 10 The Sun.
PARIS, April 2s.-It would be easy to take
a pessimistio view Of the outlook Of this
disturbed country. The forces Of dis
order are marshalling themselves in greater
numbers than ever before under this repub-
lie and they are threatening unspeakable
things.
At last, however, the emergency has
been met in the only possible way. The
vacillation and dilatoriness which were
largely responsible for the crisis have
given place to firmness, and law and author
ity are to be adequately defended.
There can be but one result Of the threat
ened uprising If this policy is vigorously
executed. 1t may require one or two sharp
lessons here and there TO convince the
unrnly portion of the community OF the
futility of their defiance Of the law, but
the danger of a general outbreak in Paris, at
all events, is disappearing for the present.
The troops in the capital now outnurnber
the strikers, and the hopelessness OF any
attack by an unarmed mob is obvious TO
the meanest intelligence.
IL is true that a panicky feeling prevails
among the general inhabitants, and the
exodus from the city is greater than during
any similar emergency in recent times.
This is due largely to the first weakness dis
played by the Government in allowing the
situation in the north to reach the point Of
anarchy before bringing repressive meas
ures to bear. Such danger as exists lies not
so much in the next few days as when the
present extraordinary precautions are re-
Taxed.
1t is impossible to estimate the extent to
which the strike has spread. 1t has not as
yet involved trades directly affecting the
daily life of the people, The food supplies
are not threatened, although the hotels.
many householders and even embassies
are laying in large supplies. There is no
sign of trouble among the railway or tele-
graph employees. Many manufacturing and
constructive trades are idle. but the total
number Of workers who are out hardly
exceeds 40, 900 in Paris. These will probably
be largely augmented by next Tuesday,
Many employees. however, will demon
strate their sympathy with the movement
merely by stopping work at the end of
eight hours each day.
1t would be unfair to describe the plot
against the republic which the Government
announces it has discovered as a mares
nest, but it should not be taken too seriously.
Every effort was made to-day by labor unions
and opponents of the Government to ridi-
Guile the reported plot, and with some sue
cess.
1t is pointed out that it is absurd to say
that the clericRls and monarohists are con-
spring with the Socialists to destroy the
republic. There is some truth probably in
the allegation hat the extreme clericals and
some r~oyalists are doing all possible to en-
courage the strikers, but that a definite con-
spiracy exists between these classes is
hardly credible.
Attention is 80 concentrated on the imme-
date disturbances that there is little atten-
ton paid by the general public to the effect
Of the daily developments upon the election
Of May 9. 1t is too soon to form any esti-
mate Of the result of the electoral contest.
Reports from some sections OF the provinces
are more disquieting than the outlook in
Paris. Violence is more likely to occur
there in the next two or three days than In
the capital itself. The military prepara-
tions in the provincial cities are not so COM
plete as here and sharp emergencies are
feared in unexpected quarters.
An attempt was made this morning to
destroy the railway bridge across the Seine
at Argenteuil, four miles from Paris. The
bridge was not damaged seriously.
A thousand strikers tried to make a
demonstration on the boulevards to-day.
They were promptly dispensed by the
police. Every precaution has been taken
against disorder, but the public mind is
highly strung, and numbers of people are
leaving Paris, fearing that there will be
trouble on May Day.
Minister OF the Interior Cl6menceau
ordered the copies Of La Vie Wustree seized
at the station OF the Northern Railway
to-day on their arrival from Brussels,
where the edition had been printed, owing
TO the printers strike in Paris. The seizure
was made because the paper oomically
represented by means OF faxed photo
graphs the advent Of the collectivists to
power.
On the Rue de la Paix to day a procession
OF 200 strikers, singing the "Internationale'
and headed by a woman carrying a red
flag, bound with GRAPE, was dispersed by
the police.
The attempt to blow up the railway
bridge across tho Seine at Argenteuil,
four miles from Paris, this morning is
ascribed TO anarchists. A large hole was
blown in the structure, but the rails were
not damaged. All the windows in the
neighborhood were broken. The report
was heard for a distance Of five miles.
In consequence of the attempt soldiers
are guarding all bridges and tunnels.
Three minutes before the explosion a train
crowded with emigrants crossed he bridge.
Preparations for a strike on May 1 are
proceeding at Lyons, Marseilles and Cham
berry. 1t is expected that 10000 men will
quit work in Lyons.
rHJC4GO To LOSE 300 SALOONS.