The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-04-28
FRENCH Strike
PRELUDE Of
REVOLUTION?
People Fearful of Crisis May 1
When all Ranks of Labor
Will Make Gigantic 8-Hour
Observation-Disclosures
Taking Precautions.
Garrison At Paris Being Rap
idly Strengthened Nervous
Citizens Sending Valuables
Abroad and Preparing Res
licences to Resist Attacks.

PARIS April 24.-The strike situa-
ton throughout the country which as
sumed alarming proportions last week
during the height of the excitement
caused by the San Francisco disaster.
has momentarily improved but the
people are fearful of crisis May l,
when all the ranks of labor will make
a gigantic eight-hour demonstration.
Whether this will be accompanied by
violence and bloodshed is only cOnject-
ural, but the people are intensely
alarmed and the authorities are adopt
ing extreme military and police pre-
cautions. The garrison at Paris is be-
ing rapidly strengthened and 1t is ex-
pected that $4,000 troops will be avail
able here May l. In the mining re-
gions there is another camp in which
an army corps is ready for eventualit-
les and similar precautions are being
taken at other centers.
The labor organizations do not con-
ceal the fact that it is their intention
to make a. supreme effort. These
bodies are partly composed of anarch-
lists and revolutionists, who counsel
violence, but the responsible leaders I'm
sist that the movement has a pacific
object, similar to the American 8-hour
demonstrations.
Feeling of Terror Inspired.
Nevertheless it is feared that the
lawless element may get the upper hand
and this inspires the public with a
feeling Of terror bordering on panic.
Some of the newspapers freely assert
that the movement is the prelude Of a
revolution in which the proletariat in
tends to overthrow the existing re-
gime. The alarmist rumors add to the
real danger of the situation. Some OF
the reports picture the business and
residential parts of Paris as about to
be sacked and the streets barricaded-
in brief, a veritable renewal of the
commune. This has had the effect OF
greatly alarming nervous citizens,
some of whom are sending their valu-
ables abroad and are preparing their
residences to resist attacks.
The actual state of the labor agita-
ton is as follows:
about 10000 miners in the north
are still on strike and frequent at
trays take place, but the presence
there Of $4,000 troops and wholesale
| arrests of the ringleaders have measur-
ably restored calm. In the" same part
| Of the country the iron and glass work
ers of Denain are on strike, but most
| of them resumed work today, owing to
| the stern repression Of the authorities
General Strike Voted.
In Brest all branches of labor have
| voted general strike similar to that
| at Lorient and at many other points
In Paris the striking postmen have
| resumed work, but 1000 book printers
| 5000 employees of the jewelry trades
and 1000 workers in the paper trades
are still out. These strikes, however
have not been accompanied by violence
The military and police are extremely
vigilant. Squads of soldiers are sta.
! toned outside and inside the factorie:
whose workmen are on strike an6
mounted patrols traverse the. street:
| and boulevards, giving outward ev1d
| ence of strong military preparations