New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21
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NEW DEPARTURE BY PRE-
MTER CLEJEENCEaU.
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PARIS Aprll @p--EftIllleF OteliltnSCdN' wiz
seems 10 possess the secret Of keeping himself
sn constant touch with the public pulse and is
an accurate barometer OF the trend OF the feel
sng of the masses Of the people has made new
0epaFture He Ands that the socialists, as rep
resented in the Chamber OF Deputies, who
claim The right OF government employees sol
oiers and sailors 10 strike. and who deny that 4
laborer has the right to work even when ne
wants to work, when the unionist associations
order a systematic strike, are rapidly losing
ground The general public has become tired OF
the tedious comedy Of strikes epidemic IN Paris
in almost every branch OF industry for the last
two years which now finds expression in
che grotesque farce Of the walters strike which,
ike that Of the bakers. is a complete f1asco NJ
Clemenoeau now comes out boldly and prociaims
che right Of individuals TO work If they WISH
end has taken energetic police and military
measures 10 protect the walters in boulevard
cafes from being bulldozed by the noisy NIL
nority. Almost all the cafes to-day. thanks
80 n. Clernenoeau. in full swing, as usual al
though customers sip their drinks under the eyes
OF squads Of policemen guarding the eontentea
walters from those who try TO annoy them
Paris walters after ALL make a fat living out
of the customers tips which, however. IN many
Enstances are their only remuneration. me
main grievance OF the walters on strike Is 'heiF
claim 20 wear inustaches. The walters union
has issued a manifesto pr5cIaining that al
walters have an inalienable right TO wear mus
saches boards or WiiskeTs. and that shaVeh
GAGE IS an infamous brand OF servitude and a
stigma Of slavery. Meanwhile. the walters II
r4nart restaurants. fashionable cafes and in fam
SIZES Of social standing continue to shave each
snorning as hitherto. regardless OF proclamations
and threats issued by the syndics Of the wait
srs' union.
CUTTING AWAY FROM SOCIALISTS.
High class walters defy the union ana assert
fbeir rights 70 shave or not as they please ana
on this issue II. Clemenceau has decided 70
sDrotect them, and 10 do this NJ Lepine. Pre-
fect OF Police, is authorized. if necessary. 10
employ all the police and all the military force
OF the capital amounting altogether to over
seventy thousand armed men. This energetic
attitude Of the government is regarded 10y N"
SOCIALISTS as an Infringement upon the author
stv OF the labor unions. but NJ Clemenceau'
feeling confident that the public IL with him,
now cuts adrift from the Socialists. and has
frankly told N. Jaures. the Socialist leader
shat the Radicals viii no longer submit to the
dictation Of the Socialist group in the Cham
Der. and are henceforth strong enough TO get
along without Socialist support Whether Par
liament viii stand by N. Clemenceau on this
sss,ie cannot be known unti! the Chamber reas-
sembles ia May. though signs. not only IN Paris
but from every part or the country INDICATE mat
~ Clemenceau is right in judging that the pop
ular feeling Of the nation when it comes to
test Is at heart or The side q law and order
Nowadays almost every Frenchman is eco
nonical and has invested his savings in gov
eminent or municipal bonds guaranteed rail-
road securities II is these thrifty. level headed
masses that ri. Clemeneeau represents in his
R,resent attitude and so far his choice seems 10
De wisely taken.
THE DISASTER TO THE lena.
The five committees OF investigation concern
\ ing the lena catastrophe have terminated their
labors The commissions OF Senator's. OF Depu-
ties, of line officers OF the navy, the technical
commission OF the artillery ard construction
bureau and the commission of the department
Of powder and explosives agree that the dis
aster was due 10 the spontaneous combustion OF
tie famous B powder; but the most important
outcome Of the Investigations Of these five COM
missions is that they all find that there is a
lack Of cohesion and understanding between the
various branches OF the navy. The Senate COM
mission in order n obviate this. urges the i'm
mediate appointment of a line officer OF the rank
az admiral, who shall be responsible for the
three departments hitherto distinct-namely,
of naval construction, Of artillery and OF sub
snarine defence-which shall be united in one
bureau under one head.
TWO GOOD NEW PLAYS.
Two excellent plays were produced this week.
''La FRANCHISE" three-act comedy. by BrieuX,
brought out at the Odeon Theatre. is a strong
and witty vindicston OF the sterling qualities OF
French women A couple of Americans, misled
by reading French novels ard by seeing French
plays are Convinced that every French wife Is
unfaithful 20 her husband The American gen
slemen are introduced into the home OF real
French family and find that the women are pure
and capable. as well as bright, clever and at
fractive. and the play ends with Franco-Amer-
Sean marriage, resulting from delightful little
romance. The only fault OF the Brieux play is
shat there is TOO much sermonizing IN the third
oct. II is well worth seeing. and is remarkably
ss'eH played By Nine. Jeanne Rolly and by 81.
Dseori. who take the leading parts. Another
nFst rate performance IS a revival OF Victor
s3uso's ''Msrien DeloFme," at the Theatre Fran
Gals II Is an exquisite reconstruction OF the
fime Of Louis XIII. The part Of Marion. acted
by Nine. BaUtet, Sc one az the most brilliant Sue
oesSes IN the career Of the leading actress of the
EraneaiS This play. which was first produced
at The Comkdie Franeaise IN 1880. is altogether
tbe best piece given this year at that theatre.
Gree" a lyric drama in three acts by Edmond
SEaraucouFt. music by Phillemacher. produced at
The Opera Comique narrates in poetic form the
struggle between matter and thought as pre-
scented by the story OF Gree and Penelope. The
gnusie is remarkable for melodious orchestration
end ESifulIy composed choTUses. The only fault
IS deficiency of dramatic action.
BOOKS OF TIE WEEK.
FlOn NOuFTit issues "Lettres du Conte Val
sntin EsteFharzy. Q So Femme. 17sa-I792" COM
piled ana edited by Ernest Daudet. being a con-
situation OF the memoirs OF Esterharzy pub
nshed a year ago. The book gives new and