Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-02
MARITIME STRIKE
GETTING SERIOUS
French Cabinet Holds a Meeting
to Discuss 1t.
EFFORTS TO SHIP MAILS
Minister Thompson Has Hopes, But
Government Is Almost HELPLESS.
STRIKERS SHOW CONSIDERATION
Unless There Is an Immediate Settle
ment Many Industries Must
Shut Down.

length. The measures taken by Marine
Minister Thompson to insure the dispatch
OF mails to the colonies by transports and
to mainland communication by mail by
Mediterranean ports by means of torpedo
boat destroyers and torpedo boats were ap-
proved. Other measures were decided upon
by the ministers. to be put In practice in
case the strike Is prolonged but their ma
ture was not announced when the meeting
adjourned. 1t became known however
that no definite decision had been arrived
at regarding the proposition to allow for
eign ships to enjoy the privileges hitherto
confined to French vessels OF bringing car
goes from the French colonies free OF duty.
1t Is considered doubtful whether the
change would afford much relief. while. on
the other hand. 1t might be resented by the
strikers and drive them to violence
Minister Thompson's Hopes.
While Minister Thompson says he hopes
the strikers will recognize the logic OF
facts and come to their senses" the gov
eminent seems to be almost helpless The
seamens organization is making Il clear
that they have no cause for complaint
against the navigation companies and that
the fight Is against the government for an
increase Of the pensions of the men OF the
naval reserve. to which nearly all the strik-
Ing officers. engineers, seamen. longshore-
men. and even the fishermen, belong, In
fact In order to emphasize the nature OF
the struggle, the strikers at Havre and
other ports are providing the men neces-
sary to insure the safekeeping of the ships
cooks and stewards to feed the emigrants,
and men to run the refrigerating plants, In
addition to unloading all perishable freight.
such fruit while ba st,ILa o..
only affects French shipping, foreign ves-
sells at French ports of call are being UNI
loaded by the strikers.
French Shipping Paralyzed.
The situation is very serious French
shipping Is paralyzed, and unless there is
an Immediate settlement of the dispute
many Industries will be compelled to shut
down and thousands of workmen in other
branches of trade will be thrown into en-
forced idleness. The strike today was ex-
tended to Dunkirk. Calais. Boulogne
Gravelines. Bordeaux and other ports which
were not affected yesterday. and the tie-up
Is nov. complete everywhere in France, AL
geria and Tunis. The commercial interests
are carrying out against the so-called tyr
amy of the labor organizations and
against the government for not being able
TO meet the strikers demands. The POSI-
tlon OF the government, however, Is admit
tedly extremely difficult The justice of the
claim or the seamen that successive French
governments since Louis XIV have Dor
roWed immense sums from the seamen's
FUNDS Is recognized, but the culprits now
cannot be made to disgorge. and with the
means at the disposal of the treasury the
The marine minister says it is IMPOSSIBLE
70 increase the minimum of the pensions to
spectively. as the seamens organization de-
mands. The government points out that
the railroad men must be provided for and
adds that the scale asked for by the seamen
is far in excess Of the scheme for old age
workmen's pensions which the government
has under consideration.
In order not to remain entirely passive.
some or the navigation companies took ac-
ton against the strikers today. Formal
charges of desertion were made against
nearly 1900 officers, engineers, seamen and
others who have abandoned their ships and
under the decree Of 1852 they are subject
to heavy penalties.
No Steps Taken.
PARIS, June 1.-The government had
taken no steps up to late hour tonight
to break the great seamen's strike which
already has brought French commerce to
a standstill. The ministry recognizes the
difficulty Of the situation and is willing
to consider the demands OF the Marines but
1t declines to be browbeaten by trade Union
ism. 1t has resolved to take no half meas
ure, and Will consider all phases of the
question before deciding upon course of
action.
The abruptness with which the strike was
inaugurated. to the utter disregard of the
balance of the community, lays the move
ment open to sharp criticism, and has de-
prived 1t of popular sympathy. If the strike
is protracted all branches of industry will
be disorganzed. There is already a fish
70 mir In ia of q fri 10.
of the fishermen.
Dispatches received here from the prov
inces show the men are continuing to main
tain their attitude of calm reasonableness.
Stop Steamer.
NANTES, June 1.-The strikers here to-
day prevented the steamer Denis CroIan
from leaving port. They cast her off from
the tug that was towing her and moored
her to the quay, leaving guard on board.
No Ships Leave.
HAVRE, June Mot single French
ship left this port today. A crowd of 1903
strikers hearing that attempt would be
made to take out the steamer Suzanne ct
Marie, rushed down to the harbor and
rived Just as the steamer was backing out.
The men at once closed the gates to the
BASIN
Calls for General Strike.
BIRMINGHAM Ala. June l.-Following
a conference at the mayors office today two
calls for a general strike of all the work
ingmen and workingwomen in Birming-
ham and the Birmingham district were is
sued this afternoon. One is signed by j.
F. Jacob. president Of the Birmingham
trades council. and the other is signed by
the union labor committee appointed at
Wednesday nights mass meeting to seek
to adjust the trouble Monday noon Is fixed
as the time for the general strike, which.
according to the calls. is to continue until
the street car company reinstates It's lock-
ed-out employees.
Guard to Preserve Order.
ROTTERDAM, June 1.-Strong detach-
ments Of mounted police and marines
guarding the offices of the master steve
dores' union.
The minister of marine and the COM
mander of the garrison conferred during
the day with the officials Of the union and
the burgomaster to the steps necessary
to meet the situation.
Invite Roosevelt to Attend.
VICKSBURG. Miss, June THE Vicks-
burg cotton exchange today adopted a res