The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-03-09
PARIS ELECTRICIANS
 DECIDE TO STRIKE
DEMAND THE FULFTLLMENT OF PROMISES TO IMPROVE
 THEIR CONDITION.

sibIe to Get Out Late Editions of
 Afternoon Papers-0ffices of the
 Morning Papers Present Scenes of
 Great Confusion.
 Paris, March "A sudden, virtually unanimous and unexpected strike on the part of practically all the electri- clans of Paris at o'clock this after- noon resulted in the almost complete paralysis of the business of the city by the time night had fallen. The in- convenience was very great. A num- Der of theaters had to forego their per- formances, several of the evening newspapers were unable to get out their editions and the great department stores were hurriedly emptied. The strikers demand for the fuldlment of the promises to improve their condi- ton which they claim were made to them last July.
 Many of the great department stores of Paris, especially those in the center of the city, rely entirely upon electricity for lightln gand heating. These build ings are not piped for gas, and when the electric lights went out no oil lamps were on hand. As a result candles had to be installed hurriedly in order to help the shoppers and the employees to leave the buildings.
 The prefecture of police, the build ings of the various ministries and the public institutions also were without light. and even the Elysee palace was temporarily thrown into darkness, The senate and the chamber of deputies are provided with gas pipes and were therefore able to get light and go on with their business.
 Almost all tn etheaters, including the opera and others of the subsidized houses, were compelled to put up an nouncements that there would be no performances and that the money would be refunded at the door. Only four of the minor variety halls were were open. The boulevards were prac- tically in darkness except for the glim- mering of a few gas jets.
 On the Avenue de l'Opera and small section of the Champs Elysees were il- luminated by electricity, the men work ing in the plants supplying these dis tricts returning to work early in the evening. The many cafes and restau- rants presented weird pictures with fiarinS candles on all the small round tables.
 It was impossible to get out the lat CT editions of the afternoon newspapers, and the offices of the morning papers were scenes of confusion. The typeset- ting machines and printing presses are at q standstill. Only the Parisean will appear in its full size tomorrow morning, this because 1t possesses it's own electric installations. The man agers of all the other morning papers, while hoping against hope that the elec- tric courant soon will be restored, do not see their way to getting out other than two or four pape papers, set up by hand and printed on improvised plants.
 The reasons for the strike by the electricians are as follows: The com pany that supplies electricity was re- gently accorded concessions by the municipal council, and 1t now refuses to carry out certain resolutions passed by that body under which the electrical workers are granted an eight-hour day and old age pensions. These stitpula- tions are nto written in the contract with the city, but 1t was understood that they would be granted.
 The men are exasperated by what they characterize as bad faith on the part of the company, and now claim recognition as employees of a municipal department, with the privileges attach ed to the employment by the munich pality, which includes vacations, pay while they are sick, and the granting of pensions at a specified age
 The strikers called meeting to be held this evening in the labor exchange, but this building was closed owing to the lack of light The men then pro- ceeded to another hall where they could see, and after a number of vio- lent speeches had been delivered they voted to continue the strike until all their claims were granted. It was an- nounced during this meeting that the electricians of Lyons, Marseilles and other large cities in France were pre- pared to join the Paris movement and demand similar concessions The strik- CTS tonight showed themselves as strongly in favor of the taking over of the various electric lighting plants by the various municipalities. This feel ing is direct outcome of the social istic tendency generally prevalent among the electrical workers.
 A delegation of prominent citizens, including a number of members of the chamber of deputies, called on Premier Clemenceau at a late hour tonight and discussed the situation with him. The premier promised to bring in a regiment of engineers quartered at | Versailles to replace the strikers, but it would appearthat he later decided | not to take this step, for no orders were sent to Versailles. On the con- trary Premier Clemenceau expresses his determination to use every effort to overcome the strike by conciliatory means He probably will have an in- | terview with the strikers delegates during tonight or early tomorrow | morning.
 In the meantime the strikers have staunchly resolved to maintain a firm