The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-03-15
PARIS WAS DARK
AN Unexpected Strike of Electricians
Caused Great Inconvenience in
the French Capital.
BUSINESS WAS PARALY zED
Theaters and Stores Closed-News.
papers Unable to 60 to Press
The Men Claim Contract
Had Been Broken.

Paris, March GA sudden, virtual
ly unanimous and unexpected strike
on the part of practically all the cleo
tricians Of Paris at O'Clock Friday
afternoon resulted in the almost COM
plete paralysis of the business of the
city by the time night had fallen.
The Inconvenience was very great.
A number of theaters had =. forgo
their performances, several of the
evening newspapers We're unable to
get out their editions and the great
department stores were hurriedly
emptied. The strikers demand the
fulfilment of The premises to I'M.
prove their condition which they
claim were made to them last July.
Many of the great department stores
of Paris, especially those in the cen
ter of the city, rely entirely upon
electricity for lighting and heating.
These bu dings are not piped for
gas, and when the electric lights
went out Friday evening no oil lamps
were on hand. AS result candles
had to be installed hnrredly in or
der to help the shoppers and the en-
ployes TO leave the buildings.
The prefecture of police, the build
ings of the various ministries ana
the public institutions also were
without light, and even the Elysee
palace was temporarily thrown into
darkness. The senate and the cham
Der of deputies are provided with
gas pipes End were therefore able to
get light and go on with their bust
ness.
Almost all the theaters, including
the opera and other 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 doors.
The boulevards were practically in
darkness except for the glimmerlng
of a few gas gets. Only the Avenue
de fOpera and small section OF the
Champs Elysees were illuminated by
electricity the men working in the
plants supplying these districts re-
turning to work early in the evening.
The many cafes and restaurants pre-
scented weird pictures, with flarlng
candles on all the small round ia
bles.
1t was impossible to get out the
later editions of the afternoon news
papers, and the offices of the morn
ing papers were scenes of confusion.
Only the Parisien will appear in It's
full size Saturday morning, this be-
cause it possesses 1t own electric
plant.
The reasons for the strike by the
electricians are as follows: Tne
company that supplies electricity
was recently accorded concessions by
the municipal council, and it now re-
fuses to carry out certain resolutions
passed by that body under which the
electrical workers are granted an D.
hour day and old-age pensions. These
stipulations are not written in the
contract with the city, but 1t was
understood that they would be grant
ed. The men are exasperated by
what they characterize as bad faith
on the part of the company, and now
claim recognition as employees OF
municipal department, with the privi-
Ieges attached to employment by the
which include vacations,
pay while they are sick, and the
granting of pensions at "a specified
age. The strikers Friday night voted
to continue the strike until. all their
claims were granted.