New-York tribune., 1909-04-04
FRENCHMEN In A RIOT
VOTE RIGHT TO STRIKE.
Gorernment Employees Fuse scith
Labor Organizations.
rspeeia, by French cable to The Trfbune-l

rspeoia, b- French Cable 70 The Trfbunel
Paris April 3.-The mass meeting OF govern
raent employees and civil servants held last nisht
,n the rotunde of the Societies Savantes Build
ing. in the Rue Damon shows that the labor
problem which oonfronts the Clenenceau Cab
met is bristiine with further complications.
caused by the relations between the General
Confederation of Worknen and the assoc
tions Of state officials. who demand sort OF
Magma Clarta in the shape of an act OF par
lament which shall protect them from arbitrary
acts and favoritism of their various heads OF
departments The committee Of delegates OF
the state employees drew up a series of resou-
tons. claiming their rights as functionarles 10
participate directly in the management OF the
affairs Of the public service, and thereby act as
G brake upon the political influences Of the
minister OF head Of department. who nine times
out Of ten assumes arbitrary control without
the slightest technical training or experience
The committee. nevertheless. renounCed the
right to strike. and NJ Chardon. who spoke in
behalf Of the delegation. said that strike was
tn contradiction 10 the elementary duties Of
state ernploye. who. first Of all. should prevent
any interruption of the public service intrusted
20 his charge. This remark elected q tre-
rnendous outburst Of indignation. Flve la
Sreve,'' shouted hundreds Of excited employees
N Chardon was however. vigorously sup
ported by a group Of Deputies. Including NM
Joseph. Reirach. Steig. Lasies and Sembat. but
the majority Of the employees. headed by the
headers Of the recent postal strike asserted their
right 10 strike. II. Granger. one of the organ
tzers Of the postal revolt, exclaimed that all the
state employees Of France must become mem
bers Of the General Confederation of Workmen
and said: Our victory proves that We not only
have the right to strike. Just like any other
f~rorkr4en but also that we can obtain what we
want by striking, better than by any other
means"
NJ Cha-don and a resolute group of Moderate
enployes replied that under such conditions all
public service would become impossible
Upon this free fight ensued Chairs and
aables were broken hats were crushed, several
postal employees made revolutionary speeches,
and NJ Lan,arque exclaimed. We defy par
.ament.' Nevertheless. the chairman. NJ.
Denarchal was protected by guard formed
BY fifty postmen.
Suddenly Citizen Pataud. the head centre Of
she electricians syndicate. walked slowly and
Iriumphantly toward the chairman. saying:
Comrades. I shall not detain you long
81 am not your oonrade" retorted NJ. Char
don
so much the better for me-" replied Citizen
Sataud.
The chairman arose and said:
Il adjourn the meeting
oh, Oh retorted Citizen Pataud He ad-
sourns the meeting, does he? Very well. I
Continue 1t, and I want you one and all to
understand that in the future whenever the
government employees declare strike they viii
be actively supported by the whole proletariat
which is now thoroughly organized in all its
branches. and which. If il chooses, at twenty
four hours notice can paralyze the life of the
nation
The chairman. the committee and the Depu-
tics following these words, were driven in
1gnominy out OF the building, and postman
took the chair and read a series of hastily
drawn up resolutions. asserting the right of
government employees to strike and pronouncing
their fusion with the General Confederation of
Norknen-
These resolutions were adopted by 1000 votes
10 1, and the meeting, which is a distinct fore
cast OF stormy weather in store for the govern
'tnent after the Easter holidays, was adjourned