The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-03-19
COMPLETE MAIL AND TELE.
GRAPH TlE-UP THREATENS
SERIOUS RESULTS.
FOOD FAMINE Imminent
Banks Refuse to Cash Checks,
Prices Of EdibIes Soar, and Supply
of Table Necessities Is Becoming
AlarmingIy Short-End Not in Sight.

Paris, March 1S.-There was not the
slightest indication late tonight of
break in the deadlock between the
government and it's striking telegraph
ers and postal employees, nor was there
any prospect of an Improvement in
the situation. The strike, however,
will be considered in the chamber of
deputies tomorrow and a solution
may then be furnished.
The cabinet tonight passed decree
authorizing the dismissal of the strik-
ers from the state service, and re-af-
firmed it's determination not to yield
The semi official note giving the re-
suit of the meeting announced that
many merchants have offered to lend
to the government their employees.
This indicated the completeness Of the
tie-up and the extremity to which the
government has been forced.
The note does not mention the
sensational report that the govern
ment intends to call the reservists to
the keys, thus gathering in practical
ly all the male employees and forcing
them to work as soldiers under PEN
atty of mutiny. The report is dis
credited.
On the contrary, it is believed that
Premier Clemenceau seeks only to
save the principle for which he has
contended and that if the chamber
tomorrow indorses the governments
attitude the premier will be ready for
the resignation of M. Simyan, under
secretary of posts and telegraphs, and
thus open the way for negotiations to
end the strike.
Not Delivered.
The last two American mails haXe
not been delivered. The Havas
agency, which receives thousands of
letters daily, did not find any at the
postoffice today. With the failure to
deliver letters in Paris today the
chaos was complete. The entire pub
lie service is paralyzed and business,
both public and private, is in confu-
sion. The undelivered letters number
into the millions and not less than
100000 kilograms were stacked up
this forenoon awaiting distribution.
Foreign incoming mails remain un-
sorted and only a small proportion of
the outgoing mails have been sent
away.
A few hundred military telegraphers
brought into Paris are practically
helpless, as they are not familiar with
the recently installed Baudot instru,-
ments, and foreign kilograms are be-
ing sent to the frontier for re-trans-
mission. Even the sale Of postage
stamps has been discontinued in the
branch postoffices.
The government has managed to
keep several wires open with London
and Berlin for conducting important
diplomatic negotiations.
State Of Siege.
A few more days Of these condi-
tions and Paris will be reduced almost
to state of siege as far as food is
concerned. The funds necessary for
the smooth running Of the provincial
trade are hung up in the postoffice
and the supply of eggs, milk, butter,
meat and country produce threatens
speedily to cease. Already merchants
have been obliged to send agents to
the provinces with ready cash to OBJ
tain supplies. The banks are with
holding payment on checks in the alb
sence Of advices from their CORES
pondents and prices at the stores are
soaring.
A large body Of strikers gathered at
the central telegraph station today
and threatened a breach Of the peace,
but when they found a company Of
infantry in rooms adjoining the build
ing, they left without creating any
disturbance. The real element of dan
ger lies in the threat of the general
confederation Of labor, which is pure
ly a revolutionary organization, and
the railroad union to declare SYM
pathetic strikes. Strangely enough,
amid the intense anxiety the masses
were celebrated at Micarame today,
the usual pleasure-loving crowds as
sembled in the boulevards to witness
the grotesque procession and throw
confetti.
Gain Adherents.
The strikers gained many adherents
today, the men employed on the pneu-
matte tubes joining the movement.
The leaders already are claiming
victory, in spite of the bold front as
sumed by Premier Clemenceau, who
declares the government cannot yield
and intends to have recourse first to
soldiers and then to replace the strik-
ers with new appointees.
The belief is becoming stronger,
however, that the government will be
compelled to make some advances
looking to compromise. In order to
prove their patriotism, the strikers
have detailed two expert operators to
transmit the cipher dispatches which
the government is exchanging with the
powers in connection with the Balkan
crisis.