The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-16
Secretary Cheron Makes Speech.
MORE RIGH1s FOR LABOR
Government Has the Choice of Two
 Policies. '
Political Economist Complies Some startling FiEures on the Wealth of France--weei<'s Gossip
 from Paris. .

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 from Paris.
 BY A. w. L'AMOUREU.
 Paris. May I5.-The Under Secretary for War. Nj. Cheron. has delivered an optimistic speech on the question of the synodical movement in France, and the agitation among the State em- pioyes.
 Referring to the economic changes which have taken place during the last half century, as a general result of which the working man has tended to become isolated, he remarked that the trade union movement was necessary In order to restore the economic ball. ance of power and to protect the rights Of labor. He suggested that the sym dicates conservative was to extend the right of trade unions to own property.
 As regards the civil servant question, M. Cheron laid 1t down as a principle that State employees had no right to strike. but he added that the Govern ment could not prevent them from combining in defense of their profess sionai interests. They furthermore ought to be protected against favor itism.
 The Government and Parliament had the choice od two policies In dealing with the present situation--either blind resistance to the, social movement. winch would be futile and criminal mad ness, or frank examination of the new acts as they arose, confidence in the working classes. and loyal acceptance of the principle that the Republican ideal must now be realized in the eco- homie and social sphere. The latter attitude was the one which the pres ent Government had adopted and in- tended to maintain,
 Donation to Academies.
 The five academies of the Institute of France have accepted an import ant donation offered by the executors of the Due dAumaie. This donation consists of the Dukes private papers, including correspondence of Louis Phil ippe and the Queen, of the Due dor leans. and of the Due d'Aumale. with the Queen of the Belgians.
 It Is understood that these papers throw much light on the fall of the monarchy of July. that of Napoleon III, and on the principal events of the first years of the Third Republic, notably on the negotiations which resulted in the fall of President Thiers. There are also letters treating of the trial of Marshal Bazaine by a courtmartial. of which, 1t will be remembered, the Duke Mdb pT6Si0cHts 4ACbO pAPOAo may hOb be published by the Institute for twen- ty. and In some cases for thirty years. during which period the donors reserve to themselves the sole right of con- suiting them.
 wealth of France.
 viscount Georges d'Avenel. a polit- icai economist. gave a curious histori- cal lecture q few evenings since on the wealth of France.
 His view Is. shat Democracy enrich ed. instead of impoverished a nation, and he certainly proved 1t as far as this country is concerned. France to- day is six times richer than she was under the old monarchy, and ten times richer than In the Middle Ages. Her total fortune amounts to e46.000.- o00,00 as compared with $9, ,00o. .o00, 900 only recently. Moreover her present wealth has been built up almost solely in the last fifty years. Of the great fortunes of the eighteenth century. either in estate or movable property almost none survive today. In partic- ular. the few large landed estates of today have been all formed during the past half century.
 This Is, of course, the country where property is most evenly distributed. and the Viscount gives some remarkable figures in this connection.
 only 5000 persons in France own capital yielding $20,000 a year. and among them only 1,045 have $40.0oo q year. $50 $1O0.OO0 a year. 12O $20o.O00. Ten persons in France enjoy a revenue of Sl,0O0,0 900 a year. E
 The lecturer also mentioned the low pay of civil servants, of whom only 1000 drew salaries of $3.000 a year, which is a small figure as compared with the earnings of men employed in business; the three managers of a cef tain large shop. for instance, which Is orly one of half a dozen similar establishments in Paris. being paid $40, 900 a year eact. Present incomes, in spite of the equalization of prop erty, are far greater than those of past centuries.
 Thus, the total annual revenue of the crown under Saint Louis never reached an amount of purchasing val pe of which today would be $500. 900 and the Queens privy purse was equiv- alent only to $S.000 year. Louis XIV drew the largest income. amounting to the equivalent of $4.2oe.000 atS the present day. The conclusion of the lecturers historical survey of the wealth of France was a prophecy for the future. Three hundred years hence. Socialism will be remembered by historians as a quaint fad, Z and they will be amused to think that for brief period in the past men seri- ously feared it. s Escnpade of Couple.
 Two young people who had fallen In lnya with aarh ofhap raY t0