Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-06
ALL FRANCE In FERNENT
Power to Put Down Syndicatist Move
ment to Be Tested.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF PREMIER
He Says Right of Public Servants
60 Strike viii Not he Recognized
and Makes Preparations
to Meet Issue.

PARIS, May 5.-Premier C1emenceau has
apparently taken the bit in his teeth and
has decided to. test the power of the gov
eminent TO put down the present 'syndi-
cteist" movement, 50 far as it affects
state employees. evenlGf this involves the
precipitation of the Threatened general
strike. Dangerous signs are manifest
throughout the country, and foreign as
well as French, observers are of the~opin-
ion that the belated determination of the
government to vindicate itself is coming.
The recent gigantic strides Of ~"syndical-
ism" and its arrogant attitude. under the
leadership of the General Federation of
Labor, with which the various classes of
state employees now insist upon affiliating.
menacing a general strike for the eman-
cipation Of the p~roletariat," has created
something approaching a public panic.
Judging by the tone of the press and reso-
lutions recently voted by provincial coun-
ellis, the property interests of the country
will undoubtedly support any measures
the government may take, no matter how
rigorous, which would end the intolerable
agitation.
Radicals Encourage AEitatOrs
The attitude of the Combes and other
radicals which encouraged state servants
to form unions. even in the navy yards
and the records of NJ. NJ. Barthou atd
Viviani, respectively ministers OF public
works and labor, nave heretofore embar-
raised NJ. Clemenceau, but since the visit
of King Edward, who, it is understood. let
the premier see the anxiety existing
abroad that France was drifting into a
condition approaching anarchy, M. Glenn
enceau resolved TO act. At Nice he pro-
claimed the governments intention not to
tolerate the right of its servants To strike.
and as soon as he returned TO Paris he be
gan to elaborate preparations to meet n
possible general strike,
A regiment OF trained telegraph operators
were distributed among the wireless sta
tions established on the southern and east
ern frontiers 10 supplement the warships
on the coast and to insure communication
with Eiffel tower. The various chambers
of were sounded with regard to
I cooperation with the postal service and
automobile dealers were asked the number
Of machines they could furnish the govern
ment. Then suddenly, right and left. the
suspension Of the chief agitators began.
Seventy-eight men were suspended in three
days.
GOvcrnment's mn Tells.
The agitators retaliated by threatening
a new strike, with the support Of the
General Federation Of Labor whose affili-
ated associations, such as the railroad en-
ployes. representing 1000 men, have IN the
last two days adopted resolutions of SYM
pathy. The state employees have been IN
vited 10 join IN this agitation, but never
theless the first sign Of the governments
firmness made a real impression and tho
loyal employees, hitherto silent, are now
making their voices hear6 I'm protest.
The secretary Of the general association
has issued an appeal to 7o.oN state en-
ployes, pointing ont the PRIVILEGES which
thcy enjoy, the security Of employment and
the guaranteed promotion and pensions,
ard the absurdItv Of demanding the right
to strike be accorded to workmen as 4
weapon with which to fight a lockout. Tn
fortunately, the reactionary parties which
have the most 10 gain from the triumph!