Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-07

| PARIS. May 6.--The famous z. L.
THAT is, the Postal, Telegraph ana
Telephone Employees association -
threw down the gage of battle to the
government today by Transforming u
self into syndicate or union, under
the law of 1884. This places the asso-
citation on the same footing WIN WORK
mems unions with the right to strike
This defiance. which is nothing short
of open revolt came as sudden ana
sensational sequel to Premier Cleinen-
ceau's failure today to receive a depu-
tation of postal employees who called
to demand the redemption of promises
they claim the government mace Wheh
the recent strike was declared on.
The premier was ILL., but the deleSa-
tion pretended to believe his indisposi-
ton was simulated. Their failure 10
be received, however served as pre-
text for springing their surprise, anu
an hour later the Transformation OF
the association into a national synoi-
cate was announced, and the statutes
of the organization were ofhclally hleu
in the city hall.
II was what the French call a coup
de theater but if it proves suecessful 1t
will he more like a coup detat, as
its purpose is to make the employees the
masters and not the servants OF the
state.
The rules of the organization follow
strictly in form to those OF the WORK
mems organization. They declare the
purpose is to defend economic interests
and given moral and material support
to members having differences with
the administration.
Commission Created
commission is created following
the lines of trades unions to act as in
termediary in such differences, and
members are forbidden under penalty
of losing their membership to present
issues personally to the administration.
The most serious aspect of the situa-
ton is the fact that the leaders are
undoubtedly hand-in-glove with the
moving spirits of the General Fedora
ton of Labor, which is now universally
recognized as a revolutionary organi-
cation. and which has for long time
been preparing for a general strike to
destroy capitalists"
The suppression of this organization
has frequently been contemplated by
fhe French government Fortunately, a
considerable proportion of the postal
employees have had their eyes opened to
the revolutionary venture on which the
militants propose to embark and have
broken away.
There are enough loyal servants to
form a nucleus to fight a general strike,
which is tonight considered matter of
hours.
The government, which claims to be
prepared for any eVentuality, 1t is con-
coded must now act vigorously or abdi
cate. The leaders of the movement
have no option but to declare strike
the minute the government makes
hostile turn.
The entire country is tremendously
excited by the violent agitation to which
it has been subjected for months, and
fears are entertained that a whirlwind
will be unclaimed.
There are even limitations that the
moralsts and other reactionaries are
furnishing funds to stir up revolution
in the hope of imposing new regime.
No level-headed observer, however,
seriously thinks the republic is in
danger
Employees of the central postoffice
voted in favor of principle of a gen
eral strike at a meeting tonight at
which the speakers were for the most
part suspended or dismissed postal en-
ployes.
Makes Statement
M. Simyan, under secretary of posts
and telegraphs, made the following
statement tonight:
II declare in my own name and the
name of the government, that were the
syndicate formed today a thousand
times as powerful as it will ever be,
we will never recognize its existence,
never recognize its delegates nor enter
into relations for discussions with its
officers. members or persons connected
with it,"
He said the law was very clear and
that the new syndicate did not COM
ply with its conditions. The attorney
general therefore, would obtain de-
cree before the Seine tribunal dissolv-
ing the syndicate. If it persisted in
holding meetings its officers would be
prosecuted under the law of association
of 1901.
The governments preparations for
the strike were completed ten days ago.
when thirty confidential messengers
were dispatched with secret instruc-
tions to the project of every department
i'm France.