New-York tribune., 1909-03-15
PARIS FEARS 4 STRIKE
TELEGR1PHERS ANGRY.
Telephone Employees and Ra'i7ray
Nail Clerks Join Forces.

Paris March 14--Paris is now threatened
with a general strike OF the telegraphers ana
telephone employees in the bureaus Of the post
Office As result Of the energetic measures OF
the authorities in suppressing the strike OF the
teleef-al,lers which isolated Paris for four hours
YESTERDAY forty OF the ringleaders. including
ten railway mail clerks who refused 70 board
their trains have been suspended. pending dis
rnissai from The service. Eight Of those who
took mart in the riot in the Central Telegraphic
Bureau % the Postoffice on Friday night are
under arrest The president Of the General As
sociation Of Postal Telegraph Employees. NJ
Suhra. is among those suspended
The associations of the various branches Of
the service held secret meetings to-day. A
meeting Of the General Association will be held
Tomorrow when final action viii be taken The
feeling seems to be against an amicable settle
rnent Many Of the employees have voted fer a
strike. while the railway mail clerks have voted
70 hold solidly together in any action which
may be taken.
The regular labor leaders. like NJ Pataud.
secretary OF the Electricians Union, are doing
their utmost to bring about a strike. They are
offering 10 cooperate with the postal employees,
IN the hope Of accomplishing the object for
which they have long labored-to induce the
state servants 10 make common cause with the
labor organizations.
nent revolutionary. NJ. Simyan, Under secre-
tary OF Posts and Telegraphs, has issued orders
TO the sub-chiefs TO suspend every employe
guilty Of insubordinatfon and the military op-
orators are in readiness at Versailles 10 take the
places OF the strikers Although the government
appears confident that il will be able TO insure
public services. there is apprehension that if a
strike is declared It viii spread quickly TO the
provinces. and that the telegraph and mail ser
vices viii be paralyzed.
The main cause Of yesterdays trouble the
attempt OF the postal telegraph employees to OBJ
:ain a reversal Of the governments plan. with
the approval Of Parliament. 70 introduce par
tial merit system of promotion 10 replace the
previous system Of promotion, which was solely
on seniority The new system is similar TO that
fn vogue in the French army.
The general labor situation in France has
caused alarm for years. The labor Organiza-
lions. in the eyes OF the government, tyran-
nical. and the General Confederation OF Labor
IS an almost avowed revolutionary organization.
The government has dismissed in the last two
years a number Of state servants VINO were
agitating in favor Of affiliating with this organ
ization.-
The strike leaders conferred in secret far into
the night. drawing up plans for tomorrow. In
addition 10 the telesraphers. the railway clerks
the accountants and the linemen's organization.
five thousand strong. have adhered 10 the plan
for general strike. and il is likely that the
telephone employees viii join the others.
The government has not been idle Premier
Clemenceau. NJ. Barthou. Minister OF Public
Works. N. BRAND Minister Of Justice, and Sec
retary Si.nyan discussed to-day the means for
coping with the trouble which would follow a
general strike. Normal conditions prevail to-
night. however.
Secretary Simyan reported d few cases Of dis
order and some slight damage TO the lines, but
beyond that there has been nothing TO show that
q serious movement is contemplated. a com
pany Of infantry has been kept in readiness for
emergencies, and the general postOffice and the
branch Offices are ali guarded by the police
The movement has not Yet touched the prov
inces. with the exception Of few cities in the
south, where the te!egrapilers have suspended
work