Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-21
FRENCH MINISTRY SUSTAINED
Chamber Endorses Its Conduct OF
Postal Fight.
FEW MAIL TRAINS ARE MOVING
Soldiers Arc Acting Rs Railway
Clerks and Letter CARRIERS
strike Leaders claim
Victory IL Near.


PARIS, March 9o.-Premler Clcmenceau
and his colleagues faced the strike inter
pellations in the chamber of deputies to-
day with a determination to secure en-
dorsement of the governments position in
the premises or retire from office. They
won for the chamber rejected a reso-
luton providing for a commission TO in
v%estigate the caucus OF the strike. by a
vote OF 34 to 1SS.
From the very outset It was apparent
that the m was with the govern
ment. The socialists conferred their as
saults upon M. Simyan. under secretary of
posts and telegraphs, but they also re-
preached Premier Clemenceau with having
shifted his position since he had reached
the other side of the barricade." They
wanted an investigation of the strike
situation and they pleaded against re-
pressive measures.
The conservatives declared that the gov
eminent was reaping only what 1t had
sown.
They pointed out that the successive radi-
cal government for years had encouraged
the state employees to form associations
and that M. Viviani. minister of labor and
M. Simyan had voted under the deputy
ministry to recognize the right Of the post
men to strike.
NJ. Simyan's defense consisted Of a gen.
eral denial Of the charges Of favoritism
which he declared had been brought by the
employees, because he had refused to &C.
cept their recommendations, He said thai
in his opinion, the leaders for months had
been preparing to strike. Tumult followed
when the under secretary's declaration tina
the principal Leaders Of the strike hat
been endorsed by from ten to fifteen mem
bers of the chamber Of deputies.
Name Them" shouted the members o.
the right. in high glee.
"Subra president of the General Associ
alton Of Postal Telegraph employees ha.
nine endorsements"
Name them" repeated the right; bu.
when M. Simyan turned in that direction
and shouted that the endorsers came from
the right as we'll as from the left Their,
was no further insistence that names bt
mentioned.
Dignified speech of BarthOu.
After an hour of oratory. Minister o
Public Works Barthou mounted the tribun,
and in a dignified speech painted tn
gravity of the situation and the impossi
Unity VI lIb BuNtIIiiltHI yltiuliiB w III
employees who had revolted. The mlniste
said the government was always wtllinl
to discuss the grievances of the employees
associations, but to treat with them upol
a footing of equality would be the com
mencement OF administrative anarchy
Nevertheless he indicated that 1t was tn
governments desire to leave the door opel
for the employees to return to duty.
Salvos Of applause greeted NJ. Barthou'
speech. Then followed what practicall
was a test vote, and the hambe by
majority of 2O6. ordered the speech of tn
minister of public works placarded through
out France. A recess then was taken.
The government, with the aid of mill
tary telegraphers and soldiers acting a
letter CARRIERS, has been successful !
securing a semblance of resumption in a
branches OF the service. Squads of sol
diers have been detailed to act as railroa
mail clerks, and in all about 400 OF tn
military are at work.
In the provinces the strike is CONSTANT
securing new adherents and in many large
~centers It is complete.
The strike leaders claim that victory
within their grasp. Business houses al
using special messenger services to MAR
tain communication with the provinces, q
we'll as points outside OF France.