The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-07
4 GREAT STRIKE
M{NACING PARIS
Postal Employees Throw Down
The Gauntlet to Premier
Clemenceau.
MUST ACT OR ABDIcATE
MUST ACT OR ABDIcATE
WORKERS SEEK TO BE THE MAS
TIERS AND NOT THE SERVANTS
or THE sTATE-THE siTuA.
TIoN Is CRITICAL.

: Paris, May THE recent strike by
the postoffice employees found a sensa-
tional sequel yesterday when the
gauntlet was thrown down to the
prime minister of France. A general
strike is considered only matter OF
hours.
The Postal Telegraphs and Tele-
phones Employees Association has
transformed itself into syndicate. or
union, under the law of 1884. thus
placing the association on the same
footing with workmer's unions, with
the right to strike against the state
employer as the workmen have the
privilege of doing against private en-
ployers.
Must Act or Abdicate.
This defiance. which. is nothing
short OF open revolt. came Suddenly
after Premier Clemenceau's failure to
receive deputation of postal en-
ployes, who called to present demands
for the redemption of promises which
they claim the government made when
the strike was declared off.
The government, which claims to
be prepared for any eventuality. it is
conceded must now act vigorously or
abdicate, and the leaders of the move
ment apparently have no option but
to declare a strike the minute the
government makes a hostile turn.
The entire country is tremendously
excited by the violent agitation of all
sorts, to which it has been subject
for months, and fears are entertained
that a whirlwind will be unclaimed.
There are even intimations in some
quarters that the Royalists and other
reactionaries are furnishing funds to
stir up revolution in the hope OF
eventually imposing a new regime,
No level headed observer, however
seriously thinks the republic is in
danger.
Claim illness Was Simulated.
The premier was i'll in his room
when the delegation called, but they
pretended to believe that his indispo
laiti0n was. simulated. Their failure ia
be received, however, served as a pre-
text for springing the surprise they
secretly had prepared, and within an
hour the Transformation of the asso
citation into national syndicate was
announced.
It was what the French call a cour
de theatre. but II 1t proves successful
it will be more like coup detat, al
its purpose is to make the employe,
the masters and not the servants o.
the state.
The statutes of the organization fol
low strictly in form those Of the work
mems organization. They declare thu
purpose to defend economic interests
and give moral and material supper
to members having differences will
the administration, and further t.
seek the passage of economic and SO
cial laws in the interest Of the organ
ization.
] Leaders Aligned With Radicals.
A committee is created. followin,
the lines Of trades unions. to act Al
Intermediary In such differences an,
members are forbidden under penalt,
of losing their membership to presen
issues which may arise personally t,
the administration
The most serious aspect of the sit
uation is the fact that the leaders ii
this new movement are undoubtedl,
hand-in-glove with the moving spirit
OF the General Federation Of Labor
which universally is recognized as
revolutionary organization and whicl
has for long time been preparing
for general strike to destroy "car
italism." The suppression Of this OF
ganization frequently has been cor
templated by the government.