The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-07
7 !, RANCE IS NOW
 GREATLY EXCITED AND
 ANYTHING MAY OCCUR
Rumors of Royallst Aid To the Unions Are Spreading and Even RevoIu- tion Is Predicted by Some,
 But Secuted by Others.

Paris, May 6-The famous P T. T., that is, the Posts, Telegraph and Tee- phone Employees association today threw down the gage of battle to the govern ment by transforming itself Into a synd- l cate or union under the law of 1884, thus placing the association on the same foot ing with workmen's unions with the right to strike against the state employer, as the workmen have the privilege of doing against private employers.
 1 This defiance, which is nothing short of open revolt, came as sudden and sensa- tional sequel of Premier Clemenceaus i failure this afternoon to receive a depu- ] tion of postal employees who called to present demands for the redemption of promises which they claim the govern ment made when the recent strike was 1 declared off. The premier was i'll and 1 confined to his room, but the delegates pretended to believe that his ndisposition 1 was simulated Their failure to be re- ceived, however, served as a pretext for 1 springing the surprise they had secretly l prepared and within an hour the trans formation Of the association into na- tional syndicate was announced and the statutes of the organization officially filed in the city hall.
 Coup De Theatre.
 It was what the French call coup de ! theai7e, heg If it proves successful it will
 be mare iil., 4 coue d'etst. as its Purpose I is to make. the employees the Irt,,ters ana l notSSila se.ssAiIts os the state The stat | in form those of the workmen's unions. They declare the purpose to defend eco
 homie interests and give moral and mate rial support to members having differ ences with the administration and further to seek the passage of economic and so- cial laws in the interest of the organl. zation A committee Is created follow ing the lines of trades unions to act as intermediary in such differences. and members are forbidden under penalty of | losing their membership to present issues which may arise personally to the admin | istrauon. The most serious aspect of the situation is the fact that the leaders in 1 this movement are undoubtedly hand in l glove with the moving spirits of the gen 1 eral federation of labor. which is now uni versally recognized as a revolutionary or | ganization and which has for long time | been preparing for a general strike to destroy capitalism" The suppression l of this organization has frequently been contemplated by the French government.
 Some Eyes Opened.
 Fortunately, a considerable portion of the postal employees have had their eyes | opened to the revolutionary venture on l which the militants propose to embark l and have broken away. There are loyal servants enough to form working nu- cleus to fight general strike, which to- night is considered a matter of hours. The government, which claims to be pre- 1 pared for any eventuality, it is conceded must now act vigorously or abdicate, and the leaders of the movement apparently have no option but to declare a strike l the moment the government makes hos 1 tile turn. The entire country is tremen- | dously excited by the violent agitation of I all sorts to which it has been subjected | for months, and real fears are enter l tained that whirlwind will be unclaimed. | There are even intimations In some quar- ters that the royalists and other reaction aries are furnishing funds to stir up a revolution fin the hope of eventually im- 1 posing new regime No level-headed observer, however, seriously thinks the republic is fin danger.
 No Sign of Action.
 | Up to a late hour tonight the gov ernment had given no sign as to what l move it intended to make in answer to l the postal employees action In the mean | time the latter have not been idle The railroad porters, at a meeting, indorsed l the syndicate movement and voted In l favor of the principle of a general strike. 1 A delegate of the Marseiles section in ! formed the meeting that the support of l the Seamen's union could be counted 1 upon.
 statutes of the new syndicate Is now in sthe hands of the attorney general. to whom the city hall officials forwarded l the document in regular course, for an | opinion as to whether it compiled with the conditions of the law in 1884
 Employees of the central postoffice also voted the principle of a general strike at l meeting tonight, at which the speakers were for the most part. suspended or dismissed postal employees.
 Sentenced To Prison. l Rouen. May 6-M Marck treasurer of l the General Federation of Labor, who was arrested four days ago on charge of i insulting a magistrate, was today sen 1 fenced 10 imprisonment TOT three months. ] As he heard the decision of the court he | cried: This may save your republic, l but doubt it."
 Syndicate Indorsed.
 l Lille, France, May 6--The Lille section 1 of the posts, telegraphs and telephones 1 association tonight indorsed tho syndicate 1 established by the central body in Paris | Preparing for Trouble.
 Lyons, France, May 6.-The chamber of | commerce and the merchants association | here have combined in an organization of an emergency postal service, in antioipa- tfon of strike in Parfn