The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-05-07
employees OF
STATE FORM. A
LABOR UNION
French Postal. Telegraph and
Telephone Service Threat
ened by Strike.
EFFORT BEING MADE TO
TIP GOVERNMENT OVER
SITUATION SERIOUS ~ SOME AS
PECTS-WHOLE COUNTRY IN
STATE OF EXCITEMENT.


To5lua. Mag 6-T1e armored /.
% cruiser Conde has been ordered to
e rc:n1in ~ y ia Fra1.he and keep d:
o. Up Constant communication with q.
" zinc Wireless station on Eifel :
" tower g"
Lille. Frame. May 6.-The Lille &.
D.. section of the Posts. Telegrsphs d:
Q and Telephones a-sociat ton tonight .
d" endorsed jhe syndicate esta blishcd G.
e by the central bodies in Pars-
e. Lyons. France May 6-The .
4" chamber Of commerce and the 4.
ID. merchants associations here have /.
d" combined in the organization of q.
d" an emergency postal service in 9.
o anticipation Of strike in Paris .
Paris Nay 6.-The famous p. IT. T.
that is the Postal Telegraph K Tele-
phone Employees association, today
threw down the gauge of battle TO the
government by Transforming itself into
q syndicate or union. under the law Of
1881. This places the association or
the same footing with workmen's
unions. with the right to strike.
This defiance. which is nothing short
of open revolt. came as a sudden and
sensational sequel to Premier Clemen-
ceau's failure today TO receive d depu-
tation of postal employees, who called
10 demand the redemption of promises
they claim the government made when
the recent strike Was declared Off.
Premier Was iil.
The premier was i'll. but the deIega-
ton pretended 20 believe his indisposi-
ton was simulated. Their failure to
be received. however. served as a pre-
text for springing their surprise, and
an hour later che transformation of the
association into a national syndicate
was announced and the statutes of the
organization were officially filed in the
city hail
II was what the French call a coup
de theatre but If it proves successful
it would be more like coup d'etat. as
its purpose is to make the employees
masters. and not the servants, ofl the
state,
The rules Of the organization follow
strictly I'm the form of those OF the
workmcn's organization. They declare
their purpose to defend economic i'll
terests and give moral and material
support to members having differences
with the administration. \ committee
is created. following the Ines of trades
=
difficulties, anC members are forbid
den. under penalty of losing their
membership. TO present issues prin-
cipally to the administration.
Revolutionary Aspect.
The most serious aspect of the situa-
ton is the fact thar the lee 'erS are un-
doubtedly hand in glove with the NOV
ing spirits of the general federation Of
labor. which is now universally Tecog-
nized as a revolutionary rTganiZation.
and which has for a long time been
preparing for general strike 90 de-
stroy Capitalists
The suppression OF tn s organization
has frequently been contemplated by
the French government.
Fortunately. a considerable proper
tion of the pos al employees have had
their ewes opened 10 the revolutionary
venture and have broken away There
are enough loyal servants TO form
working nucleus To- fight against the
strike. which tonight is considered d
matter of hours.
Government Prepared.
The government which claims to be
prepared fOr any eveUtuality. IL Is con-
ceded must now act vigorously or alb
dictate The leaders of the movement
have no option but TO declare a strike
the minute the government tldNtS al
hostile turn. The entire country Is ire
mendouslv excited by The violent agi-
tation To Ulich it has been subjected
for months. and fears are entertained
that whirlwind viii be unclaimed.
There are even intimations that the
moralists and other react Onaries are
furnishing funds TO stir up revolu-
ton. in the hope ~ imposing new
regime. No Ievsi-hedded observer,
however. seriously thinks the republic
is in danger.
EMPLOYEES Of the central pOStofiice
voted i'm favor of the principle Of a
general strike at Il meeting tonight. II
Which the sDea1 crS were Tor the most
part suspended or dismissed postal en-
ployes.
Prosecution Probable.
NJ Simyan. under secretary OF posts anu
telegraphs. made the following statement
tonight:
name OF the government that were the
syndicate formed TODAY a thousand times
a. pov-erTuI as 10 viii ever he. We VIII
never recognize its existence. never recog- .
r,ize It's delegates. nor enter into rca atoms
for discussion with its otficers, members
or persons connected with it
The high official stated that tine law u
very clear and that the new syndicate .
does not comply with its conditions Inc 3
attorney general therefore viii obtain a I
decree before the Seine tribunal dissolving F.
the syndicate. II it persists in holding
meetings its officers VIII be prosecuted I
under the law Of association OF 1901. The I
governments preparations for the strike I.
were completed ten "a vs. ago. when thirty I.
confidential messengers were dispatched /
with secret instructions 10 the project Of !