New-York tribune., 1909-03-16
POSTS AND WIRES TIED
GENERAL PARIS STRIKE.
Men, Ho5ceUcr, Hare Slight Hope of
.SuCccSS-4 Riot.

Paris March ia general strike of the
,sleEraphers Of the Postoffice Department was
declared this evening following meeting of
,he General Association Of Post Telegraph En-
Moves at khich five thousand men were present.
The resolution to strike was voted without a
single dissenting vote. and orders were issued
Immediately for the withdrawal Of all operators
,norloved in the Geographic bureaus Of the de-
pa-tment
The resolution recites that the action is taken
IS 4 protest against arbitrary and tyrannicaI
administration, and that the decision was pre-
.rirltsted by an insult addressed by NJ Simyan
T-rse- Secretary Of Posts and Telegraphs, to the
officials OF the association Some time prior to
taking a vote the General Association Of En-
Moves issued a statement, protesting vigorously
against NJ. simyan's charge that the movement
vas gnarchistic, saying that it was intended
solely 10 protect their interests.
The resolution adopted also pledges the men,
hers OF the association to resistance until all
measures OF repression have been withdrawn.
and provides that an urgent appeal shall be is
sued 10 the telegraph operators in the provinces
10 ioir the movement
The meeting broke up without disturbance Of
s7v kind. and the services Of heavy force of
reserves Of police and mounted municipal guards
s9,our the building were not required The COM
,rittees Of the various branches OF the service
Immediately declared themselves permanent.
snd began active work in organizing the strike
Nevertheless. the general opinion was. as the
men and women returned 70 their homes, that
the strike would be only partial. and that it
would probably be short lived Many Of them
admitted that il was simply demonstration
INDIGNATION. AGAINST NJ. sIMYAN.
Al the meeting of the General Association all
the speeches indicated that the indignation Of
-be telezraphers vss directed primarily against
" sinvan. who is exceedingly unpopular not
only with the post and telegraph employees but
with the public. on account Of the execrable
telephons service.
The women operators employed in the tele-
-hors bureaus in The afternoon had unanimous
IL decided TO abide by the decision OF to-night's
meeting while $50 railway mail clerks, due TO
start on outgoing trains during the course OF
the evening also decided TO await that decision
The strike therefore involves the various
branches of the service These branches are
nov more or less crippled. but by no means
rs-sIvzed Less than a third OF the railway
mail clerks failed to report for duty
The government put forth every effort 70 pre-
ss-re International communication. but the cen
rrsf telegraph station vas demoralized tonight
ana practically out Of commission. communica-
rion abroad through this station stopping at 3
o'clock The Bourse station. however was al
most normal. and there was not much interfer-
ence with the telephone service. as far as could
Re ascertained at late hour
" Pataud. Secretary Of the Electricians
I-nion. who had openly threatened TO call out
the electricians. made no move to DO So The
real test OF The extent and the seriousness OF
the strike will come when the day shift reports
for duty. at O'Clock tomorrow morning.
LONDON MESSAGES VIA NEW YORK
Both telegraph and telephone communication
with London was greatly interrupted, not so
17uch OF account Of the strike. however, as Of
fierce storm which prevailed during the night
Some Of the London correspondents are sending
rhei- dispat tches BIZ way OF New York 70 which
both land lines Of the cable remain open
The English postmen have telegraphed $4,000
70 the strikers
Eight railroad mail clerks were brought up in
E police court to-day, charged with insulting
NJ Simyan. The hearing noisy one II.
Tbihault. one Of the leaders, made stump
speech in his own defence in spite Of the pro
. tests OF the judge. He said that a system Of
tyranny existed in the postal service and that
rrorotjon depended on favor1tisrn- He said that
men holding socialist OF clerical opinions were
kent down and insisted that the real cause of
n. trouble was TO be found in this injustice
All the accused persons were sentenced 10 i'm
When the telegra pliers at the central station
learned Of these convictions, they INDUCED in q
violent demonstration. n. Lkpine and de-
tzchment Of police entered the building and ar
rested four of the leaders. Windows were
unashed and many instruments were demol-
ished number Of women tainted.
All the telegrapheTs who refused 10 work were
suspended and expelled from the building. A
number OF instruments AT this station were
short-circuited. and useless.
band OF twenty striking pcstnnent appeared
a. various branch Offices this afternoon and
urged their comrades TO stop work and join the
strike. They were not notably successful.
The telegraph service suffered during the day,
the operators ignoring the messages which piled
UP in the ofices- Dispatches from Lyons, Mar
selIles and other cities report excitement among
the postal employees.
Detachr1ents OF police and municipal guards
surround the postoffice buildings. and regi-
rnent Of infantry is camped in the court yard
Mall wagons are being driven through the
streets under military escort.
NJ Jaures the Socialist leader in the Chamber
of Deputies. has published article laying thc
blsrne for the situation upon N. Simyan, NJ
Bsrthou. Minister Of Public Works Premier
Clsrercssu and "otEler false Republicans ii
charge Of the government"