The Washington herald., 1909-05-16
Foreign.


the chance that the Chamber Of Depu-
ties would show some sign OF intervening
in their favor, the leaders OF the union
postal employees ordered a strike Of the
entire service throughout the country.
That night q great meeting OF the strikers
vas held al Paris, attended BY 1000 per
sons or more Since the previous strike
six weeks ago the postal and other state
employees have formally affiliated with the
General Labor Federation, and this fact
gave the present movement far greater
possibilities. although in the interval the
government has made elaborate p7epara-
tons TO carry on the public services
without the strikers.
The calling Of the new strike was said
By the union leaders 10 be due 70 the faII-
ure Of the CIemenceau government TO
keep its promises as to>the dismissal Of
Under Secretary Simyan. and to the dis
missal Of several prominent employees
who had insisted upon their right 10
speak their radical opinions on May Dav
The government had asked the courts 20
dissolve the pOstmans' union. The argu-
ment at the meeting was that the gov
eminent was playing for time and that
they must not be caught mapping" The
chamber mad adjourned over 10 Thurs
Gay, without taking action, and the reply
Of the postmen came in the form OF a
strike order in half an hour. The original
occasion Of the strike was the attempt 70
change the plan OF promotions from that
OF seniority to merit, in such a way as
70 enable the officials 10 interfere with
the political opinions OF the employees.
On Wednesday the government as
serted its dignity by dismissing from the
postal service 22S employees who had Join
ed the new union contrary 70 the orders
OF their sCperiors. More dismissais were
expected. and there were few signs I'D
to that date Of q rapid extension Of the
strike
Leaders Of the political parties in Porto
Rico are quoted rs being deeply offended
by the Taft message TO Congress. Ri
vera, the UniCnist leader. SAYS that il
viii cause disc0nteat among the people.
and predicts future conflicts in conse-
QueDce- Iglesias. the labor leader. COM
plains because the message puts the
blame on all parties. whereas he says
the Cnionists vert solely responsible for
the deadlock A similar criticism was
made by Barbarosa, the Republican lead
er
The American Liberian Commission ar
rived AZ Monrovia, Liberia. May s. aboard
the scout cruiser Chester. and was vel
coined by the people Of the black repub-
hc with many evidences Of good win
Stores were closed and general holiday
was proclaimed The commissioners were
escorted 20 the American legation
The outbreak Of the Albanian garrison
at Uskup Tuesday. about 100 miles north
Of Saloniki. where the deposed Sultan of
Turkey IS prisoner. was believed at
Constantinople 10 be the beginning Of an
uprising under the leadership of the
Sultan's son. Berrhen-Edd.n, for the DUR
pose OF reinstating Abdul Hamid on the
throne The new Sultan has insisted upon
his constitutional share in the govern
ment, resenting the course OF the Young
Turk officers in ordering executions with
out first getting his consent. The min
listers nave acted with frmness and
energy in the measures taken 10 prevent
the renewal Of the massacres. in pressing
the trial Of the responsible officials and
IN sending medical relief and food 70 the
starving thousands. although the relief
is far from adequate as yet More fight
ing has occurred in the vicinity OF Mar
ash. The American missionaries at Ad
ana report that they have enough helm
at present to care for the sick and wound
ed and that the mills are again grinding
On Monday at ConstantinoDls was per
formed the ceremony Of girdlng the sword
Of Osnan on the new Sultan. Mohamued
V which IS comparable to the crowninC
Of 4 king or emperor For the first time
Christians were permitted 10 attend the
ceremony IN the mosque. Standing in the
open square before the group OF build
ings called the sublime porte. the Sultan
drew the sword OF his ancestor. Osnan
I. and raising il toward heaven thus
symbolized that he had taken possession
OF the empire This action was followed
by trUmpets and the firing OF a salute By
the troops present. and by the shouts OF
the spectators. Above al this din rose
sharp snd-clear the chorus Of schOoIboys
intOning the Midhat Pasha'S hymn OF
liberty. The Sultan was dressed in a
uniform Of dark green khaki The
Sheik-ui-Islam had handed the sword to
tae Sultan during the services in the
mosque, and another official had girded
It on At the end OF the ceremonies.
which lasted five hours. the Sultan re-
turned across the Golden Horn in a state
barge. propelled by eighteen rowers in
white six tunics and red breeches
Another picturesque feature Of the day
was the pIoughing Of a furrow by the
Sultan, ostensibly 10 test his physical