New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-13
FRENCH STRIKE WEAK
M4NY MEN DISMISSEO'
No Support from Labor Federation
Ministers Confident.

Paris. May 12-The first day of the postal strike
passed peacefully. No disturbances were reported
and the movement appears TO nave Sf'iieu nv
ground. The services in Paris and throughout ule
provinces tonight with the exception OF that OF
the railway mail clerks normal, and as.
result there has been no need to take adVaptase
of the preparations made by the various business
organizations and commercial bodies to carry on
private letter service. ..., =.
The Cabinet tonight summarily. dismissed t"o
hundred and twenty-eight men under. the decree
issued on March IS. which authorized. the as
charge of strikers from the state service anu
made other provisions for dealing Win reca'l7
trants The Ministers are confident mat tne re-
movaI of the principal agitators will crush me
movement
The leaders Of the strike experienced announcer
discourag ement in the failure OF the Miners con
gress at Lens to vote sympathetic strlke' anu
so far none of the trade unions has made a sign
OF joining the movement. The government Is h"1-
rving the preparation Of its promised bill regulat-
ing the status of state employees, which Will De
presented TO a committee OF the Chamber OF Depu-
ties Monday.
Official figures issued tonight place the number
of strikers in Paris as 465 out Of n,06 employees
Owing to the detection of a majority OF the man
clerks the outgoing mails are more or Jess
stranded The hotbed of the previous revolt the
central telegraph bureau, is quiet the night shI'
reporting for duty usual
The only sign of the intention of the outside
unions to take part in the strike movement came
tonight, when at a meeting OF delegates OF inc
united syndicates OF the Department OF the Seine
1t was decided that the moment has come. 10
throw down the barriers separating the state EN-
ployes from the Yorkmen.'
The delegates bound themselves TO start an or
ganzation Of their respective unions. so as TO De
read to march out in body at the moment
general strike vas called and invited the General
Federation of Labor to take all steps necessary "
create general movement in France.
The executive committee OF the Radical Socialist
Z ar,f.fl n
in the Chamber OF Deputies, tonight passed vote
Of censure on the government because Of Its policy
in connection with the present crisis
FEW LARGE CITIES AFFECTED
Reports from the provinces show that the move
ment has not made much Roadway. except at
Havre, where a special service arranged by Inc
Chamber Of Commerce, will be opened, Al Bor-
deaux Lille and Charities conditions are normal
In some cities notably Lyons and Chamoery the
postal employees have openly expressed dlsap-
proval of the strike There is some anxiety at
the Paris hotels. where many Americans are eN-
pecting letters containing drafts, lest these mis-
! carry because Of the strike.
The postal employees held mass meeting to-
night which however. not SO well attended
as that of last night, and adopted resolution 10
continue the strike with undated visor. Prior 10
the opening OF the proceedings reporter OF re-
dictionary newspaper was requested 70 leaVe 'He
building AS he was complying his hat was
knocked his eyes NJ Pauron' one OF lu9
leaders apologzed for this act. az.
II was announced that the number OF sulkers
was growing rapidly, both In Paris and the prov
inces and as instance 1t was said that the
mail clerks on the Lyons Mail had quit work on
the road
In the course Of long speech NJ Pauron said
that violence or destruction Of property by the
strikers would not be tolerated ne salu ina
the men would finish the tasks on which ;hey were
engaged.
Mali. MAY. BE SENT TO BRUSSELS.
Two attachments Of naval mechanics. summoned
from Brest b. the Minister OF Marine have arrived
here and are stationed in the machine iooIs
OF the central postcfnce and the central 'eieepi
bureau The hotelkeepers union has arrahseu
IN take tho mail Of It's foreign guests TO Brussels
whence IL will be sent abroad 1t is also devlsiis
a scheme for the delivery Of the incoming mail
Paris resembled to-day city in state OF siege
Duriug the night troops took possession OF the
central most and telegraph stations. and at daylight
squads Of infantrymen were picketed AROUND every
branch Office The streets are being pairol.eu %
the mounted Republican Guards al exposed tee
graph lines arc being carefully watcheu anu S'1u
srs have been introduced even into the sewers OF
the city to prevent cutting Of wires
Five hundred military telegraphers are held ready
for duty and seve.!I hundred automophes hdVe
bsen rnassed in the Gallerie des Machines ready
To- instant service General Dalstein, the Military
Governor Of Paris. has $1,000 troops in reserve
POOR SHOWING OF STRIKERS.
The strikers have made a poor initial showing
The walls Of Paris are covered ms morning. WI"
their posters announcing that the strike VIII CON
,,e until their grievances redressed, and that
,,.,, ,or+ IN form trades unions will be obtained
cost ,yha+ il may" The first two deliveries OF mail
uero effected without the aid Of troops but distri-
button of the newspaper mail was not attempted
1rha ,ress generally reproaches the Chamber CT
r,euties for its cowardice yesterday in pos'pohlhs
= vote on the postal situation, thus throwing the
entire responsibility the government II Is I'M
derstood however that Premier Ciemenceau pre-
80 M Parliamentary action for tactical reasons
ars+ 70 force the postmen to open battle ana
,acond 10 hermit the government 10 put It's meas
,,res into operation. This places Parliament IN
,tton where It will be compelled TO approve or
abandon the government in the midst of the Crisis.
Irstead Of trying to replace the railroad man
clerks who have gone outs letters are oelhg sor'ed
before they are placed the trains In accordance
with n system previously worked out.
Tho ulaces of the strikers viii be filled by regular
promotions. ....
Eight strikers were arrested while trying TO enter
.ta central bureau at noon here to-day.