The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-20
CRISIS REACHED IN SPANISH RIOTS Government Has Suspended Constitutional Guarantee A STRIKE IS CALLED Commune Proclaimed in Two Towns
 Near Valencia Where Mob
 tttasks Officials aae Furiously
A STRIKE IS CALLED

1 Madrid September 19.-Spain is facs to l face with crisis equal in gravity to | that following the riots In Barcelona in l 1959 The situation is bad The agitation and the power of the agitators on the
 masses have increased in proportions to l the government.
 1 What at it's origin was purely labor 1 movement, has now developed into 'evo- l lutionary conflict. a commune having act | ually been proclaimed at two towns near l Valencia. At these places the authorities | were driven out of the districts.
 | The affiliated trades unions have de- cided to call a general strike tomorrow l throughout the length and breadth of Spain, and the government, abandoning l the tone of optimism heretofore maintain l ed. practically decided upon drastic steps ]! Of ''suspending the constitutional guaran- tees'' throughout the whole country. 1 It was explained however, that in so doing the government did not seek to per- 1 secute the trades unions but it was male | quite clear that any attempts to stir I'D | a rebellion would be vigorously punished l All meetings have been forbidden The | military authorities, 1t has been stated os- | ficially, will not assume control except in 
 extreme cases.
 "The grave measure we have taken is absolutely imperative not only for the de- | fense of public institutions but for so- ciety itself,'' said Premier Canaljes to- night The suspension of the constitu- tional guarantees had been decided upon 1 by the government in the presence of q movement unmistakably revolutionary and anarchistic in character--a movement 1 it may be assumed directed against all | social order.''
 The Spanish government had long been l aware that some such movement was con- l templated for the end of September but 1 was unwilling to take radical measures I until its true character was apparent. The | movement was supported by the socialists l and possibly by the extreme republican l party and was directed by committees l composed of Spaniards and foreigners l with headquarters at Barcelona
 1 Emissares were sent throughout the I peninsula with instructions to foment gen eral strikes in all the provinces, the ob- l iect being to paralyze the life<of the na- ton by stopping all public services. The | government laid plans accordingly and is resolved upon the re-establishment as | rapidly as possible and at any cost. Late l despatches from Barcelona and Sara gossa say that all is quiet in those cities.
 1 Extraordinary precautions have been l taken. All pOllcemen were armed Wltn riot carbines. Premier Caneljas was
 called 10 the palace late tonight to re-
 port upon the situation to King Alfonso. On leaving the palace he told the news | paper men that the situation generally
 was improved, except In the Valencia I region. 1 Valencia, Spain. September 19,-Rioting 1 was renewed here tonight, resulting in | the death of one workman and the wound- l ing of many more. One mob threw up
 barricade and derailed tram car while another tried to storm convent | It Is reported the inhabitants of one | town who had 'revolted burned public l brlldines. dynamited a bridge and cut the | railroad This was done before troops
 were sent from Valencia to Alcor when I news of the luprsng reached here. l Troops were sent 10 Carcargente also | in revolt. and to sCullsra. where Monday i q judge engaged in the trial of rioters l was killed and several of his court oft
 cers were wounded.
 I 4 band. of 3Al0 men Is roaming over the 1 countryside fomenting disturbances. The presidents Of several unions have pro- tested against the action of the anarch- ists, declaring that they went on strike
 only in sympathy with their colleagues ir Pilbao and had no revolutionary in entions. I f
 Biltao Septesnhce. la--Troops this aft
 cYnoon fired on a crowd that was endeav- oilr9 to free prisoners. including stiiSe leauers. who were hei,s taken through te streets Twenty-siv persons were wounded. The situation is grave.
 Madrid, september 19.--Martlnl law has