New-York tribune., 1911-01-12
STRIKES IN PORTUGAL
Majority Of Railway Employees
in Republic Quit Work.
LISBON CLERKS ALSO OUT
Minister of the Interior, Failing
to Settle Railway Trouble,
Resigns.

Lisbon. Jan. 1i.-Antonio Almeida, Min
lister Of the Interior. resigned tonight.
His resignation followed an unsuccessful
attempt which he made during the day TO
! settle the strike Of a majority OF the rail-
road employees in Portugal He has. how
ever. consented to retain his portfolio tenn
/ porarily.
The strike movement has been on foot
/ for several months, and the government
| has been endeavoring TO arrange plan for
meeting such an emergency. The walkout
! Of the railroad men was followed by a
/ strike OF the store clerks Of Lisbon. who
| quit work on the ground that the authori-
! ties had failed TO bring about promised
reforms for the smelioration Of their hours
] of labor. Thus the situation was rendered
more complicated and difficult to handle
/ The Minister Of the Interior spent the
| day in going about among the strikers.
| whom he urged to return to their tasks.
] No conferences were held between the
| minister and the strikers, and tonight
( there was demonstration i'm front Of the
| building occupied by the Ministry.
| The strikers promised, early in the day,
| TO continue international railroad commu-
|
| the dispatch Of trains across the border. In
order TO prevent inconvenience TO passen-
! gers by possible staling.
| The employees of the commercial houses
| quit work on the ground that the govern
ment had failed to issue decree fixing the
| limit Of a days work at twelve hours and
providing one day Of rest out Of seven. As
a consequence Of this action many business
| places IN this city are closed and inc
strikers are making an attempt 20 extend
| the movement to the provinces.
The managers Of the railroads offered
concessions early in tho DAY. but the men
declared that they were not sufficient
| Crowds filed the streets this afternoon, but
no disorder was reported.
Two thousand strikers gathered In front
of the newspaper offices and held meet
| ing Of protest against the existing "ondl-
| tioD OF the workngmen.
The railroads are completely tied up the
length and breadth of Portugal tonight
and the mails are being carried in auto
mobiles. The strikers are orderly. but most
determined in their attitude not to abate
ono iot in their demands.
Tie strike Of the employees Of tho com
mercial houses has not made much prog
ress. and many stores were open this even
ing. Manifestations were held for and
against the strike, and during parade
there we're several collisions and Repuhli-
can Guards were forced to disperse the
crowds. Several arrests were made.
\ large group Of supporters Of the gov
errnept called ON Antonio Almeida and
begged him 10 withdraw his resignation.
All regiments have been confined TO bar
racks The metal workers joined the other
strikers tonight The employers OF the
striking clerks have arrived at a compro-
mise. and that strike is considered nrac-
tically over.
Delegates from the railroad employees and
the directors of the roads spent several
hours in discussing their differences. and a
mixed commission vas appointed 10 draw
up proposal looking to settlement,
The working classes have been requested
not To join in the movement, 50 that dis
turbances may he avoided.
Madrid. Jan. u.-Sehor Castillo, Spanish
Minister Of the Interior. announced to-day
that the railroad strike was general
throughout Portugal and that the Spanish
I
The minister has requested the managers
Of railroads and has telegraphed to the
governors on the frontier 10 advise him in
stantly of any signs Of Spaniards attempt
ing TO cooperate with the Portuguese strik-
ars. The minister understands that the
latter have sent telegraphic messages to
tho Spanish railroad employees appealing
for help.
NIrch Of the unrest I'm Portugal is charged
to the erroneous impression among th'
lower classes that with the overthrow ot
the monarchy all wrongs we're 10 be
righted forthwith. and that the RepuoH-
can government had the power TO grant
almost any demand made upon H.
The maintenance Of a proper balance he
tween capital and labor has been perhaps
the most serious task undertaken 10y the
,yisionaI President. Senior RraEa. and
his associates pending the constitution Of
a ropular and permanent government
SENIOR Machado. the Minister Of Foreign
Affairs. recently said that "a a result at
the series Of strikes beginning in October
MANY thousands Of workmen had received
increased wages He expressed confidence
that The authorities had the situation well
in hand. and was optimistic regarding the
future Of the republic.
OF the 500 miles of railroad "a Portugal,
s72 miles are state owned. Thus. IN any
move against the system IN general. the
government is Immediately involved. .