The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-02-22
ROW AMONG
SOCIALISTS
TO.BE BIGGER
In France after the War Ends
Than Ever According to
Some Observers.

PARIS. Feb. 22-The breach be-
tween the revolutionary faction ana
The less violent element of the Social
Isl party In France IL likely 10 De
wldened by contentious over labor
conditions during the war the
sacred union" OF all parties, helpe1
By the censor has kept the strife I'M
der cover since the beginning OF hos
tilities, but there are many signs now
that the fire is smoulderlng
A. Merrheln, secretary OF the
Metal Workers Union and one OF
thu militants Of the revolutionary
party, and A. Bourderon, another
leader OF the Confederation General
dc Travail general labor federation)
attended the International Socialist
conference at ZImmerwald, Switzer.
land, in September last, and signed
Inc joint manifesto OF the French
and German delegates. That deciarn-
lion attributed to the governments
ofall the nations at war responsibility
for the war; it also averred that the
sacred union" declared in all the
bellgerent countries profted only
the capitalist regime.
As the result of their participation
in the Zimmerwald conference, Com
radcs Merrheim and Bourheron were
declared suspected" by the sections
of the Socialist party of the depart
ment of Seine, and all members were
invited to "keep ,aloof from them.
80 long us the war lasts, or so
long as martial law is maintained we
can do nothing" said Merrhelm TO
the Associated Press, but as soon us
the war is over there will be rem
dering of accounts; our action then
may be very abrupt and violent.
Merrheim and his comrades OF the
General Federation Of Labor repudt-
ate utterly the Socialist politicians
deputies and minister's; they are ad-
vocates of direct action" cold Of the
routine of politics. The Metal Work
ers' Union, however. maintained re-
lations with the Socialist minister OF
munitions, Albert Thomas, until the
last of May. when they sent him an
ultimatum declaring that II certain
conditions which they regarded as
abuses in the munition factories were
not abolished in two months from
that date, the secretary should cease
relations with him on that subject.
Merrheim declares that the work.
ers are not getting their share OF the
three hundred and sixty million dol
lars the government is distributing
monthly in France.
He exhibited Il letter from a me-
chanic earning S5 confines ~
centsJ an hour making shells, who
complained that BARRIERS, saloon
keepers, painters and masons as
signed through political influence to
the same work made from one franc
GEO cents) to one france 20 confines
GA cents) an hour. The average
wages of lathe workers before the
war was one franc 20 centinles an
hour.
Isolated cases of discrimination
always have and always will exist,
said one of the most important steel
manufacturers in France, expressing
the other side OF the question; "spe-
cial circumstances modify conditions;
during the war they have favored the
steel worker more than the shell
manufacturer. There was no basis
for the value Of the labor required
to make shells in most mills; some
mechanics in consequence are earn
ing so francs (slO) a day at simple
lathe work. Scarcity of skilled labor