The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-05-03
250 POLICEMEN
INJURED IN PARIS
MAY-OAY R|0T|NC
LABOR BODY ISSUES PROTEST
AGAINST ACTION OF AUTHORI.
TIES ON DEMONSTRATIONS

Paris, May 1.-Two hundred and fifty
policemen were hurt. one sergeant who
was stabbed in the back being in a dan
gerous condition, during yesterdays
May-day disorders, according to an
announcement made by the prefecture
of police at midnight. Apparently only
one person was killed. youth named
Lorne, who. according to reports not
yet authenticated, was struck by sew
eral revolver bullets. The person VINO
fired the shots is said to have been
arrested but his identity has not been
established.
One Of the incidents of the day oc-
Cured at the Invalides bridge, where
an American lieutenant-colonel and two
junior officers We're stopped by drag
ons when they attempted to cross the
river. After a parey the Americans
We're charged upon by some cavalry
: men and the melee some shots We're
fired.
During a clash between the police
and a crowd in Place de la Bastile. in
which 20 persons were wounded, a po-
liceman shouted to the mob:
IF you want to fight go to Versailles
and fight the Germans"
The mob took up the cry, "On to
Versailles" and diversion was ere
ated which averted more serious fight
ing. Foreigners We're prominent among
those engaged in the demonstrations,
The police declared tonight that Vir-
tually every leader in the crowds was
either Russian. Spanish or member
of some alien race.
Socialists Very Indignant
Socialists and the leaders of labor
unions are extremely indignant over
yesterdays incidents. The General
Labor Federation has issued a protest
and a committee tonight will meet TO
consider what steps will be taken as u
result of the disorders The managing
committee of the socialist party and
the socialist group of the chamber of
deputies also will meet.
Deputy Marcel Cachin, writing in
Humanite, claims that the day was
"a magnificent demonstration of the
power and discipline of the laboring
classes and was marred only by the
brutality Of the ferocious police" He
emphasizes the fact that the soldiers
used no violence and that there was no
lIOubls NIitlt liltN Mtl- vi tlulS
The responsibility for the disorders
was entirely due to provocation by the
police, who We're acting on orders from
Premier Clemenceau He also is re
sponsible," NJ. Chachin says.
He recommends that the premier read
his own magnificent spe5ch in the
chamber OF deputies in 1891 condemning
an exactly similar action by the minis
try then in power
The United Trades Union of the
departme mt of the Seine has issued
a strong protest against the violent
action of the police. exercised by order
of the government against the mani
festation which otherwise would have
been carried out with the same order
as the morning meetings. Declaring
that many women We're among the vic
Tins the union has decided to call
a meeting Of the general council of
the organization tonight to consider
the attitude it will adopt in view of
the days events.
The prefecture of police maintains
that the policemen had no ball cart
ridges in their revolvers and that no
ammunition was issued to the troops,
d lew SllOlS lHeu CO1lSeluel udNluS
come from the demonstrators.
DeplOred by Public Opinion
The disturbances generally are de-
plored by public opinion. Before the
war it is pointed out. such incidents
as the day brought forth would have
seemed trivial in comparison with those
of other May-days, but it is considered
deeply regrettable that. after so much
French blood had been shed upon the
battlefields, any more should have been
spilled on the streets of the capital.
The blame is variously apportioned
by the press according to the political
complexion of the newspapers. Thus,
the conservative organs. such the
Figaro lay it all upon the labor people,
while the newspapers opposed to Pre-
mier Clemenceau, such as rOeuvre. are
inclined to agree with the socialists
that there would have been no trouble
if a demonstration had been permitted
in Paris such as those held in the sub
urbs and in the provinces.
The Petit Partisan says that through
out the country the laboring classes dis
played their feelings in dignity and
order and that few Incidents of vio-
lence should not be permitted to wipe
out the satisfactory impression thus
given.
The persons arrested during the dis
turbances will be tried by courtmartial.