New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Police Blamed
BY Socialists
r or aris Riots
Parliamentary Group Votes
Resolution of Protest;
VIII Present Question
on Acts of Government
ion Joins Movement
e1nenceau Had Power TO
Prevent Disorders ON
Nay Day, Opponents Say

f&A G@sy - N>I
IRIS, May 2-The parliamentary
alist group to-day adopted res
ion protesting against the attitude
he police in the May Day observ-
ace yesterday, and decided to present
e. collective question on the acts OF the
government.
1t was announced later on behalf of
She government that the government
would accept the question and would
answer it before Tuesday
Socialists and the leaders of labor
,,r,.ons are extremely indignant over
>asterdav's incidents. The General
Labor Federation has issued a protest,
and p committee Will meet tonight to
consider what steps will be taken as
result of the disorders. The managing
committee OF the Socialist party and
t.s Socialist group of the Chamber Of
Neputies also will meet.
Charges Police With Brutality
9aputy Marcel Cachin, writing in
umanite,' claims the day was
agnihcent demonstration Of the
YER and discipline Of the laboring
lsses, and was marred only by the
.ltality Of the ferocious police He
.muhasizes the fact that the soldiers
used no violence and that there was no
trouble where they were on duty.
"The responsibility for the disorders
was entirely duo to provocation by the
rolce, who were acting on orders from
Premier Clemanceau. He alone is re-
sronsible," NJ. Cachin says.
ae recommends that the Premier
read his own "magnifcent speech in
the Chamber of Deputies in 1891 con-
de,nning an exactly similar action by
the ministry then in power
The United Trades Union of the De-
partment Of the Seine has issued
strong protest against the "violent
action of the police, exercised by order
OF the government, against mani
festation which would otherwise have
been carried out with the same order
as the morning meetings"
Women Victims, Union Says
The union says many women were
among the victims, and has called a
ITO aeting of the general council of the
organization tonight to consider the
at 'tude it will adopt in view of the
5 events.
ne Prefecture Of Police maintains
the policemen had no ball cart
Q es in their revolvers and that no
- lunition was issued to the troops,
the few shots fired consequently having
come from the demonstrators.
The disturbances are generally 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 regretta BILE that after
SO much French blood had been shed
on the battlefelds any more should
have been spilled on the streets of the
capital.
The blame is variously apportioned
by the press, according to the poiti-
cal complexion of the newspaper. Thus
the conservative organs, such as the
"TSgaro,' lay it all upon the labor
pc pie, while the newspapers opposed
10 Premier Clemenceau, such as
"1.'0euvre," are inclined to agree with
he Socialists that there would have
n no trouble il demonstration had
I permitted in Paris such as those
\ q in the suburbs and in the
y yinces.
&c petit Parisien" says that
aughout the country the laboring
s.s,ses displayed their feelings in dig
~ and order and that a few Incl
IS Of violence should not be permit
10 wipe out the satisfactory i'm
sion thus given. The clements
rs present in large movements of
sort should be taken into consider
! III placing the blame for the dis
re-, sthe newspaper adds.
le persons who were arrested dur
the. disturbances Will be tried by
martial.
429 Policemen Hurt
was announced at police head
ters during the day that 428 police
hatd been injured in the riots.
I've OF them we're said to have been
idea severely. One hundred and
+ perAons were arrested, twenty five
nom have been admitted to bail
ioacertly only one person was
d, youth named Lorne, who, ac-
me- 70 reports was struck by sew
revolver bullets. The Socialist
paper "Populaire" says a police
I i's plain clothes fired tn fatal
se Sf the Incidents Of the day oc-
. Il a. the Inyalidcs Bridge, whore
American lieutenant colonel and
junior officers were stopped by
= 'oof05 ~hen they attempted to cross
/ tiYer. After a parlcy, the Ameri-
were charged upon BY some cav
~ meQ aad in tho melee some shots
I'VE, fred
{ l'1riffg clash between the police
~ crowd IN Place de la Bastille, in
-