The sun., 1919-06-14
FRENCH RAIL MEN
THREATEN STRIKE
Government Officials Making
Desperate Effort to Pre-
vent Walkout.
3 FACTORS INVOLVED
Radicals Favor Tieing Up All
Traffic-Miners Re-
main Firm.
FACTORS INVOLVED
Special Wireless Despafch to THr Sun.

CopvricAf. 1919: oil ricAts reserved.
PARIS, June 13.-ohiciais of the Gov
eminent are making desperate efforts to
prevent a general strike of railway mon
in France. The railway unions have
not decided yet what they will do and Il
is not likely that any action will be
taken until after the conference of So
cislists OF France, Belgium. Italy and
England, which was set for tomorrow
but has been postponed to Sunday.
There are said to be three elements
in the railway federation. One is op-
posed to a walkout unless there IA
general strike in all industries. The
second. composed OF radicals, favors tie
ing up all railroad traffic. The third
would stop the operation only Of coal
and food trains
While the last of these three plsns
appears to be less serious than the
second, IL such strike were continued
long it would have virtually the same
eject. for no service could operate long
without coal. There Is grave danger
Of this result soon, for the miners seem
to be determined to carry out their
threat OF strike in their entire in
dustry, beginning next Monday,
Much Significance Is attached here to
the decision of the General Labor Syn-
dlcate to hold conference on Sunday,
when the Socialist leaders OF four ma
tons will be meeting. There is an
organized attempt to make the agitation
appear 10 be the result OF economic
conditions. but the evidence Is increas-
ing that it is largely of a political ma
ture.
The central confederation of labor
manifesto to the public declares IL ia
an enemy to the movement to- Join
other countries in producing an inter-
national upheaval; nevertheless. II
makes a sharp attack on the French
Ministry. saying:
Governmental guilt and resnonsihii,
ties increase each day. The Govern
mont has done nothing to bring about
solution OF the transport and metal
strikes. 1t has been content to take
measures OF intimidation and repression.
ne federation is convinced that the de-
mfnds or the mine workers are legiti-
mate. The guilty one is the Govern
ment, with its dangerous economic and
Industrial policies. 1t was a detail of
twenty minutes In the miners working
day which provoked the strike and
threatens to reduce the country to a
coal famine"
The alton declares che movement.
IS due to the high cost of living, caused
by the closing of the frontier, the re-
duction in the imports of food and
raw materials. a prohibitive customs
tarin, Encouragement of the mercantile
marine and confusion in the transport
services. Thousands of tons of wheat
are rotting in Algerian ports while an
increase in the price OF bread In Paris
is imminent.
The manifesto adds that unless meas
ures are taken Immediately to put a
stop TO these conditions the country
Will be on the, right road to ruin and
violence. 1t expresses establishment at
the apparent lack Of conception among
responsible statesmen of the danger con-
fronting France.
Premier Clemenceau, however, again
this morning deserted the Peace Con-
ference to receive a delegation of sub
way workers. Government officials are
fearful that the labor syndicates and So
'alists will reach an understanding on
Sunday. in which case it Is probable
t1at labor will approve the plan for a
general strike in four countries.
A man high in Socialist circles de-
ca-ed to-day that the Socialist confer
ence will declare for a general armistice,
total rehabilitation and on-interven-
ton in Russia.
Yet another danger faces the public
O Paris. The druggists of the city
and OF the Department OF the Seine
threaten to close all the drug stores on
tine ground of a shortage Of supplies
due TO the strike OF the pharmaceutical
factory clerks and their demand for
more pay.