New-York tribune., 1920-02-29
SOUiet Element
Back of Strike
Public Sentiment Strong
against Workers, Who
Recently Had Pay Raise
Special Cable to The Tribune


PARIS, Feb. 2S.-France is in the
grip of railroad strike situation
broadly resembling that which Great
Britain faced late in the summer of
1919, when that country had to choose
between direct action and an orderly
government. Here, however, the utter
disproportion between the assigned
cause for the strike--mild disciplinary
action affecting one man-and the re-
suits. involving the tying up Of trans
portation and the stopping Of supplies
in wide area, indicates clearly that
the strike is less of protest than a
reflection of the state of the minds of
the workers.
The men principally responsible for
the strike are revolutionary agitators,
hypnotized by the Russian mirage.
Their desire is to strike at bourgeoise
society, in this instance incarnatcd
in the railroad companies and repre-
sented by the government, whose ten
dency, as result of the November
ELECTIONS, they regard as reactionary.
These extremists, moreover, see the
possibility of embarrassing the moder-
ate labor leaders, whose recent actions
nave Shown them unwilling to accept
violent counsel. In France Socialism is
lnseparable from labor, and when a
few days ago the Socialists of Paris
and the surrounding area by a large
ma ajorlty voted adhesion to Lenine's
thlrd International descending dele
gates to the party conference at
Strassburg to give evidence of their
support-the clearest proof was given
OF the increasing influence welded by
the Russified extremists.
Ihus the leaders Of labor here are
IN a position of extraordinary diff
Guilty. They are anxious that the com
panies should lose because the feel
ing OF solidarity with their followers is
very strong, but they are not anxious
that the extremists in their organiza-
tons should win, for a complete
triumph on either side might seriously
AFFECT their influence. Their desire is
Tor compromise, and they have hintcd
10 the government that any other solu-
ton must deepen the present labor
tendency toward extremist doctrines.
The position Of the Millerand gov
ernment similarly is delicate. The
premier is overburdened with interna-
tlonal problems and knows the present
attitude Of the country is partly the re-
suit Of fear that inept diplomacy in
these wor d problems may leave France
ISOLATED by the alienation of both the
united States and trreat Britain. The
5uccessful issue of the negotiations in
London, to which Premier Millerand
wlll return when the crisis is past
mere, would immensely strengthen the
ministry But at present the internal
s,tnatlon IS more menacing to Premier
VI Mlllerand's political future even than
-he International questions under dis
,usslon in London.
II the Premier inclines toward the
workers in handling the railroad stril
here is little doubt that the Chambe,
,,t Deputies, which is recruited largel,,
rom the employers class, would seizc
IN early opportunity to overturn him
II he uses the forces of the stat
against the railwaymen in order f.
gam complete victory he knows the
victory would be dearly bought and the
'ett ement shortlived, for a strike o
even greater extent would be sure to
sesult from labor's bitterness.
me government measures announced
Up to this time, therefore. obv;ous1v
IRE an attempt to find middle wav
The mobilization of sufficient workerc
o assure the operation of food trains
through the strike districts is not dc.