New-York tribune., 1920-05-09
French Unions
Call Electric
Power Strike
Order Issued to Darken All
Lighting Systems Unless
Compromise Is Offered i'm
Railroad Mems Walk-Out
Special Gable to The Tribune

Copyright, 1920. New York Tribune Inc
PARIS. May 8.-The general strike in
France suddenly took a graver turn to-
day as a result of the governments
effort to make the most of its victory
over the railway men. Secret orders
have been issued by the General Fed
Grafton of Labor which will paralyze
electrical power and lighting systems
throughout the country unless the gov
ernment shows signs of a more con-
ciliatory attitude
The Paris underground railroad will
stop running and this city, as we'll as
many others in France, will be deprived
of ELECTRIC light if the orders go into
effect. In addition to the railroad men
whose walk-out started the general
strike, all other transport workers are
now to go out. The federation has
ordered out even the taxi drivers. If
traffic is stopped the chief arteries of
national life would be cut and the pos
slbllty of riots and other revolutionary
symptoms are foreseen by the leaders
of the strikers.
Compromise Is Refused
Up to the present time the federation
has taken only a passing interest in
the strike, which has involved railway
men, dockmen and miners. The Off
Gals of the federation did not con-
slider the time ripe for a widespread
labor movement. They attempted to
open negotiations with the govern
ment and arrange for the capitulation
of the railway men and their support
ers with a minimum of satisfaction"
The government on the other hand has
maintained lmperturbably that the men
must return to work unconditionally.
Not the slightest move had been made
tonight, which wou.G enable the lead
ers of the strike to call it off in a
manner that would "save their faces"
In some more reactionary quarters
the demand is made that the govern
ment ought to taks ,his opportunity
to cripple or dissolve the federation
by defying it to the end lie Demo-
cratic Nouvelle" says: "The fedora
ton must be dissolved. This can be
done. to-day; tomorrow will be too
late"
Says Roads Are Favored
Everything now depends upon what
attitude the government takes toward
the strikers. The leaders of the work
ingmen assert they have done their
utmost to settle difficulties by declar-
ing their willingness to accept mini
mum of satisfaction" They say they
would even be content if the govern
ment would show the men it's new
scheme for the reorganization of the
railroads, which they say has already
been revealed to the directors of the
railroads.
On such small matters hangs Frances
industrial peace. All depends on
whether the government has decided to
exploit its victory over some of the
French workers for the railroad and
dock strikes certainly have in meas
ure failed--in order TO deal blow at
the central labor organization itself.
lie Temps" this evening seems to in
dicate that the government is prepared
to continue the struggle. The news
paper says:
1--WE must decide whether any group
of any sort whatever may impose its
moral and economic dlctature on the
country by the single fact that it can
threaten trouble and provoke revolu-
tion. In starting strike like the pres
ent one, the General Federation OF
Labor has proved that it's actions are
such as to permit no discussion and
no negotiation with it by a govern
ment conscious Of its duty and its dig
lty ~