Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-11
CABINET OPENS FIRE
IN WAR ON FRENCH
LABOR FEDERATION
Instructs Minister of Justice
to Start Dissolution
Proceedings.

by inc Associated Press.
PARIS. May 1.-the French cab
met at a meeting today instructed
Minister Of Justice rHopiteau to open
proceedings against the General Fed
Grafton of Labor with a view to the
dissolution of the organization which
has been supporting the strike of the
French railway men. calling other
strikes.
The decision Of the government to
seek the dissolution Of the federation
came after an hours discussion by
the council OF ministers at the Palace Of
me Elysee. presided over by President
Daschanel.
The cabinet first discussed the adj
visibility Of Premier Millerand re-
ceiving unified socialist deputies bear
ing message from the general fed
Grafton saying it was ready to call off
the strike providing the premier
would give an underta king to appoint
a governmental commission to meet
the federation's delegates and discuss
naturalization of the public utilities.
ttefuses Compromise.
Mr.. Millerand opposed any negotia-
tions with the federation. He quoted
articles III and VII and TX Of the law
Of 1884 under which the federation
was organized. which permits the fed
GRAFTON exclusively the privileges of
studying the economic interests of
unions and syndicates and their de-
tense. He argued that the federation
was conducting the present strike for
political purposes and had exceeded
the limits of the purpose for which it
was organized. There could be no
compromise with the federation, he
declared. it being case Of the French
government running the affairs Of the
IN 10 F4A
Some for Csnciliatfen.
Some members Of the cabinet were
inclined to adopt a conciiiatory atti-
tude. but the premier stubbornly de-
Tended his point of view. which finally
was adopted. Whether any arrests Of
prominent members Of the federation
will be made rests entirely upon the
decision Of Minister Of Justice Hopi-
teau. who was given full powers nv
the government to take such meas
ures as he might deem necessary to
put the dissolution measure into exc
cution.
Strike Conditions Better.
Strike conditions today were i'm
proved from the public standpoint.
The failure Of the electrical workers
ton to strike-this and the continued
operation OF tramways auto buses
and subways gave no impression that
any general strike was in progress.
volunteers enrolled as drivers, mo-
numbers.
After the cabinet meeting Premier
Millerand explained to the newspa-
per correspondents the measures de-
cided upon with regard to the gen
eral federation.
Ne Desire to Harass.
We are not taking legal action
against the federation because Ger.
tain formalities Of the law Of 1884
feel treasured: We do not wish to
commence action against the fedora
ton through any desire to harass II.
Our object is entirely different, and
It's. - impossible for any one to be
The General Federation Of Labor
Is an organization which. a. fore.
seen by the law. can and should rem.
oer the greatest service, but on the
ons condition that It. like ali such
limits of the object for which the
law permitted it to be created-thaf
- the defense Of economic and pro-
fessional cooperative interests.
Other Strikes Orderea.
Some days axo-without going
iurther back fresh railroad strike
broke out. The General Federation
SUPPORTED this movment and started
three strikes to support 1t, the min
ers: lockers and sailors. These
strikes not having produced the ex-
pected results. the federation recon-
mended other strikes forty-ei9ht
hours ago and another last evnine.
Thus this federation has adopte ed
as its purpose during the last few
days the stoppage Of work in impor-
! tant corporations. whose activity i'd
especially necessary to the economic
life Of the country"
In spite of the appeal to the cleo
tricians' union by the General Fed
Grafton OF Labor yesterday. electric
supply throughout the city seemed
not to be affected this morning. Al
$3.50 o'clock trains on the subway and
north and south systems began to
/ run, volunteers taking the places Of
| the few workers who failed to re-
port. At $50 o'clock street cars were
operating over the main lines
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