Show THE TIlE COAL STRIKE IN FRANCE The United States is not the only country to have haye havea hayea a big coal strike e. e 4 France flance rance is just now much troubled troubled trou trou- bled that way The New Ness York Tribune says the story of its origin dates back a long way The Lens Congress early carly in 1901 conditionally ordered a general general gen gen- eral cral strike to take place on May 1st of that year Jear unless the strikers at at had by that time received satisfaction and provided that the strike should be approved by a a. majority of miners miners mi ml- ners ina referendum No satisfaction was given to the men at Mines but the referendum failed to approve the strike order the vast majority refraining from voting Toting So that strike did not oc oc- oc- oc cur It was again planned to have bac a n general strike on n November 1st of last year ear but that too was postponed until April 1st last when another postponement postponement post post- took place But now the conflict is on It embraces practically the whole mining industry of France If the sh strike ike extends to the Creusot iron an and steel works it would make more men idle and seriously hamper the manufacturing and commercial com corn mercial activity of the nation Says the Tribune in further explanation of the situation The mines are not as some have hae supposed the property of the Gov Government but are owned by ly corporations a and d in individuals ip- ip as are those of this country But the Government nt has largely assumed the work and responsibility responsibility re rc- re- re of regulating by bJ legislation the conditions condi tio s of labor in the thc mines and is therefore looked to by bJ the miners for redress of all their grievances Last year irwill be he recalled the thc Rousseau Waldeck-Rousseau Ministry contained one avowed Socialist and was supported in the Chamber by hy a considerable faction of called so-called Ministerial Socialists including M. M I. I Basly Basly Bas Bas- ly a former miner and one of the most extreme trades unionists It was chiefly through 0 the influence influence in in- fluence of such men that the strike was averted or postponed on the ground that the Government GO had bad the question in mind and in hand and would deal W with it satisfactorily as soon oon as possible if only the ml miners erS would have bave patience The miners have waited waited waited wait- wait ed but nothing to satisfy them has yet been done The new Parliament is about to assemble There is isa a ft n. n tempest brewing that will make mighty stormy times for Dr Combes and his Ministry |