Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/265

 1899.] France. — The Strike at Creuzot. [257

the charge brought by the procureur-gSniral, M. Bernard. A com- mittee, presided over by M. Berenger, was thereupon appointed to interrogate the defendants and to make, if necessary, further inquiries. At the first hearing (Sept. 30) M. D6roulede refused to answer, and several others followed his example, and this was the signal for a fresh torrent of abuse by the Nationalists and their press. Every incident of the trial was made the ground of some charge against the Government or against the President of the Republic. A visit paid by M. Loubet to his family at Montelimar was the occasion of a hostile demonstration on the part of the officers garrisoned there. This disgraceful act, however, was promptly dealt with by M. de Galliffet who transferred the regiment at once to the less pleasant town of Gap.

On the other hand, an industrial crisis at the great iron- works at Creuzot, turned much to the credit of the Prime Minister. M. Waldeck-Rousseau, was appealed to in the difficulties which had arisen between the managers and their workmen, the latter having declared in favour of a general strike. The intervention of the prefect, M. de Joly, had been fruitless. Socialist orators were urging the workmen to quit Creuzot in a body, and to march to Paris to explain their grievances. This proposal was actually adopted by a majority of the strikers, notwithstanding the protests and arguments of such a sympathetic adviser as M. Yiviani, and at the last moment wiser counsels prevailed, and the strikers themselves appealed to M. Waldeck-Kousseau to act as arbitrator, and in this proposal the Schneider firm concurred. This mutual confidence was confirmed by M. Waldeck-Rousseau's prompt decision (Oct. 7), which, insisting upon concessions from both sides, was accepted without demur. Encouraged by this success M. Waldeck-Rousseau decided to bring in a bill amending the existing law upon trade unions. Under this bill labour unions and friendly societies were empowered to accept legacies and to hold property. As a sort of corollary to this measure M. Waldeck-Rousseau proposed to legislate in a more complete way with associations of all kinds — lay and religious — whilst his colleague, M. Leygues, busied himself with framing a law of which the object was to prevent enemies of the republic obtain- ing a foothold in the public service. The means suggested was three years' training in free State schools or colleges of all candi- dates for public appointments, administrative or educational. The Catholic press loudly denounced the measure as an interference with parental authority and liberty, and their oppo- sition was conspicuously promoted by the journals published by the Assumptionist fathers throughout France under the gen- eral title of La Croix. The Government at once replied by giving notice of prosecuting the fathers for belonging to a non- authorised community. A search of the Paris offices of the body (Nov. 3) revealed the unknown wealth of the Assump-

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