Paris, Feb. 28.
A sudden strike, which has practically paralysed one of the most important French railways and has already spread to two others, provides the latest illustration of the temper of French labour. It originated in_ the repair-shop of the Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean Railways at Villeneuve St- Georges, a suburb of Paris. A workman named Campanaud applied for permission to attend a meeting, at Dijon, of the railwaymen's propaganda committee, of which he is a member. 'A meeting of the executive committee was to be held at the same time and place, and while permission to attend was granted to mem bers of the executive committee, it was refused to Campanaud, who thus had to choose between his employers and his union.
It is a recognized principle thet trade union delegates shall be given leave to attend conferences of this kind, as otherwise the union could not fulfil its duties, but there does} not seem to be any precise rule to the nature of the trade union functions which justify a request for leave of absence. Apparently the P. M. officials did not thin the propaganda committee important enough to make Campanaud's presence at Dijon indispensable. In any case, they refused leave. Campanaud said he must go, and they told him that if he went he would be punished. He attended the meeting, returned to his post, and was suspended for 48 hours. He was also told that if he offended again he would be dismissed.
He at once reported the matter to his local committee, who intervened without success. An appeal was made to the directors in Paris, who upheld their officials. The men employed at Villeneuve St. Georges immediately ceased work. Their example was promptly followed by
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