ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND VICTIMS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14830, 22 November 1913, Page 13

ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND VICTIMS.

On tho smallest computation (said a London' paper some weeks ago) at least 100,000 persons are suffering privation in Dublin in a greater or less degree." Some estimates make the total 120,000. -' fc>hips are lying idle at the wharves, and the quays are piled up with merchandise which needs to be taken away to be protected from the weather. The tradespeople are suffering, as there is no money to spend, and the condition of the working-class portion of tho city is simply appalling. In streets, consisting entirely of.fourstorey tenements, scenes of abject destitution are to be witnessed daily. Most of the tenements are single-roomed, families averaging about four. One young women, with three unshod, bedraggled youngsters by her side and a baby in her arms, said that her portion qf food from the relief ship did not suffice to make more than two meals. DEPENDENT ON CHARITY. "I have not handled money for weeks past, except a few shillings given by charitable people," she said, /'and but for the milk I was able to get for my little children with it they would bo dead by now. "When things were at the best, my husband got 18s weekly, and with careful handling it kept things gping. All the strike pay he. has got is since the trouble began.

"Worst of all, he is idle, not of his own fault, but because his life would not be worth a mouthful of breath if he did not strike like his mates."

In nine cases out of every ten, the J same sad story is told. During the past fortnight, Dublin's juvenile beggars have multiplied by hundreds. These unfortunate waifs are sent on the streets by their parents to draw coppers from compassionate passers-by. Sackville street and other of the principal thoroughfares of the city after dark provide some distressing spectacles of little ragged fcamins shrieking out snatches of music-hall ditties, accompanying them with ludicrous attempts at step dancing. Relief officials of both the Dublin unions have had an abnormal increase in applicants for help. From morning until noon, queues of women and children may be seen waiting outside the relief depots, while there has been a marked increase in the number ©f in-v mates in both institutions. i

Numerous bodies of leading citizens .are devoting themselves to providing food for the starving school children, and in most schools free meals' are being provided. POSSIBILITY OP A GENERAL STRIKE. A significant reference to the situation in Dublin was made by Mr R. Smillie, tho president of the Miners' Federation of Groat Britain, in his opening address to the annual Congress of the Federation at Scarborough. "Wβ shall use our power should the necessity arise to assist our friends," he said, and he went on to suggest that there might be no other way out than a general strike. '

"I am not one of those' who favour the stoppage of collieries by a sympathetic strike," he added. "I prefer to rely on common-sense. But there is sometimes no other weapon in our hands but the power to withdraw our labour.

"The executive have agreed to ask this conference to grant £1000 per week to distribute among the starving people of Dublin. That is in addition to the £2500 of the- £10,000 offered by the Trade Union Congress." >

The Congress agreed to the grant of £1000 a week.

Mr Bowerman, M.P., tho secretary of the Trade Union Congress, stated that a supply of provisions to the value of £3000 had been ordered to be sent by steamer. "And if necessary," ho n<3ded, "we are prepared to foUow that by further consignments."