"THE GLORIOUS FIGHT"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 10, 7 October 1919, Page 7

"THE GLORIOUS FIGHT"

MR. BROMLEY'S COMMENT. (Rec. October 7, 1.15 a.m.) London, October 5. The news of the striko settlement reached", the country, with the same dramatic suddenness as tlio .strike began, and brought untold relief to immense Sunday ovening crowds in tlio streets; Friday night's failure left the outlook blacker, and thousands enrolled in the Citizens' Guard, in response to the Government's appeal. Thus two great forces of citizens were marshalling hourly, and the final clash appeared, to be inevitable. A quickly-spreading report that Mr. Bonar Law had ottered a iiew wages proposal brought thousands to Downing Street in tlio morning 1 . The people waited till after 4 o'clock, when the delegate emerged smiling, and Mr. Bromley announced: "I am, thankful to say all is over now."

The cheering crowd stopped the pas sage of the delegates to their motor cars. Many eagerly shook hands .with Mr. Thomas. There was :v hostile demonstration when Sir Eric Geddes appeared. but no attempt was made to molest hini.

An. interval must-inevitably elapse fore the railways are normal again, but all the main lines expect a steadily increasing improvement in tho services. The London undergrounds will probably be running full 'services to-morrow night.

Mr. Bromley,addressing an overflow meeting outside the Albert Hall, said that.- all the workers had reason'to bo Hixtisficd with the result of the. glorious fight.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable <Assn. '

BEFORE THE SETTLEMENT ; THE GOVERNMENT'S. PLANS. London, October 1. Official: Tlio Primo Minister telegraphed -to the, heads of tho principal civic authorities as follows: "Circumstances arising out of tlio regrettable conditions regarding the railway communications, and their effects on trndo and industry, mjd tho life of the community generally, render it ncccssarv that • I should have the opportunity of conferring with tho heads of our great civic authorities on matters of urgent public importance. I will be glad if you can meet me and the Ministers concerned on Tuesday, or if unable to attond, to send a responsible deputy.", Tho Government was satisfied that all necessary measures had been taken to deal wi'tli any situation that might arise. A very limited service of prtssengor trains was running on Sunday, to enable more pools traffic to bo carried. Thanks to tlio offers of service still corn-

ing in from all parts of Hie country, the Government was confident it would 1)0 possible to continuo to safeguard the comnuinity entirely through the civil arm, with voluntary co-operation of tho civil population.

A Strike Manifesto.'

The Conciliation Committee at tlio Transporters' Conference issued a manifesto reviewing; the negotiations and complaining: of tile Government's harsh terms, irreconcilable attitude, and desiro to punish the men for strikiug. The manifesto concluded w'ith a strong warning to the Government that unless a more reasonable attitude were adopted before Tuesday's conference assembled it would be impossible to avert a widespread extension of the strike. The Conciliation Committee after a prolonged conference with the lailwayii'ien's executive called at Downing Street and saw llr. Eouar law. • The interview was. adjourned till next day. The deputation was hopeful of again bringing the Government and the strikers' nxeoutive together.

Outrages Were on the Increase. Outrages against volunteers were increasingly numerous, though tliesi were few considering the great numbers involved and the bitterness Q of the struggle.,A youth among a crowd of loafers threw vitrol orer a motor-lorn- driver av Claplmm. It is probable that the driver will suffer permanent injury to his eyes. Tlio strike was having a'serious effect at tlio Tilbury .Docks. Many quays wel'o overcrowded with all classes of goods, and the sheds reserved for foodstulfs wero filled. Seventy-five thousand cases of cheese and vast stores of wool and hides wero stacked in the open.

' PRESS AND PUBLIC OPINION BEFORE THE SETTLEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED. London, October. 4.' Government circles were of opinion that the rftilwaymcnV flat refusal revealed that there was more behind tho strike than the. more question of wages. Tlio "Daily Express" declared that tht» acceptance of the ■railwaymoii'a conditions would have meant abdication by the Gov. ernment. Tho "Daily Chronicle" said: "The conflict demonstrates that the strike weapon, olfective against industrial employers, is unsuited 'for' employment against tlw State,' for its use then means war." The "Daily Telegraph": "The peoplo support the Prime Minister in insisting on: the' submission -of the railwaymen's executive to the authority of the comum-j nity and abandoning its olaini to giv» orders to the Government." The "Horning Post": "The issue now is plain. It is a conflict between Bolshevism and Constitutional Government." The "Daily News";-"The. men acted very unwisely from the viewpoint of theii own interest in rejecting the Government, offer, and have gone far fc deprive themselves of any justification for inflicting a grave injury- on the community." "The Times": "Tiie national watchword.must be: 'Stand' Firm.'"

Tho '''Daily Herald" (Labour): "The Government's Inst offer is the greatest insult of all. It is the old offer, with tho additional suggestion tiiat tho forces of reaction have a seven days' truce in which to perfect their strike-breaking organisation."—Renter.

CLASS DIFFERENCES INTENSIFIED. London, October i. Mr. Keith Murdoch says that the strikoiias" already intensified class differ- ■ ence3 in such a way as to give a considerable Wow.to exiStimr order. It-wis understood among Mr. Lloyd George's .friends that .ho recognised that the strike revealed a. force which required to be met by construction'of'uew Industrial and arbitration machinery, and he was ready to submit a programme of reforms. All this, however, is now postponed. While tho Government, solidly backed by pnb-' lie opinion, proceeds with measures to meetfhe intensified conflict, the attitude of tlte general public to. the strikers becomes much sternor. All classes ' aro doinjj some striko' duty, from clerks to West-enters and the educated classes. The strikers' uncompromising refusal of the Government offers resulted in a great 'increase of volunteers, compelling: the authorities to refuse to register any more at many depots. So far the. Government appears to have the- situation i well in hand. • Skilled instructors are training thousands of volunteers, including 'locomot'ivo drivers, ivho have to undergo « most rigid test before they are allowed 'on the footboard. The measures include a wjile extension of counter-pickets, and an increase of. military guards on the main lines. An urgent appeal is made to the public to refrain from using trains wwpt for most urgent reasons. The Government's sudden cnjl' for citizen guards created a' sensation, and the response was remarkable in all parts of the country. This step is variously interpreted .with some suspicion, that the Government has not wholly trusted tho Artny in the event of a general strike provoking disturbances, but no sign of such distrust exists. All_ troops- used hitherto have'responded with. alacrity. Naval ratings .'and ex-service men have responded similarly. ' The Homo Ofiico officials' state .that there is nothing of the "big stick" about tho appeal, but that guards are necessary to protect .life, ami property against sabotage and violence by crinnn-ally-mindcd people. The Government is preparing other measures, to meet a" possible gcnoial strike, but the growing feeling is that a solution will be found before Tuesday—Aus.-N.Z. Ca.ble Assn.

MR. GOMPERS ON COMPULSORY ARBITRATION SATS AMERICAN LABOUR AVILL DISOBEY IT. Now York, Oatdfer 4. The Washington correspondent of the New York "Times" reports that' Mr... Gomperi, testifying before the Interstate Commerce Committee of the House' of Representatives, protested against the anti-strike feature in the tentative Railroad Regulation Bill, and declared that lis did not believe it was constitutional/ Labour would nat obey it. He opposed compulsory arbitration.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE STEEL TRUST STRIKE. New York, October ■(. Scores of people were hurt in the riots .at the steel works in Gary. The Governor of Indianapolis ordered eleven companies of the State Militia to proceed to Gary to restore ordpr.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 1

AMERICA'S STRIKE- LOSSES. (Uec. October 6, 7.15 p.m.) Washington, October 2. Recent strikes in the United States, totalling over 2000 in number, resulted in a loss of 25,000,000 dollars in wages (£5,000,000) ami one hundred millions ,020,000,000) in tho value of productions.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PARIS THEATRE STRIKE. ; Paris, October I. Tho theatre strike has ended,.'. Tho strikers' claims 'have been granted, except that for the employment of union-ists'only—Aus.-N.Z. Cnblo Assn.