The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-01
LABOR'S WARM LONDON
FULLY 100000 MEN MADE IDLE
BY THE STRIKE.

AOAo tHo oWsdtlnR commission
The Toilers Well Organized before
the Declaration of Wharf.-The Public
With the Men.
Copyright. 1889, by Neto York Associafez P,essI
LONDON, Aug. 31.-The long smoIderine
discomfort of the laborers in the London
docks received a strong stimulus by the
revelations before the House of Lords conn
mittee on sweating last year. The lead
ers OF the movement, seizing the opoor-
tunity, vigorously prosecuted the campaign
in the East End, and famed the embers of
discomfort until the dock men, reused from
the lethargy induced by their sordid sur
roundings, submitted to the guidance of
Burns, their champion, and other active
spirits, their concerted action leading to
the present crisis.
SLOW BUT SURE.
This was only done slowly, the conditions
under which labor is employed-especiallv
the large surplus Of workers anxiously
fighting at the dock gates each morning to
obtain even a few hours employment--ren-
derIng it impossible to take decisive action
until the workmen were fully prepared.
The continuance Of the strike for seventeen
days, and the strikers determined attitude
now show that the leaders carefully calcu-.
lated the probable course Of the movement
before notice Of the strike was formally
given.
BAD STATE OF AFFAIRS.
Interviews had to-day with police officials.
coroner's officers, and other functIonariea
whose duties bring them into daily contact
with the dockmen and those of allied em-
ployments, show that for years past the
condition of the dockmen's families haa
been as bad as any of the worst cases re-
veaIed before the sweating committee.
AN ORGANIZED CRUSADE
The local radical clubs and other organ
| iZstions are fully alive TO the Importance OF
| striking while the iron is hot. They ara
greatly ed by lecturers and by house,
to-honse propaganda intended to foment
discomfort, aud forward what, in view OF
to-night's situation and the strike commit
tees latest manifesto, prOmse ses TO develop
into an organized crusade against capitalism
generally.
ALL QUIET IN THE EAST END.
The aspect OF affairs in the East End Of
London to-day was quieter than might have
been expected The strikers who have nou
joined in professions discuss the situation
calmly and appear to be resolute. The
strikers adhere to their full demands
though the countenauces Of many who hur-
riedly enter and depart from the relief COM
mittee's rooms plainly reveal sharp priva-
ton. Altogether the position Indicates
| the near approach of great socialist
victory, bringing the labor question and
| eight-h6ur movement prominently to the
front.
HEADQUARTERS OF TBB COMMITTEE.
Woods Arms typical East End tavern
on Jeremia street, narrow thoroughfare
abutting on the East India dock road, is at
present the headquarters Of the strike COM
mittee, aud is likely TO become the center
Of movement in behalf of labor ramiica-
tions. which will touch every British
employer and capitalist To-day
Mr. Burns and the other lead
ers in the movement we're thoroughly
active. Besides his usual oratorical and
secretarial works, Mr.. Burns drove rapidly
in cab to the offices of the different doJk
companies. He was eagerly followed by
the more ardent of the strikers, who anx-
iously waited outside for the still deferred
announcement that the companies conceded
the only points now disputed.
PUBLIC FEELING.
Public feeling both in the East End aud
city commercial circles strongly favors the
strikers. Local sympathy is actively ex-
erted to supplement the various public sub-
scriptions to afford practical relief As an
instance OF many spontaneous helps, Mr..
Lafone, proprietor Of Buffers wharf, Ber-
mondsey, has given each striker shil-
lings to tide him over Sunday. To-day the
employs Of Yarrow & Co., who are under a
heavy contract to supply the governments
with torpedo appliances, struck, while 5000
ironworkers at the Isle of Dogs have gone
out for an advance of pence.
100000 MEN IDLE.
The dock men on strike number 10000.
As an immediate sequence OF their cessa-
ton 10000 stevedores, 5000 lightermen,
1000 clerks, and nearly $4,000 grain weigh
ers and laborers are compulsorily idle. The
Peninsula and Oriental Steamship Com
pany has 900 employees engaged by the
hour.
A mass meeting of dock men will be held
in Hyde park tomorrow.
The Melbourne Trades Council, repre-
senting all branches of labor, has called
mass meeting for Monday to raise money
for the London strikers.
ANOTHER CONFERENCE.
Mr.. Burns held conference with the
dock companies to-day, and submitted the
compromise propositiol agreed upon lass
night, stating that the wharfingers had in
dorsed it. The dock companies issued a
statement in conjunction with the wharf
ingers to the effect that they have carefully
considered the proposal and are unable ia
accept it, and denying that the wharhngera
EMPOWERED TO MAKE TERMS.
Mr.. Burns, III terms suggestiyeof the pos,
sibiIity of some compromise, has asked and
obtained the consent Of the strikers TO aus
thorize their leaders TO agree upon the terms
which the leaders might think it desirable
to accept. 1t is stated that the managers
of the Albert docks have practically con-
ceded the demands Of the strikers
contained in the compromise proposals subs
mitted last evening. If the other dock
companies do not agree to the terms of this
proposition the Albert docks will in with
the wharingers and take on their old em-
ployes at these figures
The ironworkers at Firth, in Kent, have
struck.
The mechanic-crews on the Northwest
ern railway demand per cent. increase
in wages.
THE EMPLOYERS DETERMINED
The directors of the dock companies have
absolutely declined to make any concessions
beyond what has already been offered
Matters remain in stdtu glto The strike
committee met at the Wade Arms late to-
night. and decided to Withdraw their
appeal for general strike, and substir
tute an appeal at home and abroad
for financial help to continue the struggle.
The work of distributing funds to the needy
has been resumed, the Wharf Laborerss
Union at Sydney having cabled $500 for
that purpose, The strikers were informed