New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-08
Try CABLE TO THE TRBuNE.l
,oco "a, The Aetr- York Ty-ih4f1f

1ation even more directly ana seriously Vh"h UA
tho dockers' strike. The stol<ers OF the South
Metropolitan Gas Company are dlScontehleu' ana
I 700 out Of 1000 men have gwen houce ol d
strike on Friday next This began as sOri>e
oraips+ non-union men, but has now developed
into strike against the bonus system III Is "o-
ritted that this company has already made large
concessions 70 the men, 1t has reduced lhef
hours from twelve to eight, nominally, which
means five actually, and raised their wages 1t
nov offers the men share of the profits on
conditions the men say, which bind them TO the
service of the company for a year and prevent
ANYTHING like general strike for that period.
The Strike Committees manifesto denounceS lhc
bonus scheme as in itself contrary 10 the spiflI
of trades unionism, whatever that may be- ana
declares that the strike must go on. 1he char-
man REPLIES that the company IS ready. lie oners
$40 a week bonus to new hands Tor the HrsV
week. and s. for every subsequent week "niio
the strike lasts he processes TO be sure VI oD-
tanning men; he has ample funds ana an auPie
stock of coal, should the cOalmen also sulAo
and he assures Londoners south o1 lhe Ah''i1i0'
that they need not fear darkness.
Already in anticipation of the coming struggle
the strikers are resorting TO the usual forms Vi III
timidation, and picketing has begun Inc coin-
pany is believed TO have arranged with suhury
large employers of labor to supply men Wneh
wanted. Their premises are beset by union
rnissaries, and men actually arriving under con
tract with the company have been coaNed or
turned back The railway stations are plcketed'
and nobody can approach any one OF the COM
pany's works without running a gauntlet oil angry
sentinels ready or almost ready TO use violence IL
need be, TO prevent men from working who want
70 work The Gas Workers Union is determined
III L., lad oil oNTpP
the south OF London, perhaps all over London.
Pressure from fear is once more to be put on
peaceful citizens, and threats of universal dark
ness and coal famine are freely made
The all-important question is what the police
will do. They are not thought to have done their
duty during the docSers strike. Mr.. Munro,
the new Chief of Police, sympathized, or sup
posed 10 sympathize, with the strikers. lie GER
tainly allowed intimidation, looked on while
violence was practised, and suffered elaborate
system of terrorism 10 be organized and carried
ont under the noses of the police There was no
efficient protection for men who were willing
TO work He has been told plainly and publicly
that he abnegated his duty, and warned That
his present business is TO see that no man Is
violently interfered with in the pursuit OF ms
lawful occupation. The strikers make no secret
of their resolve to pursue the struggle to the
bitter end Encouraged by the suplneness OF the
police at the DOCKS they count on being allowed
again 10 win by lawless force. The Executive
Council of the National Union of GasworkerS
and General Laborers and delegates from the
Coal Porters' Union have to-day issued a fresh
manifesto, very long and very riotous in tone,
extremely abusive and menacing and well cal
culated TO ALLEVIATE public sympathy from the
men whose grievance, on their own showing. is
NOT one of low wages or long hours. The present
strike is simply a bold attempt TO impose
upon the whole community the tyranny Of
single class The secretary of the Coal Porters'
Union says expressly that the strike Of the coal
porters in support of the gasworkers will not be
confined to their district but is directly intended
to deprive all London of coal
Manchester, too. has gas strike II is the old
story The gasworkers demanded some time since
more wages and less hours The demands were
conceded and the instantly gave notice of
strike because non-uniOn men were employed
Nearly 1000 men are out. and others. engaged 10
take their places. are working under police pro
lection and sleeping inside the works. The
state Of things exists in Salford suburb Of
Manchester In both towns the municipal cor
poratiOn owns the gaswOrks, and in both long
struggle is feared. But in Manchester and Stafford
the police are clearly on the side Of law and order,
and terrorism is not tolerated
Agitation continues. in one form or another
Ill over the Kingdom. The Bristol doclers have
given in and returned TO work, but Gloucester
holds out, and the Cardiff milers are still out.
The Derby Gas Company have made truce with
their men by oonceding the advance demanded
South Wales proposes to indulge in the luxury of
coal strike on its own account Railway strikes
are imminent on the Great Northern and North
he bpd had
ham, who struck for Is per cent bonus on their
wages, have carried the whole Black Country
with them. PROFESSIONS are marching the
police watching them, and men willing 10
work. are forced TO come out. The brewers nj
Burton who have lately got an advance. now de
nand another. None OF these provincial disturb
snees, Manchester excepted, are very serious save
as symptoms Of that general commotion of which
the South of London is now the centre
President Harrison's Message elicits comments
Of the usual sort from the English press The less
sincere OF less intelligent among his many critics
hnect to discover an approach TO free trade in the
ffesldents suggestion for read ustment of the
tarni, while others rail against him for refusing
10 zeal with the surplus by tariff reduction. The
one may ne left 10 answer the other. The Stand
ara con'rves TO be both prophetic and offensive
III propheses that before the next Presidential
cam Ialgn the TWO great parties in America will be
racing each other 70 see which shall go furthest
toward Free Trade, and declares that half of the
present expenditure win be dispensed with when
the American people make up their minds to scotch
the spirit OF lammany Hall at Washington as
hey scotched it at New-York. This sagacious
briton is OF opinion that the tariff may be swept
away altogether, and that pro rata contribution
Tor Federal expenses by the STATE, is all that is
required in time Of peace There is NOT from be-
gnning to end OF any one Of these many elaborate
English articles on the Presidents Message one
WISE suggestion or really intelligent criticism.
Once more has Mr.. Gladstone disappointed those
VINO hoped TO hear from him at Manchester what
Se now means by Home Rule. lie has spoken at /
Immense ieng-h, but Home Rule remains ms much |