Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-06
A BATTLE FOR BREAD
Found to Come in London Within
the Next Few Winter Months
UGLY WARNINGS OF SOCIALISTS,
Gladstones Government to Have a Knvtty
Problem to Solve.
UNCLE SAM ALSO CAUSES SOME TROUBLE
rBr CABLE TO THE pIsPArcH.I

Monument was hidden BY the red banners of
the Social Democracy, and the clamorous
appeal for work, soon to change to the
threatening demand for bread, was shouted
from the granite pedestal
1t was not, however, a great popular DEM
onstration in any ssnse. There was little to
suggest the bloody scenes of riot on the
same spot five years ago. The daily meet.
ings of the past two weeks on Tower Hill
have been much more omlnously significant.
The crowd was changing constantly, and at
no time did it number more than 5000 per-
sons More than half were there from mo-
tives Of curiosity only, and there were
many tall hats and some women in the
gathering.
There was nothing iEcendiary in the
language of Kier Hardy and the others who
made speeches, but there were ugly warn
ings of the effect of neglect of the demand
for public relief measures The meeting of
Sunday week TO celebrate the restoration of
free speech in the square will be the first
real popular demonstration th,re, but as
one of the speakers expressed it this after
noon, free speech on an empty -tomach does
not amount to much.
Trouble for Gladstone's Go vernment.
There is no longer any doubt that the
question of food for the hungry will make
great deal of trouble for Mr.. Gladstone's
Government this winter. The impending
distress is not confined to the cities. The
collapse of the agricultural interests of
England has at length become an acute ma
tional calamity. The summoning of great
national conference to discuss the situation
is evidence of the critical nature of the
evil.
The most threatening factor in the agri-
cultural situation is the fact that the En-
glish farmer enjoys none of the compensa-
tions of short crops in the way of higher
prices 1t is literally tru. that there is
not three months food supply in England,
but the prices of meat and cereals to i'm
porterswere never so low. The fall in the
price of -four in the past year, however, has
not benefited the consumer q penny worth.
The middlemen reap all thes profits and
bread is no cheaper.
How the Distress Is Augmented
Not only is trade in London tine dullest
for years, but the situation is made worse
by the advent of thousands of agricultur-
lists thrown out of employment The dis
tress of the genuine sufferers is likely to be
augmented bv the actions of the swarm of
blatant agitators and denagogues who pre-
tend to represent them and who succeed in
discrediting the truth.
The instructions of the State Department
to the United States legation here to inter-
cede in behalf of the Irish-American dyna-
miters confined in Portland prison are
likely to bear fruit, but not until after
Tuesdays election. The report that inter-
cesSion had been decided on was regarded
here as bit OF political clap-trap, resorted
to by the administration at WASH
lngton. l have it on excellent
authority, however, that the request
of the American Government: has given rise
to division of opinion in Mr.. Gladstone's
Cabinet this week. The instructions from
Washington were received BY cable at the
Legation here early last week. Secretary
White, Charge d 'Affaires, called first upon |
Lord Rosebery regarding the matter, and |
sfterward visited the Home Office several
Simes, where Re eventually obtained passes |
which permitted him and other United |
States officials to visit the incarcerated men |
in Portland prison. Information is refused |
at the Legation about what was learned as |
to the condition of the prisoners.
Special Cabinet Session Held.
/ am further informed that Lord Rose |
berry himselt-a most unusual proceeding
summoned a special Cabinet council early |
in the week to consider the Presidents re- |
quest No decision was reached until ses- |
terday Lord Rosebery and Sir William |
Harcourt opposed the release of the pris- |
oners. John Morley, Henry Fowler, Mr.. |
Asquith, Mr.. Mundella and Mr.. James /
Brice actively favored the proposition. |
The result is said to have been a vote to in |
quire into the cases. with q view to the |
early release of Egan, Curtin and CaIlan.
1t cannot be said that American interces-
sion is the whole cause of the Governments |
proposed action, for the matter has for some |
time been under consideration. 1t is also !
evident that the Cabinet does not intend to I
lend itself to a scheme for booming Har-
rison's reelection. This was made ap-
parent by the answer to an inquiry sent to
the Home Secretary this afternoon, request
ing the names of the men to be released
1t was: Tell Mr. Blank / am very sorry,
but can't give him what he wants" 1t is
considered very doubtful if any cIemency
is shown toward Dr. Gallagher, though
certain of the so-caIled Glasgow dynamiters
may benefit.
A Tame Lord Mayors Banquet.
The Lord Mayors banquet on Wednesday
next will be the tamest affair for many
years past. Mr.. Gladstone is precluded
from going, as he SAYS, by mis- physicians
advice. Lord Rosebery is dining with
the Prince of Wales that night, and John
Morley has engagements elsewhere. The
Cabinet will be represented by Lord Spen-
Ger, the Lord Chancellor, and Mr.. AsQuith
"a weak team compared with the round
dozen hitherto habitually attending the
Lord Mayors gathering There is posi-
bly, something diplomatic in the
excuses, but it must be remembered
that the present Government is
not in favor in the old city, which is a hot
bed of Toryism. The Common Councilmen
of the city of London are not the best man.
nered people in the world, and their treat
ment of Mr.. Gladstone has been none too
courteous when he has addressed them in
years gone by. There is an interesting
reason for Sir William Harcourts declina-
tion of the Lord Mavor's in vitation. 1t is un-
derstood he has something the matter with
one of his eyes, but it may be stated with
absolute confidence that he "winked the
other one when inditing his e1cuses
scheme on Hand to Reform London.
The fact is that Sir William is prone to
denounce city corruption and extravagance,
and has been known to mock at antiQuated
city institutions, but above all this it is be-
lieved that be is actually engaged upon q
scheme for reforming" the city of London
government, and reform, as the city fathers
know well enough, means in their case ex-
tinction. 1t is not good taste for the execu- :
tioner to break bread with the condemned
criminal, ami Sir William Harcourt Is en- .
titled to credit for display of delicate con-
sideration in refusing the Lord Mayors in ,
vitation. o
Mr.. Gladstone, by the way, is accustomed ]
to assume far worse risks than attendance at !