New-York tribune., 1907-11-02
THE ENGLISH STRIKE.
Struggle Betzceen Corporations and
Trade UniOnism.
London. October ..

detention Of hundreds Of thousands of workers
from daily occupation; shortage of food sup
plies such as bread. meat. dairy products and
vegetables; the dislocation OF all kinds Of manu-
featuring through the blocking of raw material
and deliveries Of goods, and widespread disturb
snce of industrial and social relations No
greater calamity short of an earthquake or war
can overwhelm a peaCeable industrious COM
rnunity than a general railway strike with the
suspension Of passenger traffic in densely popu-
lated districts and the stoppage of daily sup
plies Of the necessaries of life. When much
suffering and misery are inevitable from a strike
the responsibility of the official peacemaker is
most serious If he does not succeed in avertine
a disastrous struggle. Mr.. Lloyd George is the
official representative or the nation and is en-
powered by law 10 employ means OF concilia-
ZION whether his services solicited not
He has not waited to be asked. but has inter
vened in a benevolent spirit before the contest
ants have exchanged ultimatums and entered
into a destructive conflict. He cannot compel
them 20 accept arbitration any proposals for
settlement or compromise. but he remind
them that il is public duty for them TO avoid
hostilities and that the forces Of opinion will
be against them If they are unconciliatory and
are controlled by selfish interests.
The railway chairTnen and managers are less
peaceable than the trade unionists in this con-
TrONSTSNr ana lNeg nave pTdCllCdI reasons lot
their aggressiveness. They consider it an ir-
repressible conflict and prefer TO have it fought
out al once because they are stronger now than
they can hope to be in the course OF a few
wears The AnaIgamated Society and other
railway unioEs are a minority OF the whole
force employed. and the majority OF the rail-
way men remain outside the ranks Of organized
labor because they have superior chances for
promotions as non-unionists. If general
strike comes on the companies can depend upon
the loyal service of a large majority OF their
workmen and are prepared to hire substitutes
and 10 drop all union men from their payrolls.
They are convinced that victory will be easier
now than it will be a few years hence, when
the railway unions have been strengthened with
thousands Of recruits and powerful labor fed
Grafton has been formed. We can beat them
now" they exclaim relentlessly, 'and we must
fight when we have the certainty OF success
The only concession which Will satisfy the
trade unionists is official recognition and the
railway managers unite in condemning outside
interference with internal administration as
ruinous compromise. Their reasoning does not
lack force Their control over the situation
would cease II Mr.. Bell were admitted to every
railway council room as the authorized repre-
sentative Of labor The non-unionists would
swarm into the unions, and the demands Of the
men for increased wages and reduced time
would gradually be forced upon the companies
TO the cost Of the shareholders. The companies
cannot divide the responsibilities OF manage
ment with the unions.
The trade unionists are less aggressive than
the railway managers because they have more
to gain by delay. A general muster for ma
npuvres enable them to display their forces and
to enlist recruits. When their leaders act with
moderation and self restraint and profess to be
peaceable and anxious 20 avoid a conflict which
will be disastrous 10 the nation they command
the sympathy of the community When they
reduce their demands to what they consider the
reasonable minimum and concentrate their ef-
forts upon securing the privilege OF having their
case stated 10 the railway managers by their
authorized agents and officials they conciliate
public opinion and attract moral support. II
Mr.. Lloyd-George calls upon them TO limit
their ideas Of recognition 10 representation Of
their own membership a minority Of the rail
way servants without doubt they will accom-
modate themselves to his proposals. They will
not insist upon any action by which the inter
ests Of non -unionists Will be sacrificed and the
companies prohibited from protecting them. So
long as the door is opened for the trade union
ist officials they will be satisfied and the strike
VIII be averted This is the course favored by
Mr. Bell. who is not wool gathering socialist
but as sane a trade unionist Mr.. Burns has
but a cool calculating organizer. who is bent
upon finding the line Of least resistance and
working with the grain of public opinion rather
than against II.
The president of the Board of Trade will be
gin his peace negotiations this week by being a
good listener He will want TO know at first
hand what can be said on each side. and, since
he is the most canable head Of the most bust
nessIike department of the. government, he viii
have practical and definite suggestions to offer
The analogies of the government services point
TO representation Of trade unionism by its lead
ers as the solution which he will favor, and it
viii be limited in value and proportions so as TO
be taken for what it is really worth The puD-
lie servants have their trade unions in the post
Office and other services; and their grievances
are explained by their own officials whenever
any controversy arises Those officials do not
act as representatives OF the entire body en-
poyed but speak for the minority in the trade
union. Such collective negotiation as is done
either in those services or various industries
follows this line: and, unless the railway COM
panies are in an exceptional position as COM
mon carriers responsible for life and safety and
exposed to statutory regulations and prohibi-
tions. it may be assumed by Mr.. Lloyd-George
that restricted recognition of the trade unions
is safe and Just. The companies without doubt
viii emphasize the fact that their position is
unique and that the analogies fail: but that
viii he dangerous contention If it leads to the
catastrophe Of a general railway strike 1t will
imply the necessity for a more rigorous control
of the companies by the Board of Trade than is
now exercised Cancellation will need to be
s'ifened into compulsory arbitration if these
corporations find It impossible to deal with
trade unions through representative leaders
British railways have never been allowed TO