The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-02
Every Employe in Three
Kingdoms to be Called
Outright Certain.
100000 TO LAY DOWN TOOLS
Thrice That Number May Be In
volved-Struggle Means Com
mercial Disaster.

London. Nov. Great Britain last
night was confronted with the greatest
struggle between capital and labor in
its history. general strike of all rail-
road employees in the three Kingdoms.
/ involving directly 100, 600 men and in
! directly thrice that number
The final decision to strike was taken
yesterday at secret meeting of the
executive committee of the Amalga-
mated Society of Railway Servants.
/ The union has always been regarded
! as the most conservative and wisely
I led labor organization in the country.
/ It's leader. Richard Bell, a member OF
parliament, noted for his opposition to
strike and for the fairness of his at
titude toward the rights of capital,
His sanction. therefore, of this strike
which, If carried into effect, is certain
to have serious If not disastrous eff
! fects upon every class in the com
munity and on the commercial in
! terests of the nation, is taken to mean
/ that Cancellation is beyond hope and
| that only a pitched battel between the
railroads and their employees can settle
| the questions in dispute.
Strike Leader Warns OF Calamity.
| For months the most powerful in
| terests in the country have put forth
strenuous efforts to avert trouble, and
no one has worked harder for this end
than Bell. In a recent address to a
large body of railway men at Cardiff
/ he said that a strike would be
terrible calamity and that the society
| intended to exhaust every means to
reach a peaceful solution of the trouble
before calling out the men.
The principal demand made by the
railroad employees was recognition of
the union, and this demand has been
unwaveringly opposed by the railroad
companies. The questions of wages and
hours of labor entered into the dis
pute. but the railroads have absolute
ly refused to treat with the men
through the union on these subjects
This determination of the railroads is
the active cause of the strike, accord
ing to the resolution adopted by the
executive committee of the railroad
emploes' union yesterday.
Union Recognition the Issue.
The resolution says:
The conference Of the representa-
tives of the railway men of England,
Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. realizing
the grave responsibility involved in the
declaration Of national railway
strike, regrets that the arbitrary re-
fusal of the railway companies to
meet the accredited representatives of
the men, even to discuss a settlement
by friendly negotiations, leaves no
other course open but to carry out
I 10
closed in the result of the ballot, and
we therefore recommend that the ex-
ecutive committee issue notice to the
service"
Since the last unsuccessful effort to
negotiate with the railroads through
the union the employees have been bal
loting on the question of calling a
general strike. an overwhelming ma
jority of the men declaring themselves
in favor of striking.
The resolution means all that 1t
says" Bell declared last night Not
only the members of the society but
every man engaged in the railway
service in the united kingdom Will get
notice. We took the opinion of our
members. and, knowing that, and
knowing also that thousands OF men
outside the society are in sympathy
with us, we resolved to call on every
one to come out"
100000 Men to Walk Out.
The utmost secrecy was observed by
the executive committee in their meet
ing held yesterday and it Is impos-
sible to learn what proportion of the
men voted for strike 1t is under
stood. however. that more than 5000
men voted to strike, and that at least
100000 men Will stop work the hour
the strike order goes into effect
Under the rules of the railroad mems
union and the law OF the country, how
ever, the general strike cannot go into
effect for weeks, and there is a little
hope that in the meantime the efforts
or David Lloyd-George, president OF
the board of trade. who has been work
Ing strenuously to bring about
settlement. may prove successful.
SO far however. Mr.. Lloyd Georges
admittedly great efforts have been un-
fruitful. but in a speech last night he
declared that he would keep on trying
to bring peace with honor to both
parties. His earnestness is indicated
by the announcements that he will call
into consultation representatives of
the Amalgamated Society of Railway
Servants in the hope of bringing en-
ployers and employees into line, thus
placing him in the position of conciI-
iatory Arbitrator, whose function it
will be to hear both sides.