New-York tribune., 1907-11-02
TO CALL GREAT STRIKE.
VOTE ON BRITISH LINES.
Almost Al RaiIzcay Employees Er-
pected to Quit Work.


the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants
4o-dav adopted a resolution to call a general
strike
Notwithstanding the powerful influences that
have been at work for some time in the hope Of
sverting trouble in the British railroad world,
there seems tonight to be little probability of
,rAventing a strike which will have the most
eerious consequences to the travelling public, the
,,on and companies involved and commercial
interests The action taken to-day by the exec
,,tive committee of the Amalgamated Society Of
Railway Servants leaves little or hope for
favorable outcome. This society always has
been regarded as one of the most conservative
of the labor unions and its leader, Richard Bell,
NJ P has been noted for his efforts to prevent
strikes and for his utterances in favor OF the
rights of capital well the rights OF the
,rorkingman. Consequently the resolution of to-
dav is not taken lightly, and in view Of these
declarations and the determined stand taken by
the society since the grievances Of the men were
first expressed 1t does not seem likely that the
men will withdraw from their present position.
While there is a long list of alleged grievances.
the principal one has turned on recognition Of
the union. and this the railroad companies.
whose chief spokesman is Lord Claude Hamilton,
are determined not to concede. The general
strike however. under the rules of the society
and the requirements of the law. cannot go into
effect for some weeks. In the mean time there
IS remote hope that the efforts of David Lloyd
George, president of the Board Of Trade who has
been working strenuously to bring about set
Element will be successful. So far, however,
Mr. Iloyd-George's admittedly great energy in
this regard has been unfruitful but in speech
tonight he said that he would keep on trying TO
bring peace with honor 10 both parties His
earnestness is indicated by the announcement
that he will call into consultation representa-
tives Of the Amagamated Society of Railway
Servants in the hope of bringing employers and
employees into line, thus placing him in the posi-
tion of arbitrator.
The railroads charge that the present agita-
tion is due TO the growth of socialism, and oddly
enough. while this idea being expressed by
Lord Claude Hamilton tonight in a declaration
that socialism was "irreligious and immoral in
its teachings" Mr.. Lloyd George was saying in
his address that socialism "a bogie Of
to-day introduced to frighten the unwary," and
that there was no danger "but a certain ad-
vantage in socialism. inasmuch as 1t stirred the
people To think"
The resolution adopted by the executive COM
Inittee of the employees says:
A conference of representatives. of the railway
men of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
realizing the grave responsibility involved IN the
declaration of a national railway strike, regrets
that the arbitrary refusal Of the railway com
NAMES to meet the acce0lte0 representatives. u
the men. even TO discuss settlement by friendly
negotiations, leaves 10 other course open but to
carry out the mandate of our members, As dis
closed in the result Of the ballot, and we there
fore recommend that the executive committee
issue notice to the papers and TO the whole
railway service.
Richard Bell, general secretary Of the Anal
gamated Society of Railway Servants and lead
er of the strike movement, in an interview on
the effect of the resolution, said this afternoon:
II means all that it says. Not only the mem
hers of the society, but every man engaged IN
the railway service In the United Kingdom VIII
get notice We took the opinion OF our mem
bers and knowing that, and knowing also that
thousands Of men outside the society are III
sympathy with US. we resolved to call on every
one TO come out
The decision to call a general strike was
reached after FIVE hours deliberation on the part
Of the executive committee of the Amalgamated
Society with the advisory committee appointed
by the three conferences Of the society last June
at Birmingham, Glasgow and Dublin. Mr.. Bell
presiding
The strictest secrecy IS maintained regarding
the result of the ballot of the men, but it is
understood that some 10000 TO $4,000 declared
for a general strike and that at least 100000
men belonging to the Amalgamated will stop
work.
The railway companies say that the Analga
mated Society of Railway Servants by no means
represents the entire body of railway employees
and that they have had satisfactory responses
TO the circulars issued by the directors asking
for information in regard to the men who can
be counted to remain loyal to the companies
fn case Of the declaration of a general strike.
The British railway employees and the companies
have been at loggerheads for some time the
question whether the Amalgamated Society of
Railway Servants should obtain recognition of the
organization and a scale of wages and hours.
1t decided by the employees 10 reach decision
by ballot The secretary Of the society thereupon
Issued ballots for the members which to be
returned marked Yes No by October 26 last.
Richard Bell. NJ p, general secretary of the
Aralgamated Society of Railway Servants has
been the leader of the movement for recognition.
and In recent address to a large body OF railway
men at Cardiff he said that a strike would be a
terrible calamity, and that the society intended to
exhaust every to reach a peaceful solution
OF the trouble. In later speech he announced
that the railway companies had sent unfavor-
able reply 10 the society's demand
The council of the railway companies associa-
ton. in it's reply TO the men, pointed out that the
council had power to appoint representatives, to
meet the delegates Of the unions proposed and
discuss questions which affected the relations be
tween individual companies and their employees
The council, however added that its members in
oividually unanimously of the opinion that no
advantage could result from any meeting until
October g. when the result OF the balloting the
question Of a general strike would be known.
The seriousness of a railway te-up in the United
Kingdom is difficult TO overestimate. 1t has been
pointed out in dispatches from London that such
action would not only paralyze the industries, but
soon would starve out the Inhabitants of all the
interior cities of England where there are usually
n lV 1asy Goo fac han