Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11
STARVING ENGLAND ON
THE VERGE OF RIOTING
Special Correspondence of The Star.

THE VERGE OF RIOTING
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
LONDON, October /. 1908.
~ NGLAND is face to face with the
most serious condition Of unem-
r. ployment in her history, and un-
less relief is provided on an I'M
precedented scale during the COM
ing winter. bread riots may be expected
in many of the principal cities. Already
he mutterings of discomfort have been
heard and in Glasgow. at least, blood
shed was only prevented few days ago
by the prompt action Of the authorities
in yielding to the demands of the work
less men and starting relief works.
Unemployment has been growing in
England for many years, and about three
years ago 1t reached such q point that
parliament passed a bill in hurry en-
powering local authorities to levy a small
tax for the purpose of providing work for
their unemployed. The amount of the
tax, however, Is strictly limited. and 1t
must have the 81 prevail Of the local gov
eminent board, the head Of which is a
member of the cabinet before it may be
levied. This met the situation for the
time being The procession of unemploy-
the parks and other public places groups
of men could be seen doing a very little
work for rather large pay Irc-vided by
the taxpayers.
This year. however. the situation Is SO
bad that the unemployed act has broken
down. 1t is clearly evident already that
the powers conferred on the local authori-
ties under the act will be totally made
quate to relieve the immense number OF
unemployed Workmen who are now clam
fN~ whose MIN.
bers will be increased as the weather be-
comes more severe. The following are
the approximate numbers OF unemployed
reported In some OF the principal cities In
Leeds, 1900; Liverpool. $4,000: Glasgow,
10000: Bristol. 1900: Manchester ll.Uo'
Belfast, 10000: Dundee. 5000: Sheffield,
Il. 900: Sunderland. 1900.
In addition to these every industrial town
in the kingdom has its quota of unemploy-
ed and the number Is being steadily IN
creased. 1t is evident how little the max
ing of new parks and roads can do to pro-
vide employment for this great army.
Advance Of Socialism.
The most dangerous feature of the sit
uation is the bold attitude adopted by
the leaders of these idle men. Socialism
has made great strides in England OF re-
cent years. and the English workman Is
no longer contented with that station IN
life to which God has called him." He
no longer accepts starvation and cold as
acts Of God He now demands the right
to work and the right to live, and II ne
is denied them he is developing very
ugly temper toward those whom ne nolos
responsible for his plight.
A few days ago a mob OF io,vV un,
employed men In Glasgow, led by wen
known socialists, and singing revolution
airy songs. started on midnight march
from the center Of the town to the dis-
zens. Their avowed object was to call
at the lord provosts house and force him
to do something for their relief: but many
Of the orators who harangued them pc
fore starting did not hesitate to advise
them to raid the houses Of the rich. The
procession was ridden down by mounted
police and dispersed before It got half
way. and If the police had not been able
to deal with the mob. the kings Own
bayonets fixed and rifles loaded at their
barracks ready to be called on. Since
the procession two socialists have been
sent to prison for advising the mop 10
use bombs and red pepper against the
police and the lord provost has Travelled
post haste to London to secure the con-
sent of the local governing board to
plan for providing work on an extraordl-
nary scale.
city hall and demanded work Their
leaders did not hesitate to predict that II
work or bread were not forthcoming they
would loot the city. The mayor and coun-
power to relieve them and q truce was
declared. Practically the same thing has
occurred at Belfast, where large number
of shpbu.lders and linen workers are
unemployed. Their leaders threatened,
and the municipal authorities promised.
Unemployed Threaten.
The whole tone Of the leaders OF the
unemployed is threatening. Victor Gray
son, MP, the socialist. who was elected
to parliament by the Colne Valley miners
at the last general election. predicts that
next winter will be one Of horror. Speak
ing in his constituency a few days ago,
he declared that starving people had no
right to be orderly, and advised his
hearers, If they could not find work. to
enter the shops and take what they need
ed for the support of themselves and
their families.
In Manchester a few Sundays ago about
a thousand unemployed men marched to
the cathedral during the morning service
and insisted on the dean preaching a spe-
cial sermon to them and making special
collection. The dean advised them to be
peaceful and was continually interrupted
and jeered at. These cathedral marcnes
ployed agitation. A few weeks ago
party Of London unemployed marched to
ST. Paurs and the dean was also COM
PEELED to make a special collection and
preach a special sermon. He was listened
to respectfully. however. Another party
of unemployed invaded the cathedral at
Canterbury, but the dean there refused
to listen to them.
1t must be borne in mind that the
figures quoted do not give any adequate
idea of the distress. Thus in Glasgow
it is stated that nearly every one Of the
10000 idle men is the head of a family
and that there are at least 5000 per-
sons in want. The same rule will apply
TO most of the industrial towns. except
London, to which great numbers Of sin
gle men drift in search of casual en-
ployment, but even in London it is safe
to estimate that about half the men
registered as unemployed are the heads
of families.
So far no suggestion has been made for
dealing with the situation this winter
The British taxpayer is carrying a load
now which cannot be greatly increased.
and the government is most unwilling to
take the responsibility of imposing fresh
taxation. 1t begins to look as If the
ministers are determined to wait until
the situation becomes so serious that the
country will demand immediate action
from them regardless of the cost. In
the meantime, however, the unemployed
seem determined not to wait. and there Is
every indication that there will be seri-
Gus outbreaks before anything Is done.