New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-13
BRITISH OFFICIALS FEAR
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
Board of Trade Men Say They
Would Be Helpless Against
Comprehensive Federation.
RECENT VICTORIES A LESSON
English Law Contains No Pro-
vision for Making Arbitration
Compulsory or for Indict-
ing Strike Leaders.
by Gable 10 The Tribune. !

by Gable 20 The Tribune
London, Aug. 1.-THE labor strikes.
which have paralyzed the mercantile ac-
tivities of the metropolis and heavily
increased the cost of living. especially
for the working people, have ended after
revealing how effective trade union lead
ers can make legalized methods of con-
ciliation. Their general order for the
resumption of work claims victory all
along the line.
Mediation by Board Of Trade officials
fs not compulsory, but can be accepted
or declined by employers or workmen
1t is supplemented by an organized tri-
bunal with panels from which repre-
sentatives Of labor and capital can be
chosen and a chairman drawn for cast
ing the decisive vote as arbitrator.
Squeezing the Employers.
The labor unions concerned in the
London strike have availed themselves
Of official facilities for squeezing con-
cessions out Of the employers. The
lockers, among whom the trouble be-
gan, received highly favorable award
from the arbitrator. and various sec
tons Of the federation Of carmen, lighter
men and similar bodies Of workmen had
recourse 70 the provisions Of concilia-
ton and gained nearly everything they
asked.
The area Of discomfort was gradually
widened by the success of Harry Cos
ling and Ben Tillett in obtaining con-
cessions, and a cumulative force of eighty
thousand organized workingmen was d1-
rected 10 the settlement OF all grleN-
ances In allied industries. Work was
suspended ell around until the clearance
Of grievances was complete. Sections
stood out even when they had no corl-
plants, and the community was lett at
tho mercy Of strike leaders who required
time for successive negotiations with
the various organizations Of employers
Food supplies for the metropolis were
cut off and the commerce OF the port
sealed I'D because 50 many compromises
were necessary and there could he no
peace until every section of the workers
was satisfied.
Sympathetic Strikes Dangerous
Oficjals of the Board Of Trade do not
hesitate TO describe this form of SYM
rathetic strike as the most dangerous
vet devised. They assert that with the
federation sufficiently comprehensive all
workers might strike at once and remain
idle until all labor grievances were ad-
iusted. and the Board Of Trade. with lts
laborious processes of negotiation, would
be helpless.
There are no resources OF Engllsh law
for making arbitra ton compulsory or for
ndicting labor leaders who refuse to
permit men TO work after they have set
tied their claims with their employers.
Moreover when there is a strong labor
group at Westminster the Radical gov
eminent makes q brave show of ordering
troops from Aldershot and then leaves
the overworked police TO grapple alone
with lawlessness.
The settlement has been effected
through the patience and tact OF G. r.
Askwith. and prices of food have quickly
fallen 10 their natural level, but the
transport federation has learned how TO
use the weight of the masses of labor.
The labor war is happily ended here, but
has excited apprehension of q renewal of
coercion in the future.
by the Associated Pressl
London. Aug. 12.-London is almost itself
again to-day. A few hours after the Of
retail announcement that the strike had
been settled last night. suf1ced 10 release
the food OF traffic which had been held up
for two or three days, and supplies were
rushed out TO replenish the empty markets
and stores.
1t is estimated that the weeks strike of
the dockmen and carriers has cost the
metropolis at least $4,000. The carmen
employed by two railroad companies say
they have private grievances and refused
10 return 10 work under the general settle
nent They threatened again to paralyze
the city trafic. 1t is generally recognized
that the effect Of the substantial increase
in wages which has been conceded the
strikers, will be considerably 10 enhance
the already high cost Of living in London.
The Glasgow Corporation streetcar men
went on strike to-day and disorganized the
whole service. Attempts to send out the
cars in charge OF the corporations inspec-
tors were prevented by force. The strikers
IN large bodies attacked and wrecked the
cars.
Arrived with sabres and carbines and
furnished with ball cartridges. strong de-
tachments of the Royal Scots in Liverpool
to-day succeeded in effecting the removal
to-day Of goods tied up at the central de-