The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-07-28
HUNGER DRIVES LONDON
STRIKERS TO DEFEAT
DOckmen Return to Work After
Ten Weeks Fight Against
Employers.
05, 900 MEN WERE IDLE
All Principal Unions Made
Bankrupt and Widespread
Havoc Wrought.
sp.cio, Cable DsssascA 10 THs sux

Specio, Cable Dsspasch 10 Tas suS.
LONDON. July 27.-After sitting Tor
fonr hours this morning the strike COM
mittee Of the Transport Workers Fed.
Grafton decided to end the strike which
has disturbed the harbor business Of
Great Britain of and on for over a
year. particularly In the last two
months. a notice was posted In Mari
time Hall that the strike was declared
of and that all men we're to return 10
work on Monday. Thus after ten weeks,
during which portion Of the men grew
weaker and weaker. the strike ends with
the defeat Of the men.
The maniferto Issued BY the commit
tee accuses the employers OF using
without remorse the most powerful
weapon Of capitalists. namely starva.
ton. In an attempt to save its face
the committee declares that all agree.
mcnts existing prior to the dispute must
be maintained and O position enforced
that will assure the Joint honoring by
capital and labor Of agreements In the
future.
1t is probable that tho strike has
wrought more havoc TO the strikers and
their families than any labor disturb
ance since the coal strike OF 1893 and
the dock strike OF 1852 From first to
last $4,000 men have been out OF work.
All the principal unions have been en-.
gagged In the dispute. They have used
up all their reserve funds and are now
bankrupt.
Although large funds have been raised
for the relief OF the mems families. the
assistance afforded has been slight as
compared with the extent Of the dis
tress Some OF the leaders too lost the
sympathy Of the public ny uttcrins
threats ~ violence.
To-day's collapse followed tho failure
OF an attempt BY Joseph IiSviock vii.
son. president of the International Sea-
mems Union. 10 organizc u nat'ona,
strike " Transportation worker In sup
port of the London dOckmen.
The attempt to extend the strike was
even carried so far AZ TO ask the a..
sistanct Of the international labor
unions Ia America. -..,-..
! Chairman Lord Devonpori of ihe Port
of London Authority. for whose death
tuoNStuuS vi rtilhcIS !" NttOt uo
at a meeting on Tower Hill this week,
eencralled the employers Ia their fight
against the workinHnen and Is credited.
for his determination and refusal 10
take consequences into consid, ration.
with winning victory FOR the en-
ploycrs.
The strike of the London uockers
which IN volved stevetores. carmen. light.
ermen and other classes of casual labor.
ers. waS the climax OF series Of strikes
that for year have ieopardized British
shipping interests. The dockers quit
work year ago in sympathy with the
sea,nen and when the latters demands
were satisfied the dockers sought more
advantageous terms for themselves
There We're outbreaks in various p0rta
Of the United ingdom. but general
strike OF the longshoremen Of London
was reserved "a Anal display Of strength
Tho original preteyt for this latest
strike. the question of An old watchman's Z
union ticket. was speedily dropped by
the Transport Workers Federation and
demands were nadc for 20 cents an hour
for dockerr. lightermen and stevedores
overtime at the rate Of "a Cents an hour
time OF for meals. a ten h0nr day and REQ.
ognitioR Of the union. President Noslina
Of the u Non and Hen Tillet were the lesderl
OF the union men. BY the end OF May
more than 10000 men were idle.
Lorldon's Is food supply was s0on in peril
Hundreds Of vessels loaded with food sup
plies remained at tho docks with nO mef
TO unload them and none to convey tn,
supples to tho markets II they were un
/ loaded The grain and -four trade cams
meat jumped Immediately.
The strikers offered to convey food I,
hospitals and health departments, bu,
outside of these concessions they threat
ened 10 st op the entire food supply Of TIN
city II their demands were not granted
The Government quickly took action. ane
/ n statement was issued from the HON.
Office W the effect that order would b,
maintained and that the Government
would use all the resources At its daposs
to insure continued food supply.
The brunt OF this situation was Of co,,rr,
borne by those who live closc 10 the ypv
srty line. In ths poorer sections OF tn
city thousands Of men. women and chill
drcn begun literally to stare. Pawn
shops were filed with pledges and tn,
pawnbrokers ceased making advances
Landlords despaired Of collecting rents
Children Of school age were supplied Will
two meals daily. but in many casss ther
was no food for the children and mothers
Some OF the newspapers sent wagon
loaded with bread into the famine stricken
districts and dreadful riots reSultsd
men, women and children lighting Mk
wild beasts for the food. Conditions he
came 10 terrible that newspa pew formerly
favornbls to the strikers withdrew thei
support and urged that for their chill
dren's salses the men 90 back to work.
No estimate can be made Of tho seners
money loss caused by the strike. Vessel
laden with perisnable carxOss were tie,
up at tho wharveS and the Quays wer
Uttered with great quantities of bacon
cheese. lard, butter and fruit. Tho sms
msrchsnts who were dependsnt on ahip
ping for their wares sAw their supplia
depleted with no hope of renewing then
The great steamship companies he'd b
refuse booking. aud railroads. turns
A. n