Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-29

cd and 100000 dock workers quit work.
with the general object of securing rec
ognition for the transport workers union.
This strike was continued for nearly
month with great Inconvenience to Brit
ish trade and was finally brought To an
end by vote of the strikers. At about
the same time a seamens strike IN france
threatened To paralyze commerce In that
country.
The so-called strikes which have oc-
Cured so frequently during the past year
In Belgium AMI in Hungary are not
strictly labor demonstrations. They may
be classed more accurately as revolution
airy movements. They were dominated by
a strong political element-organized pro-
tests which meant disapprcval of present
political conditions in these countries.
German National Elections.
The political game in Europe has been
played with no lack OF its customary
sensational features. The German ma
| tional elections were held early In the
year. and the outcome revealed the sig
| nifcant fact that about II per cent OF
the voters OF the empire are socialists
and that the total popular vote of the
socialist party is 100000 The socialists
increased their representation I'm the
| reichstag to Ito seats, the conservatives
losing ~
The perennial Irish home rule agitation
| made an early appearance in the Brit
ism parliament, in the shape OF "A bin
introduced into the house Of commons by
Premier Asquth The features OF this
Dill were provisions for an Irish parla-
ment. consisting of senate and house
or commons; religious equality, veto
| power for the lord lieutenant, control or
the postal service, but the collection of
taxes TO remain with the imperial service
the power to reduce or discontinue all
| imperial taxes. except the income tax and
the stamp and estate duties. and the
power to alter the excise duties. II
seemed to be more popular i'm England
IMAM In ireland. although the Irish party
| In parliament declared i'm favor OF IT, A
great demonstration in Trafalgar Square.
London. In favor Of the me: sure was Off
set by still larger anti-home rule mani
Iestation in Belfast, where the bill is ex-
tremely unpopular. 100000 persons par
tlclpating in the demonstration against
! 1t. Before the house adjourned august q
! the bill had PASSED it's first and second
readings. ana it's promoters were con-
I hdent OF Its success. During the third
reading OF the bill October IL the oppo-
sition defeated the government by a par
ilamentary trick. and the speaker adj
Journed the session. Similar tactics fol-
| lowed and the opposition displayed un-
expected strength
Measured by the mortality involved. the
social prominence of many OF the vic
ums ana the shock given to the civilized
world. the sinking of the mammoth trans
atlantic liner Titanic stands first not only
IN the years record of disaster. but in
the entlre history OF mans experience on
j the sea. The giant steamship. the larg-
est ever launched on her maiden voyage
from Liverpool to New York, at a little
before midnight, April H. collided with
an iceberg which had come down I'm the
Labrador current and was on its WAY
southwark. -Four hours later the Iuckless
ocean greyhound was at the bottom OF
| the sea.