The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-16
Is a Typically English Phe- nomenon, He Says-The
 Navy Is to Blame
ENGLISH PUBLIC
 HAS NOT FELT WAR
To Ignorant Laboring Classes It Has Seemed Something Which Con- cerned Them Little-Public Senti- ment Is Finally Aroused
 Blame It on Navy

London, May 15.-tspecial)-Just as the German press has made the most possible capital out of the various strikes and labor disputes which have taken place here in England during the great war, 70 all intelligent neutrals visiting London with whom have had opportunity to speak. have expressed their amaze ment at this phenomenon which they declare would be utterly impossible in their own countries It is, indeed, a typical English phe- nomenon. and it Is perhaps not strangel that the Germans have been unable to find any other explanation of it than a proof of English degeneration from which they are convinced this country Is suf- fering. Ii is, of course utterly unthinkable that similar thing could happen in Ger many. First because the German gov ern1nent would make short shrift with the offenders, but also because the war Is too close to Germany and its effects are felt by everybody. To us here in England and especially, of course, to the dull, ignorant. shortsighted laboring classes, the war seems very distant They know it is being carried on, but they do not feel it's direct effect in the least. It might well be going on inl some distant colony and everybody isl used to Great Britain being at war with somebody somewhere in the world No body cares very much and the daily routine is not disturbed.
 The British navy is so strong that it keeps away even the fear of war, pro- tecting everything in the British Isles, even down to the political squa bbles Dur 1n -foa,c txra hn fpo1 uf- rels have continued undisturbed. This time they have ceased by regular truce. but the social struggle has been permitted to go on. That this is the only difference end if this be a sign of decay, then England has been decadent for a thou sand years.
 The workingmen on the Clyde energeti cally protested when they were accused of striking against their countrymen fight ing at the front or in the navy. The thought had never entered their heads; they were striking only against their em- ployers These same worliingmen who strike for an increase of a penny hour would in the next moment gladly volunteer for the army and go to the front singing and willingly let themselves be killed for shilling a day They have enough of fighting spirit in them for war and peace. Two hundred thousand mine workers and 75,000 railway men have volunteered for Kitchenrs armies At first the work ing classes were very much opposed to England's participation in the war and very few recruits came from them But when they were told of how the Germans had behaved in Belgium and northern France the more intelligent of them were thoroughly aroused and from that moment there was no lack of recruits
 British workingmen are dissatisfied be- cause the price of the necessaries of life has gone up. The purchasing power of the sovereign is now barely more than 1Ssh. Cd, about two-thirds as com pared with conditions before the war. The workers insist that the greedy busi- ness men and ship owners to blame; that they have caused prices to rise. They maintain that just the govern ment at the beginning of the war took the control of the railroads, they ought to have taken over the control of all shipping and the import of food. And when the government permits con tractors and manufacturers to make for tunes war materials it ought to have seen that the wages of the workers were increased, so that they got their just share of the increased profits.
 Arguments on Other Sides
 On the other side, it is maintained thai in Germany the government has taken control of all foodstuffs and still prices have gone up. The British government bought up enormous quantities of sugar
 
 other commodity. The government hers has taken over the control of all rail. roads and part of the docks. and yet tht rise in price is fully as much due to the railroads and docks to the shipping, which is still in private hands. The ships are forced to remain longer at the dock. because these and the railroads are un- able to receive the cargoes and shipping Sates rise.
 It is indeed the sudden interference of the government which has suddenly en- , tered the market as buyer and shipper on a gigantic scale of all kinds of food and war munitions fo rthe armies, sim ultaneously with the fact that the men serving in these have ceased to produce which have caused prices to go up not only here but all over the world.
 The here in England has brought about social and political activity which is as intense as at any time during peace conditions, nay, even more so, be- cause the extraordinary circumstances tempt to trying the new experiments which are demanded. without any bind ing obligations for the future.
 The Belgian and the German socialist who stand face to face with war. re- mains silent because he realizes that ii is not his old enemy, the capitalist whc Is bleeding him, but an even more pitt less enemy--war The British working. man sees only the capitalist who is here but not the war which is more dis tant
 I shall not try to deny that there have been and are contractors who have been smart and interruptions enough to make use of present conditions to which them selves in the most scandalous man. ner but they are comparatively few AZ and have not influenced the general con Et ditions. Contractors besides. it ap pears a necessary evil in war time
 There is corruption In the British bust ness world. but there is among tn, working classes. It is a very common complaint on the part of employers tha with the increased wages the men d' less work. In many highly paid trade the workingmen remain away from worl often as much as two even three day q week. Working overtime on three O. four days week the well paid worker make enough to get along, and that | all they care for.
 It is hoped that conditions will change now for the Intelligent public are heart iIv tired of ever complaining employers who cannot afford to pay wages. thougi they are crowded with orders and work sngmen.. who are continuously asking fol higher pay. though they can afford t' loaf in saloons and cinemas half of tn, week instead of working full time. Pub lie opinion is thoroughly conrinced tha those who suffer most sileht and those <S urtn a ra wall ofY are alWaAs growing