Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-02
W0RK|NGMEN FAIL.
TOSEE ANY DANGER
They Do Not Realize What Re-
suits of Strikes
May Be.
NO LACK OF PATRIOTISM
Lulled Into Sense of Security
by Strength of British
Fleet.
BY PHILLIP EVERETT.

man press mas made the most possible
capital out of the various strikes and
labor disputes which have taken place
here in England during the great war.
so all intelligent ncutrals visiting Lon
don with whom l have had an oppor-
tunity to speak have expressed their
amazcmcnt at this phenomenon, which
they declare would be utterly impossi-
BILE in their own countries.
1t Is indeed typical English phe-
nomcnon. and 1t is perhaps not strange
that the Germans have beer unable to
find any other explanation Of II than
a proof of English degeneration from
which they are convinced this country
Is suffering.
1t is, of course. utterly unthinka BILE
that similar thing could happen in
Germany: first, because the German
government would make short shrift
with the offenders. but also because the
war Is too close to Germany, and it's
effects are felt by everybody To us
here in England, and especially, of
course. to the dull. ignorant, short
sighted laboring classes the war seems
very distant
They know II Is being carried on,
but they do not feel it's dircc; effect
In the least. 1t might as we'll be going
on In some distant colony, and every
body is used to Great Britain being at
war with somebody somewhere in the
world. Nobody cares very much, and
the daily routine is not disturbed.
BRITISH NAVY KEEPS
AWAY FEARS OF WAR
The British navy is so strong thai
1t keeps away even the fear OF war.
protecting everything in the British
isles even down to the political SQUAD
nies. During all previous wars the
political quarrels have continued un
disturbed. This time they have ceased
by regular truce, but the social
slruggie has been permitted q 90 on.
That this is the only difference. and II
this be sign of decay, then England
mas been decadent for 1000 years.
And because he feels the war only
as very distant thing, the English
workingman does not realize tina. tn.
country Is in danger thi slime. lie
does not realize that a strife may do
irreparablc harm.
The workingmen on the Clvde ener-
getcally protested when they wer.
accused of striking against their
coun'rymcn lighting at the front or
In inc navy The thought had never
entered their heads; they were s,r!k.
ing only against their employers.
Ihese same workingmen who strike
lor an increase OF n penny an ur
would In the next moment gladly vol
uh'eer Tor the army and go TO The from,
singing and willingly let themselves
De killed for shilling a Gay. They
nave enough of fighting spirit in them
Tor war and peace.
WORI<INGMEN READY
TO FIGHT FOR ENGI1ND
Two hundred thousand mine workers
anu 'o,oeo railway men have volun-
'eered Tor kitchener's armies. At first
'he WORKING classes were Very much
opposed TO England's participation in
the war and very few recruits came
from them. But when they were to,d
OF now the Germans had behaved in
Belgium and Northern France the more
'h'eiiiseht OF them were thoroughly
aroused, and from that moment thore
was no lack of recruits
British workingnen are dissatiseoa
because the price of the necessaries of
life has gone up. The purchasin,
power OF the sovereign is now barely
more than 13sh Cd, or about two-thirds
before hn
war. The workers insist that ,ho
greedy business men and shiDowners
are TO blame, that they have causod
prices to rise They maintain that Just
as the government at the BEGINNING of
'he wa TOOK over the control of the
railroads, they ought to have +akor
over the control of all shipping and
the import of food. And when Tho
manufacturers to make fortunes an
war materials il ought to have soon
that the wages of tho workers were IN
creased so that they got their just
share of the increased profits.
On the other side, it is maintained
that IL Germany tho government bas
taken control OF all foodstuTs and
still prices have gone up, The British
government bought up enormous ouan.
titles of sugar, and yet sugar has risen
more than any other commodity. Tho
government here has taken over tho
control OF all railroads and part of the
docks. and yet the rise in prices is
fully as much due to the railroads and
docks rs to the shipping, which 10 stilI
In private hands. The ships are forced
to remain longer at the docks becauso
receive the cargocs and SHINING rate.
rise.
CAUSES PRICE TO GO UP
ALL OVER THE WORLD
1t is. indeed. the sudden interference
or tho government, which has suddenly
entered the market as buyer and shin
per on gigantic scale OF all kinds NJ
food and war munitions for the armies.
with the fact that tho
men serving In these have ceased TO
produce. which have caused prices to
go up not only here, but all over tho
world.
The war here In England has brought
about n social and political activity.
which Is AS intense as at any timo dur
ing peace conditions. nay. even more
so, because the extraordinary circum
stances tempt to trying the new ex-
periments, which arc demanded, with
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