The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1916-05-11


| There have been no strikes at the fac
tories where they were employed and
respected; Muir's employers stated
his was a powerful influence for in
dustrial peace and he had been able
to work out a dilution scheme for
operation in their establishment with
out any trouble; and it is only few
weeks back since GALLAGHER was Of
fered foreman's position by his en-
ployers.
The explanation of the conviction
may be found in the fact that Muir
and GALLAGHER were the spokesman
when the Clyde Workers committee
met Lloyd George to discuss dilution,
and they said things on that occasion
which the Minister of Munitions did
not like.
John McLean's Sentence
The fourth man to be sent to prison
in his case for three years penal
servitude-was John Mclean, who
was found guilty of having uttered
seditious statements in the course of
four speeches which he made to Clyde
workers during January. The evil
dence for the prosecution consisted
entirely of official police evidence, and
all the police witnesses excepting one
admitted that their reports" of what
Mclean is alleged to have said were
not taken when he spoke, but after the
meeting. In some cases the reports
were written the following day, and
all were written in longhand. All the
evidence for the Crown was denied by
civilian witnesses who had heard Nc
Lean speak, but their testimony was
brushed aside. For the past Is years
Mclean had been an advocate of anti
militarism all over Scotland, and he
is now suffering for his adherence to
Socialist principles. He has a wife
and two children who must be main
tanned by us pending his release. The
treasurer of tts Clyde Workers d.
Tense fund is Councillor John Wheat
ley, 1914 Howard ST., Glasgow.
The Dundee Strike
While the Clyde volcano of discon-
tent is smouldering, the workers in
the Dundee jute industry are in open
revolt, and some 10000 men and wom-
en- have now been on strike for three
weeks in support of their request for
an increase of Is per cent. to enable
them to cope with the advance in the
cost of living. The Government Com
mittee on Production "arbitrated," re-
jected the claim, and even refused to
reconsider their decision when asked.
The workers came on strike, and are
maintaining a bold and united front,
despite underhand attempts on the
part of the authorities to coerce them
into subsection. The military repre-
sentatives had a conference with the
strike leaders in the hope that the
workers would resume without any
conditions; but the workers refuse to
resume unless they are given a guar
antee that their claim will be consid-
cred by an impartial arbitrator, who
shall take into account the rise in
prices and the profits Of six principal
firms, and that whatever decision is
given will be retrospective to the
date of stopping work. That is fair
offer, and so long as the employers
refuse it one must admire the def
ance of the workers.
Mr.. HendersOn's Folly
Glasgow Laborists are bitter with
Mr.. Arthur Henderson, M. P, because
of the letter which he sent to mem
Der of an alleged "labor" organization
criticising the men who have been de-
ported. The letter has been used to
attract members to the patriotic
Labor Party" which is an antiSocial-
list organization run by anti-Socialists
in opposition to the local Labor Par
ty. Apart from the Incorporate tone
of the letter, which was written by
one who was ignorant of the facts of
the Clyde dispute, it makes the posi-
ton of the local genuine labor organi-
cations very difficult. The Govan L.
r. c. has written the Labor Party re-
questing an explanation and apology
from the Minister of Education. Some
other labor organizations have threat
ened to adopt even more drastic meas
ures than the Govan L. r. c. unless
Mr.. Henderson makes a satisfactory
explanation and apology.-Myner Col
lier, in the Labor Leader.