Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-30
MAY DAY CALL
FOR WALKOUTS
STIRS EUROPE
All Eyes Centered on Teu-
ton Nations-Austria
Faces Crisis
eCANDINAVIA AFFECTED
Governments Prepare to Meet
Labor Demonstrations
Tomorrow
LONDON. April 80.


What tomorrow-May Day--may bring
tprth throughout the Central Empires was
Interesting all Europe today, bellegerentS
and neutrals alike.
Austrian Socialists and trade unions
have, definitely determined to institute
twenty -four-hour general strike. Berlin
dispatches announcing this decision hinted
at considerable apprehension that German
workmen would follow this example. They
detailed widespread efforts by labor
unions and Socialist leaders to avert any
tie-up in Germany.
Just how far the general strike agita-
tion has gone in the Kaiser's empire and
how many worl<men will join in the DEM
onstration has been successfully concealed
BY the German censorship. What details
have come out of Germany are contradic-
tory. Dispatches from Holland asserted
that German Socialists were working
against the strike and quoted Count Won
Reventlow. in the Berlin Tageszeitung, as
denying that the Socialists were aiding in
suppressing the strike scheme As against
this, other Berlin information asserted
that the Socialist organ Norwaerts today
warned its readers in faring type not to
Join any movement which would curtal
the output of munitions.
May l may be fateful date for de-
mocracy in Germany" declared the news
paper Germania, Conservative Catholic
organ.
Most interest here centered on what may
happen in Austria Hungary. For weeks
past-ever since news of the Russian rev.
elution reached Emperor Karl's people
there have been persistent rumors of peace
moves from the dual monarchy. and il is
known the nation is suffering greatly from
lack of food and general wearness with
war.
The general strike in the Central En-
pires is primarily to voice protest of the
people against insufficient food. Accord
70 hoe fla1,1 i,,f,
leaders count only upon tie-up of all in
,dustry for twenty-four hours-smply TO
snow the people and the Governments the
strength of the workmen and the necessity
Tor listening to their complaints.
Military prepa ra ations to cope with ex-
pected violence during the May Day dem
onstrations were completed today by
various governments throughout Europe
On account of the growing vigor of III,
Socialist peace movement in some countries
May Day this year takes an Unprecedented
political importance.
Extremely serious situations face th
swedish German and Austro- Hungarian
Governments. A dispatch from Copenhagei
says that great bodies of troops have beei
massed at Stockholm and other Swedish
cities.
May Day celebrations in Spain consti
tute big event in the national life o
Spanish workers and this year the impor
tance of the day has been increased by tn
unrest prevailing among workmen through
out the country.
For weeks Spain has been menaced b
the possibility of a general strike.
There will be big May Day manifesto
tion by Russian workmen in Petrograd l
the fear that the followers of Nicholas L.
nine may try to tack advantage of the oC
casion for demonstration in favor of
separate peace with Germany and Austri
many of them have been arrested.
Dispatches from Paris state that no trot
Bile Is feared there nor has May Day eve
been much of an institution in England.