Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-09
!'p0R UNREST PROVING
GENERAL IN ENGLAND
One Of the Troubles Caused by High
Food Prices Demanding Early
Adjustment.
AN EpIDY,,,rC IN, e,r,,y,,c
N EPIDEMIC OF STRIKES
Reduction OF Purchasing Power OF
Money Has Caused Many Demands
for Wage Raises, Some OF Which
Have Been Autocratic in Character.
ny EATON FI;AtN.

BY EATON EEAUN.
LONDON. November War Is the
mother of worries. This has been the
history of war throughout the ages
after all there is nothing new under
}ne sun. History has trick of re-
t,sattns itself. Human nature remains
the same. however outward forms may
nave changed.
which can let humanity. and It's
terrible effects spread Ike n plague
20 the remote corners Of the earth
NO one can escape its ghastly clutch
mere is hardly home In the civilized
world over which the dark cloud haa
s n0t passed p, The mischief does not
been killed by the war who have never
home ,n 'I t,nr h nd e. ra nn Many y
n, a. homes n Fiaadsrs as and SdFFi Frsn es
by the enemy 8 bombardments.
The evil effects OF war are 80 num-
Groua that they elude classification
~ produces new forms OF disease which
banle the most skilled OF our ply
scans IL leaves i'll It's trail germs OF
erii fwhish take several generations to
ERADICATE. It's social and moral effects
are sas great az its physical and ma
tcriAl ones
Al the present time Britain is SUI
strikes-a traccabie to the war. In
normal tines under normal conditions
sr, mes may bt perfectly tustinablc
Ihey are practically the only weapon
or defense the workman possesses He
realizes that he y no longer a serf but
purchased He has a divine ' right 1 To-
I'VE. After serving in cruel bondage
TOT centuries he is at last waking up
WIN wine. II not handled rightly he
VII ~. menace inc reace q the future.
ot course strikes at time like the
may dash the cup OF Victory on; OF our
hands-the victor! which has been pur-
chased at the cost OF so mucn blood
crisis like the present are in one
sense an untorgivahle offense.
IL Is Tar better and FAR easier 10
prevent disease :han cure It. but this
unfortunately has not been the policy
OF the British government.
Every effect IL traccablc TO some spe-
cause of all the trouble? 1t is really
a,, Sesg simple I'm Pat, ,2aitsr. 1he war has
ure is at the root Of all the mischief.
ing value Is not worth more than S
sh:llings E2j. and those in authority
who pirate about the high wages of the
working classes overlook this import
ant aspect OF the matter. An empty
stomach lea bad forcing house for pa
clI;cr woman once said that the
way n mans heart was through his
sto. CHI hnny a modern willy wife
no" true tndl IL, ana II she iS
DESTROYS OF a new dress or the latest
thing In hats she wisely first feeds
hubby" before broaching the subject.
IMPORTANT FACTOR
The food question will prove one OF
the most important factors in bringing
NE war TO speedy termination. The
bv ib ryrogni Sa, me mnGriancH Of this
that the b.sS way to bring the Eng,
lish people TO their knees was to starve
them. Their method however has mis-
e-ably failed. There is plenty OF food
/ in England .o-day. but owing 10 the
( action OF pronteers the price has been
| enhanced 70 an alarming extent. This
7 high price of tood--and II the truth Is
I 10 be told tie abomin able charges made
for alcoholic C., drinks for the English
bcer-has been at the bottom of all
this labor unrest
The working classes CO England are
demanding something more than mere
food. clothing and shelter. They con-
tend they have right TO some OF the
Injuries of life. which in the past have
been the 80, cial privilege OF the rich
The Federation OF Engineering and
shipeuiidinE TRACES has recently de-
/ Exchequer that owing TO the reduced
|! purchasing power Of money. income
tax should only be assessed on earned
II incomes BEGINNING at $1,000 per annum.
This again is a Gear indication OF
| what Is running through the working
b mans mind.
/ The wistst course seems to be to
tackle this wage question from top to
| bottom.
| There are many people who attribute
I; this English labor unrest to the manip-
!. ulation of the hidden hand" and there
L may be more in this than some people
II mink.
The way OF the Hun is SO crafty and
] he works In such devious ways that.
h after the disclosures which have been
| made. one really cannot be surprised
| at anything.
:. BRAIN WORKERS, TOO,
SHOULD RE CONSIDERED
The working classes of England are
| just beginning to find their feet and
] some of their demands arc not by any
means characterized by modesty. For
this many of the so-called labor lead
crs are certainly to blame. They seem
to forget ma: democracy does not
exclusion OF every other class. Brain
workers-who throughout the war have
been the keenest sufferers. but who
bear their sorrow. uncompla iningiy-
have as much right to consideration
as the man who handles a spade. or Is
an expert mech anic.
There are signs OF labor becoming
too autocratic. Whilst protesting de-
mocracy IL overlooks the fact that a
duke may be as good a democrat as the
village shoemaker.
English labor--aS exhibited by some
OF Its leaders-has not the true ring
of genuine democracy which character
ICES American labor,
1t is hoped that Mr.. Gompers's mis-
sion will be effective Of much good TO
tho leaders of labor thought: in Eng
land They certainly have need Of it.
land have yet much to learn with ref