New-York tribune., 1919-10-07
British Industry
Being Resumed
As Strike Ends
Most of Rail Men Return,
Trains Back on Schedule
and Coal Mining Opera
tions Are Begun Again

LONDON, Oct. 6.-Great Britain's
railway system was again in operation
to-day as the result of the settlement
yesterday of the great railway strike,
averting what threatened to develop
into an ominious spread of the nations
labor troubles.
Virtually every man engaged in rail-
way work in London returned to duty
before 8 o'clock this morning. The
various rail services did not Speedily
reach the normal state, however, be-
cause of the displacement of the ma
terial that had resulted from the
suspension Of work. In the country
districts also the resumption was gen
eral, except in the outlying districts,
where kilograms announcing the settle
ment and ordering the men back to
work could not be delivered last night
The railway companies promised to-
day that virtually regular service would
be in operation on their lines to-mor-
row.
Work in the coal fields, which had
been stopped owing to the lack Of
freight cars, IS now being rapidly re-
sumed. The Irish mail service has
also been started again.
j. n. Thomas, secretary of the Ma
tional Union of Railwaymen, said this
morning that in some rare instances
strikers had refused to return to work
with men who had volunteered to con-
tinue work during the strike, but he
hoped that this difficulty in carrying
out the terms of the settlement would
be overcome. On the other hand, one
company had declined to permit the
strikers to return, thus creating a Sc
rious situation. but the company
yielded after intervention by Mr..
Bonar Law and Sir Eric Geddes, with
whom Mr. Thomas had a long con-
ference.
Union Men Satisfied
Leaders of the National Union of
Railwaymen declare their satisfaction
with the arrangement in a letter to
"The Herald"
"Then men stood four square, deter
mined to secure victory or go down to-
gether," declares J. H. Thomas, secre-
tary of the union and leader of the
strike. "The settlement brings home
great gains"
Mr.. Thomas appeals to railwaymen
to consolidate their organization and
make their forces stronger than ever,
so as to "gain for all members a higher
standard of life"
c. T. Cramp, president Of the union,
says in message to "The Herald":
"While we did not obtain the formula
we set forth in the strike resolution, we
obtained terms equally good. which will
give the railwaymen the same thing in
effect. Our men have broken the back
of the first attack made upon the entire
working class, and no doubt this splen-
did stand will save workers from de-
graded standard of life.'
j. Bromley, secretary of the Society
of Firemen and Engineers, declares:
"The settlement is highly satisfactory.
There is greater value in it than appears
at first sight"
General relief and satisfaction is ex-
pressed by newspapers over the settle
ment majority of the journals main
tain that neither side is entitled to
claim a victory, but several declare the
result has shown that organized work
men are "unable to intimidate the ma
ton"
'"The Telegraph" is satisfied with the
"clean settlement" and hopes the
strike has proved finally that an at
tempt by railwaymen to stun the nation
will always fail" "The Mail" declines
to discuss the terms and say: "If they
satisfy the railwaymen they will satisfy
everybody" 1t adds: although it has
been a costly lesson, it has been demon
strated that strike, when resolutely
faced, must fail"