New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-20
British Near End
of Labor Unrest:
Leaders Gaining
Governments Attitude of
Cancellation Brings Hope
of Settlement of Crisis
Without a Big Strike
Ne.U YorE Tribune
EurOpedn Bureau


Copyright, 1919. New York Tribune. Inc)
LONDON, Feb. 19.-The labor stu
alton to-day is better than at any
time in the last six weeks, though
matters are still critical, For the
first time within the last month there
is real hope that disastrous situa-
ton is avoidable. There are several
contributory causes:
First, because the government is
using all its influence to make the
congress of employers and labor lead
ers called for February q an IN
mistakable success.
Second, the power of the Bolshevik
propaganda is decidedly waning and
the sections that participated in the
lighting and railroad strikes a fort
night ago are rapidly losing prestige.
Third, the success Of labor in the
new parliament, coupled with the fact
that the government is seeking labor's
advice and cooperation on every com
mission now being established in con-
nection with the Peace Confereice,
has rehablitated the responsible labor
leaders to an extraordinary degree
and has added enormous weight to
their demands.
Hope to Avert Triple Strike
Thanks to these circumstances the
controversy, which & week ago began
admit of settlement and there are
strong hopes that the threatened
strike of the triple alliance" of rail-
waymen, transport workers and miners
may find an amicable solution.
"The present labor unrest is the re-
suit Of a new and clearer vision on the
part of the workers, brought about
through the war Labor, instead of
progressing haltingly along the path
of progress, as during the last genera
ton, has suddenly plunged twenty-five
said William Brace, NJ P, to-day
He is one of the chief labor states
men of Great Britain, who began life
cutting coal, and who now, with his
military mustache, looks like a cavalry
leader. He is also the best dressed
man in an exceedingly we'll dressed
Parliament. In the last administration
he held the post of Secretary for the
Home Office. If Labor hadn't decided
to leave the Coalition, he would have
been one of the chief members of the
Cabinet.
Educated labor to-day has achieved
new idea of dignity" said Brace.
"The men now refuse to tolerate con-
ditons, the existence of which their
fathers accepted as matter Of course.
We have suddenly reached point
where the laborers with brains and
hands refuse to remain mere cogs in a
machine and are determined to play a
part equal to that taken by the en-
ployers themselves"
Hopes to Avoid Strike
Mr. Bruce was asked whether this
justified the use of the strike weapon
which, as in the present instance, can
absolutely paralyze the industry of
Great Britain.
eve haven't reached strike yet and
shall not do SO until every means Of
cancellation is exhausted" he replied.
We miners are slow moving, respon-
sible people. We take the point of view
that the strike is our only means of be-
ing placed in equality with our en-
ployers when the question of collective
bargaining arises. If the Admnistra-
ton finds other machinery to provide
this equality, we are willing to use it,
but as a last desperate resort we feel
we are justified in using the strike as
a perfectly legitimate instrument of
warfare"
Asked his ideas on the immediate
cause of the unrest, Brace replied:
ut must be remembered that the I'M
rest in general as applied to the popu-
lation, is caused partly by war restric-
tons, strain and insufficiency of food,
but as regards the miners particularly
it is the result of the cumulative eff
feet of innumerable individual griev-
ances.
Every other man has his grievance,
but the means of remedying it are in
sufficient. Consequently he either quits
or nurses a grudge Our Cancellation
has failed. There must be some means
of meeting individual hardships on the
spot. We want some local, get-at- able
tribunal for Immediate decisions, with
out letting bad feeling nourish itself.
Must End Profiteering
The Administration realized this bv
making concession to me last week