The sun., 1919-09-28
UNIONS HOLD LEAD
IN BRITISH STRIKE
So Far Workers Haze Gained
All Their Ends.

LONDON, Sept. 27.--The first day OF
the greatest strike in England's history
passed without disorder, but with practl-
caliy complete stoppage of railway
transport throughout the country. Thus
far It has been, from q union standpoint,
the most successful tleup Of industry
ever recorded by warning labor.
Tonight great mass meeting Of rail-
way men was held in Albert Hall. at
which James Henry Thomas secretary
of the National Union OF railwaymen,
after the audience for an hour had sung
1.-THE Red Flag" delivered a heated
speech of censure against the Govern
ment, and declared that trouble was
brewing which might lead to bloodshed.
Both Thomas and C. T. Cramp. presi-
dent of the union. who preceded him. as
serted that the men were firmly behind
the leaders in this great crisis.
Says Government Lies.
President Cramp denounced the Gov
eminent statement regarding the pur-
pose of the strike as deliberate iie." II
was not the public with whom the strlk-
ers were at war, he declared: II was the
people who were for che moment in the
position Of directing the Affairs Of the
country.
All the powers of he'll. the press.
platform and perhaps the pulpit would
he invoked against the strikers, said
President Cramp, but II they remained
solid they would be victorious.
Both speakers denounced Uhst they
characterized as tie Government at
tempt to bias the mind Of the public
by saying that the strike was not In de-
fence of union rights, but against the
life Of the community. Answering the
Premier's strong statement earlier In
the day that the strike was an anar-
chistic conspiracy against the Govern
ment. Secretary Thomas declared II that
were true "God help the country"
He had warned the Government that
their proposals would be fatal to peace
He knew that trouble wac brewing that
might lead to bloodshed.
MY answer to the Prime Minister'S
challenge" said Mr.. Thomas, sis that If
he win now say to US officially himself.
not Influenced or inundated by an one
slse--if he will say. as head of the
State, that he is prepared to concede the
same principle to all railway servants,
then the strike can cease at once"
Lloyd Georse IL Bitter.
In a telegram expressing his regrets
that he would be unable to attend the
soldiers celebration at Carnarvon. Pre-
mier Lloyd Beorge expressed himself on
the strike as follows:
"In a long and varied experience /
can recall no strike entered into so
lightly, with so little Justification and
such entire disregard for public interest.
The strike is not one In which 1t can be
contended that the workers are seeking
to wiring fair wages from harsh en-
ployers. whose profits are believed to be
excessive. In this case the railway men
are dealing direct with the community.
THE State is now running the rail-
ways at a loss, due in the main TO the
enormous increase made in the wages of
the railway workers since the beginning
Of the war, and also to the great reduc-
ton In the hours of labor. This loss Is
being borne by the general taxpayer. and
will soon have to be passed on to the
general pubic In the form of increased
fares and charges. On its merits the
strike is ineXplicable."
Describing the Governments terms a s.
stated by Sir Robert Stevenson Horne.
Minister of Labor. yesterday. as gener-
Gus. the Premier says:
"The dispute. such rs II is, Is about