New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
British Strikes Regarded
as Mere Prelude to Pos
sible Future Outbreak
Peace Council Il Affected
Triple Alliance of Mine,
Railroad and Transport
Workers Unifies Demands
By Arthur S. Draper
Ne,c' YORK; Tribune
SDecinl Cable SerIyc-,

profound importance, not only to Great
Britain but to the whole of Europe,
will be reached. The strikes IN Glas-
gov, Belfast and London have been
mere skirmishcs compared with the in
dustria upheaval ahead, unless an
agreement is reached between the gov
ernment and the "Triple Alliance of
Labor the miners, the railwaymen
and the transport workers.
The situation to- day is extremely
grave and only the most skilful and
cautious handling will avert an indus
trial revolution. That is the view, not
OF wde-eyed radicals anxious to pro-
! mote Bolshevsm, but of the calm and
/ clear thinking leaders who desire that
reorganization of industrial conditions
take place by degrees rather than by
a drastic turnover. Unless Americans
understand clearly the extent Of the in
dustrial unrest in Europe, and study
its causes, many of the decisions
reached at the peace conference will
come to them as a startling surprise.
Unrest of Masses Recognized
Despite the pressure under which he
has worked in Paris, Premier Lloyd
George is devotng considerable time
to the study of the labor problem with
its multitude of complications NJ. Gle
menceau has also watched carefully the
developments in Britain as we'll as in
u.
of the big Five" are thoroughly alive
to the necessity of making a peace that
viii not only readjust boundaries and
exact the fullest possible reparaton
from Germany, but will go far toward
satisfying the moro intimate and per
sonal needs of the masses
These demands spring from growing
dissatisfaction in the relations between
capital and labor The desire of the
masses to alter these relations exists
in all parts of Europe Four years of
war have famed into a flame the
smouldering discomfort which showed
itself in Russia, Germany and Britain
prior to 1914. The war gave the
masses feeling of their power in the
social order, and with this knowledge
ence unparalleled in history.
For two days this week House of
Commons was the scene of d debate, i'm
which, for the first time, the official
government opposition was led, not by
Liberal or Conservative members, but
by representatives of the working pco-
pie. The first pages Of the London
newspapers carried two column head
lines, Cease for Miners" and single
cclt,ror hooflipac ha
ference reports.
Miners Leader a Power
Robert Smillic is not member of
the government, but as president Of the
Miners Federation he enjoys power
exceeding that of most ministers. The
: miners will begin ballotng next week
, on the question of strike, unless
their demands for a six-hour day and
a 80 per cent increase in wages are
. granted. A strike of the coal miners
if only Of weeks duration, would
cause frightful suffering and would
, paralyze British industry. Smillie has
the confidence of the miners, He be-
} leves in strike only as a last resort
1t is possible that the government will
reach compromise before the strike
vote is completed.
The railway men have not cone as
iHl a. tiIt Hi4utiS Q. StiS DtNdUSt y. II
. Thomas, their leader, is more conserva-
tive than Smillic in his methods
= Thomas is considered too conservative
r by one faction of his union, but on the
other hand, he has greater influence
with the government and employers
than Smillc. Thomas is a diplomat
:, Smillie is a boss. The unrest among
the railway men and transport worker:
e is almost as great as among the min
ers.
, Labor Ministers Lose Grip
Y The labor ministers in the govern
| ment, including Robert Barnes, hole
= little power at the present moment
= The very fact that they are members
Of the government serves to weaker
them in the eyes of the workers. Ar
thur Hcnderson's position is much tn,
same. Labor believes he is inter
= ested in politics and is sighting The
1 purely trade union questions. Labo,
demands a proper balance between pol
itics and unionsm. Thomas fultils its
demands better than most leaders be
, cause he makes speeches in Parliamcn
, and also conducts negotiations owe
- questions of hours and wages.
Recent speeches in the House O
Commons have disclosed some of tht
t complaints OF the workers. They be
e lieye the government il withholding
\ food and maintaining high prices il
an effort to cover the cost Of supple.
contracted for Under war conditions
They believe free competition shoult
be opened Immediately. The workers
y say the employers have made huge
), profits out Of the war, and cite case
8 substantiating their complaints.
=. For instance, they protest agains
:, paying is cents instead OF 5 cents 70
), spool Of cotton, while the manufact
. urer ia able to declare "A 225 per cen
u dividend. The workers demand re
y turn TO pre-war prices for beer ant
: better housing conditions. They wan
the mines and railways nationaliZet
g and Il host Of other things.
: Press Now Exploits Claims
- There is already much uncmploy
Tnent IN Britain, and France is bount
TO suffer infinitely more. Unless prices
y can be lowered the factories speedet
n up and labor convinced that the gov
d ernment is working to improve the con
. dition Of the masseg, extremely anx
ious times are ahead
Since the signing Of the armistic,
conditions have entirely changed Dur
a ing the war the workers had no news
= paper snpport when they issued strike
threats, To-day the press stands be
. hind labor In every reasonable dcmans
G for reorganization. Strong ministerial
G organs during the days OF hostilitiei