The sun., 1919-09-14

and infinitely more respectable. The
men who elect them are radicals. 1t
Is a1~old contrast in Britain-those
who sit in the seats of the mighty
and those who put them there But
the labor gents" at Westminster have
nor hungry bellies and can therefore
keep clear heads.
If labor unrest, through rising
prices, be prolonged, we may see a
curious, though only temporary condi-
ton of things in this country of the
political experiment. We may see, as
nave shown in a former article, the
attempt under the impulse of the gem
eral strike to form Soviets, local and
national, which may be obeyed by the
strikers who may as tacitly ignore the
Westminster law. Something like the
Sinh Fein situation in Ireland. 1t
viii be an exciting position, but ulti-
mately equipoise will reassert itself
and Parliament will win. The English
man is the Parliamentarian incarnate
when he isn't hungry. And
SO the persuasion by strike of to-day
VIII resolve itself gradually into the
peaceful persuasion of yesterday of
tongue and pamphlets
Either or both of two things could
prevent the coming direct action of
the autumn and winter. The first
the resignation of the Government,
which would result in a greatly in
creased labor representation at West
minister, SO acting as a safety valve;
the other the passing of mines nation
alization. Naturalization is going to
be the crucial point, as/it will be the
party slogan in England for the next
decade. 1t will be the signal for the
struggle that is now coming.
But there is one thing that will kill
the general strike. The "under scum"
The more enlightened of the labor
leaders see this.
The rising of the Liverpool under
scum during the police strike was the
writing on the wall The under scum.
which only rises to the surface at in
tervals, is always with us-the hidden
menace. But it is not only the hidden
menace to society. but to organized
labor.
Any strike which can give this men
ace the slightest chance to make itself
felt should first be painfully considered
considered it will mean the death blow
of organized labor. The labor move
ment admits it's success depends upon
persuasion-that is upon the convinc-
ing of public opinion. If it gets the
public against it, and this the Parlia-
mentary laborists are beginning to
recognize, it will once more be flung
back into the melting pot.
The existence of this under scum
may be the fault of society itself,
which prepares it's own ills as its own
cures. But it exists. That is the stark
fact. 1t is like a Gagged beast tearing
at it's bars, ever more urgent.
Human Rats Snarl at Night.
live in one of London's most re-
spectacle suburbs. a suburb of old
lawns bordered by sun tanned brick
and trees and middle class respecta-
bility and churchgoing. Cheek by jowl
with US there lies a rat pit--only that
Il is inhabited by human rats. These
rats do not dare to show their tails or
teeth in the light of day.
At one time neither by day nor night
did they dare to show themselves in
our avenue of responsibility. But many
times during the last few months 1
have been awakened in the small hours
by the raucous screams of these human
rodents. They stink past the houses
muttering bloody denunciation Of their
inmates and threats of what is COM
ing. 1 have felt as the forefathers of
America, awakened in the night by the
Sioux war whoop. My blood has run
cold beneath the blankets.
i stood on Blackfriars Bridge watch
ing the glory of the river pageant.
Two men slouched in front of me
rats from the back blocks. Damn
'em!" one of them said. fThey only
do it to keep us quiet" "Yes, blarst
emf" returned the other, low, "but wait
till the winter" We are waiting.
/ Labor has a terrible responsibility
resting upon its broad shoulders.
Labor can only progress by intellectual
and spiritual conviction. If in its i'm
patience of Parliamentary inaction 1t
stamps up these rats from their pits
ii will loose something that may take
the sblood and lives of thousands to
ouell. 1. may unleash against Its own
throat a more terrible enemy than even
"the hated capitalist"-the under scum.