The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-08-27
EPISCOPAL RECTOR
RETURNS HOME
GIVES INTERESTING ANALYSIS
OF INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS
ACROSS THE WATER

The Reverend Mr.. w. H. Bridge
rector of St. Marks Episcopal churcl
of Moscow, looking hale and brown
and with an increase of twelve pounds
in weight to- prove the fine effect O.
his vacation on his physical condition
arrived in the city last night, having
come to New York on board tn,
Vestris, small. oat chartered by the
Cunard line. For the past three
months Mr.. Bridge has been preach
ing in many different churches il
England, and had an excellent op
portunity for observing the effects
of the war on the British people anc
the present industrial situation.
II had a great time. / am feeling
perfectly fit and / am mighty glad tx
be home once more. / have not ex-
actly idled, tho / have done great
deal of visiting for 1 have been
preaching in many churches, chiefly
in different quarters of London"
The return voyage was extremely
rough, and Mr.. Bridge was one of the
few fortunate persons to escape being
sea-sick. He reports that he spent
almost all the time on the crossing in
nursing others.
Asked about various features of the
present social and economic condition,
Mr.. Bridge replied: "Things have been
bad, but they are much better now.
Food is still scarce and expensive. I
think the prices are about the same
as in this country, but the working
mans wage is so much lower over
there that the laboring classes ex-
perience difficulties there that are
unknown here.
"The housing problem is the really
serious one. The slums of London
which | had a good chance to study
are in very bad condition. The gov
ernment and the Prince of Wales are
both throwing themselves into the
conquering of this problem. It is
expected that 100000 new cottages
will be built for the, poorer classes.
Il was chiefly and vitally interested
in observing the social conditions
which have resulted directly from the
war Strikes are numerous. There is
no solution in sight. l look confident
ly for the fall of the government dur
ing the next three. months. 1t is i'm
possible at this time to predict wheth-
er Lloyd George will head the new
labor government that will be set up,
Or no. Labor seems to have no other
candidate That is the great
with labor over there. They
are lamentably short in strong and
steady leaders. They are apt to turn
20 extremes due to the fact that much
II the labor element acts outside and
Independently of its own organization
and refuses to abide by the orders of
he organization.
'"The British Industrial Welfare
Workers association is doing a ire
nendous task. They have become very
Important in all plants and exercise
startling amount of authority. They
determine who shall work I
nd who shall not.
THE effect of the strikes in pro- I
uction has been very bad The gov
is making constant appeals
nd efforts to have the men return
0 work and to increase their output.
he government controls the prices of /
II food stuffs. Butter is scarce as is
neat and both commodities are rigid
Y rationed with a very small allow 7
nee per person per week.
''The temper of the British people
as been greatly changed by the war
his is to be seen on the occasion of
ublic celebrations such as peace day.
saw that in place of the old-time
pontaneous hilarity and fun, there
'as certain reserve and gravity, and
1e attempt to be light-hearted was
Of c11rnoccfrv1 %Ifp-1> kIx.e
ue to the raids. The raids, from the
oint of view of their disastrous eff
sct on the feelings of the British peo-
lie, were an unqualified success for
ermany. | think no other event of
le war so got right into the nerves
all the people. The raids are talk
of constantly in all kinds of groups.
0 terrible extent their nervous
vstems have been affected. And I
link the spontaneous strikes are the
rect result of the highly-strung !;
srvous systems of so large a part of
e laboring classes.
"Class distinctions are not nearly so 5
arked as when I lived in England. =
1ey are disappearing rapidly. IL
ink this is primarily due to the or \
of women of all classes in
e service corps. Women have had 3
ID are having a very democratizing
feet. Even in some very aristocrat- i
circles there is complete sympathy :
th labor.
"The present position of labor is en- i
ely sympathetic with America Most s
the labor party have repudiated the
style of diplomacy. They are hos
e to secret treaties. They oppose
in Russia, and they will g
on secure the naturalization of the Il
mes, believe b
II regret to state that the under
anding between America and Great
itain is not now of the best. This
due to the stupidity of the Bureau S,
acy in England, | am sure. All the c
CONTINUED on page ~ b