New-York tribune., 1919-01-30
Belfast Strike
Close to State
OF Terrorism
Lo9don Sees Hope of Settle
ment in Plants of Metrop-
oils and Those i'm Clvde
NeaD York Tribune
European Bureau


European Bureau
LONDON. Jan. 28.-There were signs
of hope for the settlement of the
strikes in London and on the Clyde
to-day, the factors being the prospects
of conferences between masters and
men, but the Belfast trouble has de-
generated into almost reign of terror.
Local advices state that the strike
there is only in its first stage, and that
the coming week may see serious oc-
currences unless settlement is
reached.
1t is good news, however, that there
is now tendency to try to discover
the root of the dangerous labor situa-
ton. 1t is symptomatic of the present
anxiety that Lloyd George is intending
to return to London from Paris imme-
diately, with the desire to handle the
situation personally.
Causes of Discomfort
During the past two days The Trib-
une correspondent has talked to many
employers and workmen with the idea
of getting their views of the basic
causes for the present discomfort, apart
from the contributing causes Of over
work, overstrain and general war weari-
ness and it seems the situation mainly
arises from the unemployment ques-
ton.
Four million men shortly viii be
demobilized and seeking employment,
while the market for their labor is
uncertain. The men take a twofold
position. the first being that the only
way to guard against this new influ-
cnce on labor is to have a shorter
work day The second point is mroe
complicated.
Many OF the men receive S25 a week
for virtually unskilled labor, as against
a prewar wage of $40. Although they
realize the present wage does not buy
much more than the DID, they intend
to cling to that figure all the same.
But they also realize that during the
past four years Great Britain, with a
far smaller labor force, produced a
great deal more than ever before. due
chiefly to speeding up and an increase
in adequate machinery.
One of Two Courses Open
If the present pace is maintained
once the change OF industries to a
peace basis is complete, they see one
Of two courses before them. Either
half the population must go unem-
ployed or all must slow down to the
previous rate, unless some great re-
ceptive new market is discovered. To
the ordinary individual here this view
seems unreasonable
In travelling around London we are
packed like sardines in trains, because
i. is impossible to run an ADEQUATE
service on account of the shortage of
fuel for engines. Even in weather
like the present we arc lacking steam
heat. Persons are afraid to burn coal
because an Insutficient quantity is be-
ing mined. Everybody eyceptiny
mlllionaircs is wearing old clothinr
because of a shortage in the suppl,
Of material; everybody clings to his
present house or apartment because
no other is available
We lealously guard our food coupons
because little IS offered apart from
that which the government has
rationed, and employers in non-essen-
tial industries are afraid to engage
new hands because of a shortage of
material.
Indeed. tho very trades Mining.
shipbuilding, docking and transport,
which arc now providing the strikers
are those for which the greatest
amount of work is awaiting.
Lower Prices Expected
On the other hand employers are in
clined to believe there will be n
general fall in both values and prices
soon. They certainly are not inclined
to standardize an even higher wagc
rate than that prevailing and they arc
still less willing to surrender to the
shorter week demand, fearing it would
lower considerably the Individual
level of output. Frankly. they say tho
mems present requests tend largely
toward laxincss
There is another factor essentially
Continued on mae sfr