The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-27
premier BRANDS
STRIKE ANARCHY
"A National Conspiracy and
Not Strike for Wages or
Better Conditions"
MAY SPREAD TO MINERS

London, Sept. 27.--The general
railway strike which went into effect
at midnight, involving more than
$4,000 workers, may spread to the
coal miners and transport workers
absolutely paralyzing industry as
well as traffic throughout the United
Kingdom.
Bob Williams. an official OF the
transport workers union, declared to-
day that the triple alliance"-the
miner transport workers and the rail-
way mems unions--would be auto
matically involved. This declaration
came with the stunning force of a
bombshell in England.
Should the bus men strike and the
government put in effect movements
to keep running. it was stated this
afternoon the critical test of the
strike would come on Monday. with
provision trains cut off the crisis in
the meat situation is expected on
Tuesday.
There is every prospect that this
city will be without milk by tonight
May Use Military.
The Herald, organ of labor ex-
presses the belief that the govern
ment will use its military branch. II
bases this belief upon the fact that
army motor cars were rushed to the
freight stations during the morning
TO maui away all of the perishable
goods.
The trainmen obeyed the strike or
der at midnight with military pre-
clsion. Trains were left standing at
station platforms, wherever they
hnnnannH tn ba u r.
unloaded In the baggage cars.
mo Mans Land"
The railway stations, which were
completely deserted were soon iok :
ingly dubbed mo mans land"
The central committee of the strik =
ers met during the morning and an
nounced that reports of encourage =
ments had been received. One of
the flrst industrial plants forced to
close down was the Hickman Steel
works at ,Wolverhampton.
Strike leaders declared that score
or others would be forced to shut
down Immediately.
Manned by Nonunionists.
only one train left Victoria station
manned by nonunion men this morn
ing, the strike leaders claimed.
Earlier another train had departed
from the city for Brighton, but 1t
was manned by workers living in
Brighton. The few arriving trains
mad to creep cautiously across the
country. rs the signal towers were
all deserted from midnight on.
some OF the English channel boats
owned by the railway cornpanie es
turned back at midnight, dumping
passengers bound for the continent
IN seaports along the British coast
whore they were left stranded.
The position of the government to-
wards the railwa, strike was out
lined by Premier Lloyd George in n
letter canceling n speech he was TO
deliver at Carmathen.
After chara cteriZing il as n strjl,e
against the community, the premier
said:
" Never In my long and varied ex-
perience do I recall a strike entered
INTO so lightly, with less justification
ANA with such disregard for the pub
lie interests"
The premier declared that the gov
ernment begged the men to POSTPONE
actlon IN common Justice and TO
give time to business men and house
wives to prepare against calamity,
but they refused. This gives the
impression that it is the deliberate
and matured intention on the part of
some individuals to seek a quarrel
at any cost" continued the. premier,
1T has convinced me that it is not
strike for wages or better condi-
tons. but an anarchist controversy"
Underground Motorr1en's Union Vote
to Join Strike.
London, Sept. 27.--The decision of
the Underground Motormen's union
last night to support the national
union of railways strike. caused n
complete tie-up Of the railways here
today. Thousands of persons could
not be accommodated by the made
duate bus and tram services and
were Obliged to walk to work. MANY
sorted to bicycles and even to
roller skates.
The government having failed in
its NEGOTIATIONS with the union To ad-
just the situation, is said to be pre-
pared to operate the railroads with
armed forces If necessary. but its
definite program has not yet dcvcl-
oped. It has issued orders placing
all England under a war regime as
far as food and fuel is concerned and
it was stated Yesterday the mails
would be carried by arplancs. Thus
fer the employees Of the Irish rail-
roads have not struck
One Of the most disquieting fea-
lures of the situation is the possibility
that the miners and transport work
ers who with the railway men, form
what is known as the triple al
lance" also may strike This would
bring a tremendous addition to the