The sun., 1919-09-28

and some sembiancs OF order restored.
The union compelled merchants 10 carry
on their payrolis labor delegates, who
were to be consulted about hiring em-
ployees, as well as about any changes.
Some idea Of the Illogical proceedings
and arrogance Of these delegates may be
gained from one incident. Harrod's de-
partment store had a rush one day on its
white goods. To relieve pressure clerk
from the silk department was told to go
and help walt on trade. He expressed
himself as willing. but said that he must
first consult the delegate. To the latter
he affirmed his willingness to be trans
ferred, but confessed that he was satis-
fed where he was Then stay where
you are," he was commanded. you are
not a slave, to be moved where you don't
want to CO."
There Is little wonder. then. that more
trouble soon developed, and Gath q
Chaves's stores closed again. Then the
bank clerks and bakers and teamsters
walked out, Even the actors and ac-
tresses refused to perform and theatres
were closed.
To punish the employers who refused
to come to terms the labor union for.
bade all newspapers to publish certain
advertisements, especially those of Gath
& Chaves. One morning La Manand,
an influential daily, sent to the com-
posing room q Gath & Chaves adj
vertsement The printers refused to
put 1t into type. The editor then wrote
an editorial explaining his attitude. but
the linotypers refused to set 1t up be-
cause he had mentioned Gath a
Chaves This gag on the freedom of
the press was not to be tolerated. All
those who refused to touch the article
were promptly dismissed. The next day
of all the 15s dailies and weeklies pub
lished IN the city only two appeared.
La Van0rdrdtd, paper recently bought
by the Socialists from the Germans,
and another Socialist sheet. For two
weeks not another periodical appeared.
The turning point OF the struggle
came on May 1, the South American
Labor Day. An enormous demonstra-
tion was expected, There had been all
along a feeling that because of party
policy the President had been putting
Off any severe measures until fter the
general elections in March. But when
, that date came and went without any
marked change. public sentiment could
be restrained no longer. The people
must save themselves. Liga Patriotica
Argentina was formed OF the very best
| element in the republic. Irrespective
Of party they meant to save the coun-
try a repetition of the Semana Tragica,
which was the common prediction for
May 1. Just before that date a dele
] cation from the Liga accompanied by
officials high in both army and navy
waited on the President. You stop
this disorder at once, Or" was the
burden of their remarks. They did no,
complete the threat, but there was no
need
| President Acted Quickly.
And the President was frightened
He acted quickly. First he made one
official responsible for the whole mill
tary zone of the city. The man whom
| he put in this post accepted II only with
the expressed understanding that he be
allowed to use all measures necessary
to enforce order.
Then came May 1. At midnight pre-.
ceding all traffic stopped. There was to
be big demonstration. but early In the
morning the rain began to fall and by
noon 1t was deluge. The spirits OF
the strikers were evidently dampened
for though some appeared the armed
men who lined the streets were in far
greater majority and the day went on
peacefully.
| Inc next step or the President was 10
call strikers and employees together and
to get them to submit to arbitration. The
results have not yet been announced, bu,
peace has apparently fallen upon the
city.
For the sake of comparison, Il might
not be amiss to call attention to a par
allel situation in Chile, which was met in
a different manner and with very differ
ent results. The longshoremen, deter
mining to profit by the example of their
brothers across the Andes, declared that
on March general strike would bt
declared. centering in Antofagasta and
Iquique. President Sanguentes took
quick action. A week before the date
both cities were full OF soldiers who
meant business and who had received
orders to fire upon any one attempting
to damage property. The appointed day
arrived. but the longshoremen considered
the odds against them and went or
working.
How a similar stern policy might have
affected the Argentina situation is. Of
course, n matter of conjecture. How.
ever, the cheering fact Is that at last
even though scared into II, the Govern.
ment has awakened to Its responsibility
and there is every reason to expect bet.
ter conditions.