Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-02-04
OVER 100000 MEN
IN BRITAIN STRIKE
Laborers Rebel Against Long
Hours and Union RUE.
SEE DANGER TO THE NATION
Movement Said % Resemble J. W W.
Ta-tic-PrarEicslIy Meme Ct TIRE
wzIkcuts Ordered by ReccG
nfzso Executives OF
Trades Unions

London. Jan. 2a.-The Increasing
endemic Of strikes which are sweeping
Great Britain presents many remark
able and menacing features II Is i'm
possible To make more than an esti-
mate Of the number OF men who have
quit work. The number varies-usual
ly increases-daily. Probably more
than 100000 w0rkmen employed in
vital Industries now are On strike
Practically none Of these great
strikes WAS ordered by recognized ex-
ecutfves Of the trades unions Many
strikes have been called without the
consent Of and even against the direct
orders of the trade union leaders In
a very zeal sense the present labor uES-
heavaI represents a revolt against
union leaders and tine whole trade
union movement
At Glasgow John Shiuwell " the SO
called joint committee Of the strikers
told 4 mass meeting that lie and his
fellow committeeman accomplished
mere in one week in the way Of organ
ling the working people than the
whole trade union movement had done
in ten years
Recognizes Danger to Nation
Ri Hon. ". AdamsOn. chairman Of
the labor party in parliament and lead
er Of the official opposition, is one Of
Tire most prominent Old-time labor
leaders. He Is head Of the Coal Min
ers' union In an interview he recOg-
nizes the danger not only 10 the trade
union movement but also 10 the trade
and security Of Great Britain
Unless the government acts speedily
he declares s't1e present situation
while grave. Will become even more
dangerous 10 the country" Mr.. Adam
sens remedy IS for the government TO
buy and manage as national property
@all great industries upon which our
commercial structure rests. such as
mines. railways. canals. shipping and
electrical service"
For his own union Of coal miners
A5amson declares that the government
should fix promptly by statute six
hours as the legal working day for ali
woEkmen employed In mines
Seek six-Hour Day.
This demand viii be pressed upon
the government" Mr. A.damson says
~and failing in a prompt agreement
with il l believe the men viii take &C
ton 10 secure q six-hOur day by trade
union means"
The secOid alarming factor In the
present labor unrest is the fact that
in Belfast and in Scotland 10 some
extent. municipal employees have
Joined other workers in striking 70
secure their demands. All municipal
utilitieS-gas. electricity, street cars
ere shut down in Belfast and wOrkmen
Of 26 trades are on strike.
Belfast by night virtually is in total
darkness the hospitals being the only
place where lights can be shown with
out danger Of attacks by strikers One
large store which was brilliantly iIlu-
minated was stoned by the mob. The
plate glass show windows were
smashed and clothing was carried
away.
Resembles !. w. w. Tactics.
This is a general strike and looks
much ike a syndicalism of CONT
mental Europe and the tactics OF the
International Workers OF the World at
home. Even in London there has been
and still is some fear that the thou
sands Of policemen who guard the
metropolitan district viii quit their
work and leave the largest city in the
world without protection.
Another striking factor is that men
in different cities. although in the
same trade. are striking for quite diff
ferent hours OF labor. some demanding
IS hours and from that down 10 80
hours work in a week. These men do
not seem 10 stick 10 arrangements
even when all their demands are
granted
They have announced in some cases
that Il a reduction Of hours 10 20 q
week does not give sufficient work for
all men now employed, as we'll as for
the others now being discharged from
the army, they viii strike for 80 or a
lower figure.