The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-04-21
British Bolshevik
Leader 7 ellis Labor
Revolt Plan
BY Edwin w. Hullinger

Omitted Press Staff Correspondent.)
LONDON, April 21.-The United
States today discovered the seat of
English -bolshevism.
Its unofficial capitol is little pa
per-cluttered suite of two tiny cham
bers, up three flights of narrow, wind
ing stairs from a dingy little blind
spur street in the heart of London.
Here the National Administrative
Council, the Bolshevist directing body
of the Shop Stewards movement,
holds its secret sittings.
In one of these rooms, the smaller
of the two, "Billy" Watson, council
lor and veteran shop stewards leader,
told the story of English Bolshevism
told it as he stood beside the car
ved-in fireplace.
"The shop Steward movement
arose in Englad largely from war con-
ditions," he explained, "Dora" (the
Englishman's pet name for the De-
tense of the Realm Act) hobbled the
regular union officials, compelling
them to submit all complaints to
boards of arbitration. These boards
were generally extremely slow.
"The rank and file-the men ac-
tually in shops-got impatient. The
injustices continued during the de-
lays. They suborganized on their
own responsibility. They elected
shop stewards.
"These shop stewards were men
from the bench. They met in work
ing clothes. Delay was just as dis
astrous to them as to their fellow
workers. -...--.--,-.-.---- .-.,....---.s..
"They acted while the regular
trade union officials, constitutional
lists Che always pronounced the word
as if it carried a certain reproach)
waiting for. arbitration.
"When the war ended the shop
stewards decided not to wait longer,
They began direct action.
"In the meanwhile these shop stew
ards committees in all parts of the
country had been affiliating in a
powerful national socialist organiza-
tion, of which the national Admins
trative Council is the head"
81 do not know whether Bolshevism
will spread to America or not" he
continued, perhaps not. Industrial
conditions seem to be better there
than in Europe"
Watson said he worked all day long
in the shop as machinist and then
came up here in his office to work
late into the night organizing, plan
ming, arguing for this new Bolshevis-
tic organization he was helping to
create.
owe admit some transitory stage
will be necessary Watson continued
"but our ultimate aim is communism
For instance, our present fight is fol
shorter working hours. The wage
question is not important. Present
wages are satisfactory.
But we hope eventually to abolish
the wage system altogether for q
communistic exchange of products
Lenine intends to develop that ir
Russia, you know.
1--WE believe in the Bolshevik phil
osophy. 1t is probably true, Of
course, that not all the men striking
today have reached the point of sub
scribing openly to all of this pro
gram, Many of them do. | know i
to be the platform Of the leaders o.
the shop steward movement"
A tall young woman in blue V. A
D. uniform entered excitedly with
newspaper telling of riots and arrest
of Bolshevik agitators.
"They may suppress US for
while" she cried, her eyes swapping
"but they can't suppress the idea.
will only blaze out again somewher
else
Watson read, smiled, buttoned hi
overcoat.
"No," he said deliberately, 9Th
Idea is going to play big role in tn
history of England" Il
----------s
Everybody wonders why | mar
ried you" snapped Mrs. Bounderby
HUMP
Have you nothing to say to that
sir?"
eyes," groancd Mr.. Boanderby
'Pm open to suggestions as to why
asked you to- o,'-Birmingham Age
Herald.