The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-11-25

| CnNE/ I1A u luus WV.
Troublesome times for England. as
result of the high cost of living and
the unrest due to unsettled labor con-
ditions. were predicted by Sir Robert
Buckell, mayor of Oxford, England
in a recent letter to Richard l.. AL
| der, business man of this city, who
| was a boyhood friend of the English
man.
Some fifty years ago. Robert Buck
| ell. a journeyman painter, came to
this city, He prospered, became a
| contractor, and after achieving a mod
est competency, returned to England
| to take up the management Of large
coal business at the solicitation Of its
owner, who was his wife's father. He
became interested in the civic affairs
! Of the city and in time was nominated
for mayor.
| He had passed through several po-
litical campaigns during his residence
here, and In his campaign he intro
duced some innovations into the po-
ltical life Of the staid English town.
including torchlight professions and
features of that kind. He was elected.
and later knighted.
He was re- lected mayor Of Oxford
last year for the sixth time, taking the
office in November. Since leaving
here he has kept in touch with Mr..
Alder, and they have exchanged num-
| erOus visits.
Alder visited England in 1903, and
in company with Buckell made a trip
to the Holy Land. Alder has been
kept informed Of conditions in Eng
land since the outbreak OF the war.
and in the latest letter Buckell gives
a gloomy outlook as to the future of
his native land.
Refers TO Aftermath.
The letter reads In part as follows:
The slaughter of war is over. but
the aftermath IL awful. The world
has never witnessed such an answer
from any source to the call OF courage,
Of duty and sacrifice, as the answer
of the English people in 1914. We
must keep it in remembrance. or we
should be overwhelmed by the after
math
For we are p ruined people if we
cannot get back in some degree to
the spirit Of sacrifice which character
lied the four wears Of fighting. We
talked much of new earth, Of the
abolition Of eaunt poverty, OF more
equitable distribution Of the world S
wealth, of brighter life for all the
poor. Of a mutual consideration, one
/ for the other, when the war was over!
Alas. what has really happened Is
that everyone seems out to SraD
Corners are engineered, prices for all
thines are put up; traders are re
morseless in their charges Men de
mand hieher wages, and as the wages
go up the cost of everything follows
and We seem to be in a vicious circle
: The people (not in business With
small fixed incomes are being crushed
People whose little all was in pro
perty are suffering greatly. They
are not allowed to raise their rents
they must pay increased tax OF sin
: shillngs on the pound on The rents
of their property; repairs cost three
times as much as formerly and rates
; taX"s) are increasing by leaps anc
, bounds.
Power Of Unions
But this is not the worst NeCes
: sarilv. if the conditions of the poor
are to be benefited wages must 60
up. but the men, instead of being
satisfied with the shorter hours grant
ed and the increase Of wages, and put
ting thoir backs into work. are riding
the high horse, doing as little as they
: can. spending their increased earnings
Wastefully. rioting in dance and song
| and utterly regardless OF the cOndi
) ton Financially Of the country, unG
: where We are drifting to- But, again
| this is not the worst, These things
after some pain and suffering. would
: think, right themselves.
) The worst is, that the mon have
learned the power Of combination anG
Ivy their unions and threats Of gen
cral strike are able to dictate. not