Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-03
STRIKE EPIDEMIC
REACHES LONDON
Four Underground Railway
Tubes Close When En-
ployes Quit Work.

LONDON, February 3.-The strike
fever, which has become epidemic in
the United Kingdom, spread to Lon
don today and the present week prom
ises to be a critical one industrially
for the metropolis. There have been
a few strikes in the city during the
last few weeks such as the strike Of
the Thames side ship repairers and
Ethat of thsrhasbersszbu zbut~ t~the~serious-'
ness of the situation was not brought
directly home to Londoners until this
morning when they found the en-
frances to the principal tube stations
closed to them owing to the midnight
decision of the employees not to move
trains today unless a haf-hour lunch
con interval were allowed them in
their new eight-hour day.
Strike Affects Traffic.
The four tubes affected are the CEN
trail London tube, which carries a
heavy traffic west and east and brings
many of the city workers to their
hnsinesses; the central tube artery
north and south; the city and south
London. which connects with the chief
railway stations and Piccadilly. and the
Rrompton semi-circular system, which
carries many thousands or travellers
daily.
The electric system of the London,
Brighton and South Coast railway,
which serves many of the important
suburbs, such as Richmond, also was
partly stopped, while other railways
with similar services were threaten
ed with stoppage. There We're only,
therefore, underground lines and the
Hampton railways operating this
morning in the district, but unless
the strike is quickly settled these
lines appear likely to be in the same
position as the others.
Fortunately the buses and the
street cars were still running this
morning, but for some time now
these means of conveyance have been
unable to cope with the ordinary
traffic because of the shortage OF
onerate them. The result was that
thousands OF persons today had to
make their way as best they could
over the slippery sidew alks to their
places Of business or employment.
Railway Managers Statement.
rho underground railway manage
ment in statement TO-DAY declared
that although the men now were de-
nanding a thirty minute interval for
meaItjme within the eight-hour day,
the agreement made When tne elght-
hour day was granted PROVIDED that
the eight hours should be exclusive of
nealtine. but that a special committee
.ho,Id meet February II to deal with
any special points that might arise
AZ the majority of the meetings held
by the workers YESTERDAY IL was 9e-
c;dad to leave the mealtime question
in Allowance pending this meeting: the
st,tement adds, but the drivers OF the
tuhe trains refused to aoioe py TINS
and four of the lines were forced TO
suspend operations pdr.i ser vice
beine maintained in the TWO others.
Hotel Strike Threatened.
.o.ter strike that will bring home
ado,ers a serious situation is
- 30 threatened by the workers in the
@ @inae hn+els who will hold a meeting
Ia To decide whether after dinner
toDi0bt they shall lay down thelr nap
Eins and other insignias OF their rank
! in an effort to enforce oeNpdhos Tor
shortar hours. better wages and i'm
s.a conditions. Every department
pfthe hie hotels, many of which are
ei,sd With American officers. officials
md business men, Is aHecteo.
The next stoppage on the program
| 10 that of the engineers. VINO expect to
~ On strike Thursday for torty-hour
go oi s;milar demand is engaging
Weeh We at,entjon of twenty-four trades
Mons ,n1 consisting of skilled and un-
skilled woman workers and electrical
trades union. Other uhlons, such as
The railway clerks. are ~i.hIoioihe a
strike until the cabinet 10 hoie 10 con-
Si11, The cabinet has the strike situation
.,wsys in mind but the fact that
Premier Lloyd George remains in
| Paris leads to the conciusion Ia many
qua na cnnsider the situation as serious
| as IL looks on it's face