The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-05
UNEMPLOYED MEN
OF BRITAIN SEIZE
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Take Possession of Libraries
and Baths So as Not TO
Be Homeless.
GAIN PEOPLES SYMPATHY
Orderly and Businesslike,
Avoid Disturbance, Show
No Bolshevism.

Spcciol Cdble to TIN New YORK HEGALn
Copyright, 1920, by THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
London, Dee. \.
The men of Great Britain who went
over the top after the Germans will
not be denied a place to eat and sleep
under the Union Jack, whatever the
conditions of victory and prosperity
to which they have returned, accord
ing to the indications here during the
last few days. The unemployed have
seized libraries, public baths and va
cant buildings and they are holding
them So far as the distribution or
food is concerned it is under we'll or
ganized plans which smack of the
military discipline the men formerly
were under. Feeble attempts made by
the police TO GUST these bands have
not been successful, probably because
they dare not take drastic steps, owing
to public sympathy, which is decidedly
with the men.
But. despite their distress, hunger and
homelessness the Red flag has not YET
appeared The men are orderly and
businesslike and know what they want
and seem intent upon getting II, but
they do the utmost to avoid unneces-
sary disturbances. They generally say
they are sick of promises and are only
resortlng to direct action.
In one instance the men responded to
the police with 1--WE faced the Ger
mans and will not see our children
starve now" On another, following the
seizure of Edmonton town hall by LOUD
men. the leaders told the officials, we
don't want the Red flag flown here
There is no Bolsheyism. as matter or
fact the Union Jack is flying above now
and we want It to fly"
A public bath in Peckham road and
! public library at Camberwell are among
! the places seized. The library was
I seized when many persons were there
/ reading A whistle blew suddenly and
\ everybody was ordered out and the UNI
! employed marched In in mott orderly
fashion The jobless who were reading
( there were told they could remain and
/ that a meeting would be held soon, 70
I which they would be welcomed. The
/ library attendants fled and the gates
/ have been closed for the two days that
| the library has been the eating ard
sleeping place of the homeless and those
bout OF work.
No resentment was expressed by tho
ousted readers. some of whom said il
should have been done months ago, while
others declared, This ought 10 have
been Buckingham Palace A policeman
came and asked a picket placed outside
the library what was the matter, and
the picket said the unemployed had
taken possession OF the building The
! policeman went away, and nothing has
| happened since.
/ The general procedure has been 70
/ capture municipal buildings, which are
| Immediately turned over as committee
rooms. workshops. bedrooms and dis
! tributing centres for food. The situa-
/ ton is becoming serious, because these
| possession tactics have been adopted IN
many sections of London, and every
body recognizes the fact that drastic
action Is necessary on the part Of the
authorities to solve the unemployment
problem At no place has there been
any serious disturbance. on one build
7g seized the unemployed posted this
sign outside awe stuck in 1914. WHY
not now p