Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1920-12-28
india FACES
GRAVEST CRISIS
Deep and Widespread In
rest Due to High Cost
of Living
FOUR CAUSES OF
PRESENT UNREST

LONDON, Dec. 2s.-India today Is
faced with what is generally charao-
tedzed as one OF the graYest crises
In Its history, owing 10 the deep and
widespread unrest which has devel-
oped since the end OF the war. While
this discomfort Is tho product OF nu-
merous causes, In the main II Is the
result Of the high cost OF living and
the consequent hard times FOR the
population.
Tho unrest has recently manifested
Itself In various and serious ways,
There have been many great strikes
In the large industrial centers, in
some cases accompanied by, riOtlng
and blOOdshed. Organized anti-gOVern-
ment bOycotts have been instituted.
Moreover, extremists have been
preaching revolutionary IDEAS, with
the result that. as announced recently
in the House Of Commons by Mr..
M0niagu, Secretary OF state for India,
there have been several prosecutions
and convictions under the soditious
meetings act
There has been much talk In the
western world OF activities by Boil
shevist propaganda agents in India.
Competent observers state, however.
that il is doubtful whether the efforts
OF the BOlsheyists 10 stir up trouble
have met with much success. In THIS
connection IL is pointed out thai me
printed propaganda upon which the
BOlshevists depend so much Is Of
little value In India, where the vast
bulk OF the population cannot read.
Thus, the Bolsheylst ideals must be
spread by word OF mouth, a consd-
erabie task In a country the size OF
India. That the Muscovites have been
busy in India, howeve', there Is no
dispute.
The main causes OF the unrest may
be epitomizcd thus:
The high cost Of living, prices IN
some cases having increased w per
cent, while incomes, especially OF
brain workers, have increased only a
small fraction Of this.
The continuance Of the wartime re-
strictlons on the conduct OF the pop
ulaiion whereas the government had
Indicated that these would pc re
moved within six months OF the ter
minatiOn OF the war.
The desire on the part OF iarss
section OF the educated classes 10. a
greater hand in the government tll.n i.
bas hitherto been accorded TO natives.
The aIlegation that the government
hoe failed 20 keep its wartime prom
,ses Tor bett y-ment Of general condii,,
lions Of living and employment, "
bcin, charged that these promises
,vere held out merely to gain support
Tor carving on the war.
Tho feeling Of disquietude ana OF
nosHion 10 the government mas Deen
given great impetus by the ,lsiI
sacre OF sensational events on Hps 81 H.
1910 when General Dyer oruereu ', -
troops 10 fire on vast conovu' -
people. with the result ulas 100
p,nhers were killed and wounueu.
n,,iti sool,pg has been increased by the
atr 10 Endorsement in England OF
tbis nolicy by some legislators 10 tne
denotes 81 Parliament. and ule SUI
scrintion 10 a testimonial to uenerai
nxcr qot ND by a London newspaper
uybich amounted TO StOO,uO0. a.
no General Overs claim that ne nIeu
q, n menaeing mob in the beliei tha'
10 was preventing a seditious out
broal The Indian replies that the Am
ritear crowd was peaceaDle aiu III, N
tanded not the slightest harm. ms
sncident and its sequel have been nlaue
known through the lengtn anu anu
breadth Of the land and undouptSuls
have done more TO embitter tne pOpu.,
lation Of India than anything iii reoon'
years. II. 4ho a,,or-
/ go Tndian exceedingly hard, since his
1 r5ssn Interest in life centers in ms
sood his business journeys, MS pc
Radical pilgrimages to various paris
81 the country, and in the observance
~ his religious rites. His place OF
abode and its furnishings trouble MN
iittle or not al all. he is now unaDie
e. buD, the food TO which he has Deen
4 accustomed. simple as his wants are.
likewise. ne can no LONGER make ms
Z Journeys. depending on his friends TOT
4 Food and lodging because, fOrsooth'
Hhis friends cannot afford to entertain
him To the nOmadic Indian TINS Is
h grievous thing. -,
Even religious observances are ar
. fecied, a most serious matter. me
i gravity OF the situation from tne IN,
|dian's standpoint may be illustrated
4 by referring TO the cost OF orulhar!
4 cotton cloth, which at one time go, GOV
5bevond the means OF the masses. Ihe
n Nsobammedan religion requires that
the dead shall be buried IN unused
B shrouds. This is one OF the cardinal
p rifles. the observance OF which, TO the
members OF this religion, OF whom
4 ,here are nearly 100000 in India, IS
n all important.
4 with the price OF cotton cloth be-
Il vond his reach, the lower class Mo-
Il hammedan was compelled TO bury his
4 dead in ordinary clothing which had
*heen worn. To the living this seems
bio be the limit Of sacrilege, and they
II are terrified OF the hereafter. II this
n appear like a trivial matter to the
n western mind, one has only TO recall
That one Of the causes OF the great
81 mutiny in India in 1858 was that In
n ian soldiers were compelled TO bite
on the end OF paper cartridges which
fhad been dipped in the fat OF cows and
N aies. The cow is a sacred animal In
81 the Hindu religion and may not be
n eaten, while the pig Is anathema Ia
~ he M0hammedan.
ri So FAR as the political agitation Is
81 concerned, those who know India well
n state that much depends on the work
n ags OF the new Montagu bill, which
#gives the natives more say I'm the ar
Gfairs OF the government and which be.
ID zones effective next year. 10 Is sale
j 10 be acceptable TO a large portion OF
D the educated, thinking people OF In.
ada. although Il has some strenuous
@f opponents among the extremists. who
Iclaim that Il does not go far enough
n should the measure fail to work out
Is has been anticipated by the govern
ment. the consequences may be seri.
q nus. but Il Is said 10 be recognized by
mOderate opinion as true step In the
frection OF self-goyernment for India
n NEWS ODDITIES.
4 Brown Ignite coal OF low heat value
II was sold recently in Vienna at !
~ c.ofa n nof1nd