The Washington herald., 1920-10-23
BRITISH LABOR
IS GIRDING FOR
WAR TO FINISH
Will Use 100000, 900
Fund in National Fight Un-
less Premier Yields.
WEDNESDAY LAST DAY
Railway and Transport La
borers Prepared to Strike
Then, In Sympathy.

London. Oct. 22.-The strike stu
alton became more acute today
when the labor leaders at a secret
meeting decided TO establish an
other council Of action representing
six million workers to fight the
government and capitalists. unless
peace negotiations with the coal
miners have progressed to a state
which bids fair TO be successful. by
next Wednesday.
Indications Of how fast events
are moving in the direction Of a
national Upheaval are seen in the
manner by which proposals which
labor leaders themselves yesterday
described as extreme are today
taken up by the moderstes. This is
mainly due TO the persistent failure
OF Lloyd George to state plainly
upon which basis he intends to ne
/ gotiate with the miners.
Have sIco, o,ccO, 900 Fund.
Labor is now determined to pre-
.
/ less the premier agrees to the un-
! conditional acceptance Of the min
ers' forty-cent demand. They have
I determined to risk the unions funds
/ of a hundred million dollars in a
national fight
| According TO the Daily Express,
! Premier Lloyd George made a state
ment to a deputation that called
upon him, in which he declared
| that peace may be brought about
/ in the coal strike within a few
hours or IL may develop into one
| OF the greatest struggles that the
! country has ever known"
II is understood that steps have
! been taken to arrange a conference
/ between representatives OF the
striking miners and the govern
ment. The conference will probably
be held Saturday night.
Railway Men Delay Action.
1t has been decided to postpone
sending out final notices Of the
| railway mems strike owing to a d.
( vision among tSe men. Secretary
Thomas refused to sign the strike
call when one division OF the men
demanded a ballot be taken before
/ the strike was ordered.
The railway mems strike notices
were sent out ordering the men to
! quit Monday. but Il is believed the
/ strike will be halted pending the
fixing Of a new arrangement at
conference OF all unions called for
( Wednesday. 1t IS also believed the
! calling Of the Wednesday confer
, ence implies the postponement OF
the isolated action Of the transport
men until the fresh council tsAe-
action and orders all workers to
quit.
War Measure Revived.
While continuing its attempts 70
negotiate peace with the miners,
the government is preparing to
meet the challenge Of the workers
The last action prior TO adjourn
ment Of the House OF Commons on
Monday was the introduction Of an
emergency powers bill revivtng
clauses OF the defense OF the realm
act. which had been abolished since
the armistice. This action will vir-
tually transfer TO the military tho
task Of maintaining order in the
/ industrial areas. In the meantime
the War Office is ready to move
troops, airplanes and tanks to sup
press attempts at the destruction
To avoid provoCation Of the labor
and unemployed elements TO overt
acts. nothing has been announced
Of these preparations, although
Smillieisnow in Glasgow warning
workers that the government is con-
sidering where TO plant machine
guns.
Calls for United States.
He declares il Is necessary for all
unions to stand together, being
forced to thiSaction by the plan OF
the employers to destroy the unions
one after the other.
Robert Williams, secretary Of the
transport workers union, announced
the first decision. of his union which
smacked of sovietism. when he de-
clared today that hereatterthe tho
transport men will not allow tho
middle class volunteers TO form
white guard" for the distribution
of food among the idle men. Wil.
Jams announced that their own men
would do the work. under permits
granted by the unions.
Paris, Oct. 22-FollowinE the cx-
ample OF the coal miners in England
the French miners have made a de-
mand for an immediate increase in
wages OF five fsanCs a day.
The demand for the raise in pay is
accompanied by the threat to strike
unless the demand is complied with
at an early date.