New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-03
'Anueal to Lloyd George
20 Call Special Ses-
sion to Provide Rem
edy for Unemployment
Arrest of Borough
Officials Resented
krovds Sing Red Flag in
Streets; PAY No Rent
Slogan Their Weapon
NON, The Tribrne's European Bureau

LONDON, Sept. with the arrest
.,s imprisonment last night and to-
Nav m Of the Mayor and eleven council
s.s os the London borough of Poplar,
Ia an outbreak in Woolwich borough,
s..,s i an increase of the disorderly
sn;r;t among the unemployed in these
.nd other sections of London, and the
,,scy situation faces a new crisis
-s;th is engaging the attention of
government officials.
labor leaders have written to Pre-
knisr Lloyd George demanding that he
Ns4h4r convene Parliament st once to
|8ska steps to relieve the situation, or
Xtlse provide finances to support the
hale. that local taxpayers, now almost
:. the limit of their resources, may
not suffer further.
AThe continued neglect of the un-
employment problem may produce con-
sequences to the social order of a
very undesirable character" the letter
concludes.
Twelve officials Arrested
Six Of the Poplar borough council
iors were arrested last night, and FIVE
more and the Mayor were arrested to-
day and lodged in Brixton Jail. They
are charged with refusing to levy
taxes demanded by the London County
Council, which are backed by an or
der Of the High Court. The defense
Of the councillors is that the local tax
payers are already burdened to the
! limit With the taxes imposed for the
Eefare Of the unemployed in the bor-
@cugh, and that they canuos stand
further taxes for the whole of Lon
den whereas there are wealthier bor-
oughs which do not have to bear the
5 burden Of caring for the idle,
The arrests to-day were effected
without violence, although singing and
shouting crowds gathered about the
homes Of the councillors, who they
knew would be arrested, and followed
them through the streets to the prison.
".fhe Red Flag" was constantly sung by
the crowds in the street and in front
Of fae prison and there were constant
shouts of up With the Rebels!"
BEFORE their arrest several of the
councillors addressed the crowds and
ADVISED them and the people of POPLAR
boroagh not to pay rent until the bor-
cugh oihcials were freed from prison.
Increased Allowance Demanded
Last nights trouble in Woolwich. an
ether one of the poorer boroughs of
the city, came about through the de-
nsnd for an increase in the allowance
,of unemployed men with large fami-
nes. IN the case of some families this
woald amount to as high as $50 week.
me board of Guardians was in session
AZ ,ne time, and delegation of twenty
eignt Of the borough's unemployed
called called and made their demands, while
thousands of the idle shouted outside
lIae building. The board fatty refused
tae increases and pointed out that the
lsSpayers OF the borough could not
ssano the increase on account of the
sslge taxes they have been paving to
support the unemployed. The deleya-
uon refused to leave the building and
souid not allow the members of the
asard a to depart. The argument con-
saaed throughout the night and until
ociock this morning, with hundreds
~ e tne idle still waiting in the streets.
s1lhahy both sides became tired and
siI1,epy sI,py and the guardians finally were
s'iowed to depart.
Limit of Resources Reached
Inc present recrudescence of unem-
hhloyment 10 disturbances is largely due to
we TACT that idle men can draw the
svsslhment allowance for only sixteen
,IssAs I.tssA IN one year, and large majority
fa,rssoy ! asy have drawn that much. The
Hsuaoon ssan borough councils, which differ
ssom Ss. any official bodies in the United
Ss asssss: exercise considerable authority
ssel. ss the subdivisions of the county.
assshg naa. power to grant relief to the
ses sour and unemployed. Their funds
.s.ae ssa, from direct levies on owners of
,.sl 70 estate. Some of the boroughs al
ssaJy nave granted as high as S18 a
n,s1 not 10 the unemployed, but they will
innue oe aoie to stand the strain much
onl Poplar and Woolwich boroughs are
day Sass Two Of the poorer districts of Lon
ssa, ssisS ana the conditions there are dupli-
fsssa isssa ~ others. Further trouble is
ssu sonss IN both these districts and
's"'eausnt spread to others.