The Columbia evening Missourian., 1921-04-29
HOW ENGLAND
FACED RECENT
STRIKECRISIS
What II Meant When Twenty
Million People Arrayed
Themselves Against
Like Number.
SOLDIERS EVERYWHERE
But London Went Placidly
About Its Everyday Jobs
Through All the
Turmoil.

" NhA-fo ffctA-
LoNDoN, April 20.-Soldiers playing
football in Kcnsington Gardens.
A canon Of the Church of England
preaching Jesus, the spiritual rebel.ex-
horting the people to turn from the slop-
py Jesus Of the archbishops."
Men in motley uniforms with rifles
and fixed bayoneis crowding into public
conveyances-
Soldiers camping out in vacant spaces
throughout the city.
A special military corps guarding the
homes Of the rich in Park Lane.
Military proclamations placarding the
walls Of public buildings.
Long queues OF unemployed waiting
for enrolment in the defense corps.
And behind il all. twenty million peo-
pie setting themselves against another
twenty million.
Otherwise a placid everyday London
going about its daily jobs. not wasting
more than a minute or two in the day
TO gossip about what may happen tomor-
row. Not really knowing what to make
of il all. Disturbed mainly by a vague
opinion more frequently expressed than
any other. that somehow Lloyd George
seems 10 have made mess of il this
time. Relieved by the most frequently
heard reply, that he meant to make
mess Of it, that there never was such
an opportunity to make a mess Of it 10
the ultimate advantage of British indus
try. that if We don't stand up to them
now We never shall.
While the city and the west end shake
their heads gravely over the business
situation, which is the concern Of their
daily lives, others are Specializing on the
food situation. their daily concern-not
for the first time their anxious concern
after a winter Of much unemployment.
And out Of all their whispering one
very clear determination rising, the de-
termination TO have food-at market
price il possible. at the price Of breaking
doors and windows if necessary.
Meanwhile hasty telephone messages
between Downing Street, headquarters
of the Government, and Unity House,
headquarters Of the brewing revolt.
Eleventh hour attempts 10 patch up the
peace before the storm breaks. Hastily
summoned iaxicabs plying between the
two headquarters with weary and har
rassed leaders Of tine dlscontented.
From the one headquarters military
instructions being distributed to the arm
cd forces in all parts Of the country;
from the other instructions just as terse
and disciplinary going out TO all the local
chiefs Of the unarIned twenty million.
In the clubs and pubs, in the restau-
rants and coffee houses, little outbursis
Of speculation, criticism Questions
whether il is wise 10 put arms in the
hands Of men who yesterday we're a
dangerous rabble of unemployed, wheth-
cr drilling them and calling them a de-.
fensc corps will change their nature.
Speculations whether the government
doesn't realize this and is only enrolling
them to keep them out Of trouble.
A slow-grOwing conviction, that be-
comes general about twenty-four hours
before the ordinary economic life Of the
country is to stop, that it will stopi
Dozens Of old bicycles being trundled
through the streets TO the repair shops.
Large purchases of candles. Anxious
housewives asking their grocers whether
there is a run on provisions and, finding
there is not, giving moderate orders
themselves-one in a hundred, perhaps.
laying in an emergency stock OF flour
and canned foods. Government officials
securing the neighborhood Of Westmin-
lister for sleeping accommodation for es-
sential members Of departmental staffs.
Hyde Park and Regents Pask, closed 10
the public, already being swiftly trans
formed into great distributing oenters
for milk and food supplies.
Meanwhile a strange revolt in the
sacred precincts Of Parliament. An emp
ty and Indifferent House Of Commons is
discussing whether the County Of Dur
ham shall be allowed to construct tram
ways and run omnibuses. There are
thirty OF forty present out Of a possible
six hundred. Lloyd George having refus-
ed to permit the House to discuss the
industrial crisis. Between two and three
hundred members, mostly Of the admin
istrasion party, have decided to take mat
tiers into their own hands and are meet
ing in another chamber Of the palace.
They have called representatives Of the
mine owners and have heard their state.
ment Of the case, and large majority
Of the meGlbers are not satisfied with
that statement The secretary Of the
miners union is invited to state his side
Of the case. After considering the two
statements. this insubordinate body Of
the House Of Commons decides that
Lloyd George has not done all he might
have done to secure industrial peace. Ii
is midnight and the Prime Minister ha;
gone home to bed, but they appoint &
small committee TO 20 and knock at the
door Of No. 10 Downing Street and eel
him what is going forward. As the com
miitee represents a considerable section
Of his own supporters. there is nothing
for il but TO get up and receive then
and have half an hours talk with them
and when they are gone lie awake the
rest Of the night wondering how to re
oonoile these amateur peaeemakers and