Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-04-20
ROYALTY AND LABOR BREAK
BREAD TOGETHER

Recently the daily press carried an
interesting story cabled from London,
England After carefully reading
every word of it, the following deduc-
tions were made:
On March 8, 1923-King George
and Queen Mary, for the first time in
their lives sat down to eat with the
labor members of parliament. This
occurred in the home of two of their
subjects, where the rulers Of Eng
land met Among the labor represen-
tatives were James Henry Thomas,
general secretary of the National
Union Railway men, and John Robert
Clynes, President of the National
Union of General Workers and former
labor leader in the house of parlia-
ment.
The occasion was a dinner party
given by Viscount and Lady Astor
that was arranged as such to permit
the king and queen to meet socially
with the laborites. This also would
allow the laborites to come into social
contact with their rulers. 1t is stated
the king had made known his desire
to meet the leaders of the labor party
in such manner.
The story says that the guests sat
at two large round tables with pink
tulips scenting the air. Prime Min
lister Bonar Law and much of royalty
sat there with laborites, where, too,
was the American Ambassador, Geo.
Harvey. Wonderful? Strange. Why
all this mingling of royalty and labor
ties? King George is either very
polite Or very wise. If the latter
then he is afraid-he sees the hand
writing on the wall, and realizes that
organized labor is back Of the labor
party and is a power in England. not
to be trifed with but a positive force
to be reckoned with
This event marks a "turn in the
lane" Of the economic situation: it is
filled with grave meaning to labor.
1t stands out like a beacon light in
the strangely changing political field
of England. Contrast the 1929 event
when "King and Labor Break Bread"
as one paper headlined it-With the
following event that occurred about
70 years ago when England struck at
unionism with her mailed fist of
power.
George Locelace, born in England
1904, was a farm laborcr. As the
wages of such workers were only
seven shillings a week (about $168
in our monev), he proceeded to form
Laborer's Society to secure one shil-
ling Cor about "a cents) a week in
crease. In those days, farm hands
lived on barley, bannocks Ga sort of
griddle cakes, made of peas, oats and
barley. and turnips, with perhqns a
slice of fat bacon on Sunday, other
food being too costly. They made
their demands and the answer to
these farmers was notice that in the
future their wages would be reduced
from S1.68 a week, to six shilli0gs
week, or $1.44 our money, and if any
more complaints were made, they
would be arrested for conspiracy. A
proclamation was issued, threatening
to punish any man with seven years
transportation who joined trade
society.
Lovelace and his companions called
a meeting to consider the situation.
This was called Conspiracy" They
were all arrested, convicted and SEN
fenced to seven years Transportation
ONCI tliC IllSH ocGiS " IltI NJd.CSIy .
Queen Victoria's penal settlement in
Australia. They were carried ont in
the Convict Ship Success" Ga living
hell). After serving three pears in |
the chain gang the British Govern
ment yielded to the agitation through
out England in their favor They
were pardoned and returned to
their native country. where they lived
to be highly respected and honored, |
These men We're in reality the first
trade uniOnists, martyrs to their
cause. Their story throws a bright |
light on the great changes that have
been brought about in the condition
of workers since the middle Of the
Nineteenth Century; all through their
efforts to live better by organizing.
Now King and Laborites dine to-
gether. Picture the contrast-seven
men each earning only $1.44 a week !
started the trades union movement in
England. and now King George and
Queen Mary actually sat down to eat |
with labor's representatives.