The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-09
IDLE
JOIN RELIEF
DEMAND
Authorities See Danger in
Growing Class Movement
Throughout Island.
By LUTHER A. HUSTON,
International News Service.


than a dozen London warehouses
and social institutions there turks
the germ of a class movement that
unless checked by industrial revival
or remedial legislation, may tester
and become a serious sore on the
British body polite. Already the
germ has circulated in the blood of
the nation to a degree that has
given anxious moments to statesmen
and economists.
The problem of England's unem-
ployed is we'll in the forefront of
those pressing matters which the
British government is honoring with
its attention. The importance of
remedial measures has been empha-
sized by King George in a speech
at the opening of Parliament; has
been referred to countless times by
Premier Andrew Bonar Law in his
public addresses. has been urged in
Parliament by labor leaders with
such vigor that the House of Com
mons several times has been thrown
into turmoil and generally has been
in the vanguard of public attention
throughout the winter.
Hunger Marchers Besiege Officials.
Almost one of the most common
sights in the streets of London dur
ing the last few months have been
the parades of unemployed. The
| hunger marchers," a bedraggled,
| sorry-looking group of men. flaunt-
| ing banners that were pathetically
| pleading and futilely defiant, have
plodded through the streets, be-
| sieged the homes and offices of gov
eminent officials and massed in pub
speakers who demand remedial legis-
| lation.
England. and London in particu-
lar, has not been allowed to forget
her / 100000 or more citizens who
are without work and largely with
out resources for se6 support.
| Sketchy and Inadequate though it
may be, there is an organization
whose purpose it has been to keep
alive the agitation ror relief of the
unemployed. The organization is
| known as the National Union of
Unemployed Workers. This body
has staged the paradeS of the "out-
of-works," arranged the mass meet.
| ings, led the assaults on Parliament
and government officials and en-
deavored, in organized fashion, to
voice the protest OF the unemployed
| their condition.
In order to learn at first-hand the
scope, methods and purpose of the
! movement, International n w S
| Service undertook an investigation.
| This article, and one that is to fol-
low, will endeavor to set forth some
Of the results Of the investigation
Would Overthrow Government.
One of the most impressive revela-
tions that the investigation produced
was the fact that the unemployed
union, although avowedly not com
munistic, aims at the overthrow of
the existing system Of government.
| Leaders of the movement are con-
WINGED that effective remedial legis-
| lation never will be accomplished
| through existing governmental
| agencies.
| Conditions among the hunger
marchers" of London, it was re-
vealed, are not particularly drastic.
Union of Unemployed who marched
into London from all parts of the
British Isles have not suffered to
any alarming extent during the pres
| ent winter. 1t cannot be said that
| they have basked in luxury: neither
can it be said that they have suf-
fered uncomfortable priVation. There
doubtless are many unemployed, not
members of the union, who have
suffered far more than those in the
organization.
Cared For At Warehouses.
These men have been taken care
Of by the various agencies, but chief.
ly through the supervising boards of
about dozen warehouses;. 1t must
be said that the average English
workhouse is hardly cheerful habi
tation, but, on the other hand, it has
decided advantages over the homes
of many of London's poor and is
vastly to be preferred to nights spent
in grimy, cheerless, fog wreathed
streets in those sections where the
less fortunate congregate.
Conditions at the Bow Baths, a
| CIVIC center III the East EnO, might
be taken as typical of the acCommo
dations provided for the hunger
marchers." About 100 men have
been quartered in Bow Baths for
| several months. Most Of them were
lin" when the investigator called.
In a long, high-ceiling room fash,
Toned for a gymnasium, sleeping
| quarters for the men were provided
Each man was given a mattress and
a blanket The room was heated
sufficiently for comfort and was ven
tilated according to average British
| standards.
Provide dole" to Purchase Food.
BY signing the unemployment reg
lister the members of the union are
eligible to draw the dole" Or money
allotment, which is paid out each
week by the government. This
money provides them with funds to
buy food.
Hence the men of the unemployed
organization have had place to sleeI
and enough food for sustenance
The hazard Of their situation. 80 ia,
as the force Of society are concern.
ed, arises from the fact that theN
constitute restless, dissatisfied eIe
ment in the population. They can
see little hone for DerCpanan+ l,.ttor