Evening star., 1926-05-13

iC duGS SHlOIl A>OHSTSSS. WIllAu
placed the situation in the hands of
the individual unions when it called
off the general strike, was in a state
OF utmost anxiety as reports arrived
from the provinces.
The Trade Union Congress had in
effect relinquished direct control of
the situation. AS reports piled in.
however, the Trades Union Congress
council intimated it might have to
resume charge, and asked the gov.
. ernment to define its attitude toward
the employers conditions.
Then came another general meeting
of the council, after which the Trades
Union Congress headquarters issued
its statement of warning.
Opening the debate in the House of
Commons on the strike situation. for
mer Premier Ramsay Macdonald, the
parliamentary labor leader, said more
men were out today than yesterday.
This was because the employers had
proposed terms that would make it
Impossible to continue industry under
peaceful conditions.
Mr.. Macdonald said that if any at
tempt were made to smash trades
unionism if amy section or foolish
person in the country thought that
after the strike and yesterdays action
he could scrape the faces of the trades
unionists in the dust he was very
much mistaken.
Not Willing to Crawl Back.
The labor spokesman added that the
men must be treated as self-reSpect-
ing working men, who were not going
20 crawl back Neither did they in
tend to be regarded as human beings
with the yoke of absolute subordina-
ton riveted to their necks.
Premier Baldwin, arising amid loud
Conservative cheers, said the supreme
interests of the country required that
the largest body of men possible be
brought back to work at the earliest
moment The occasion called neither
for reCrlmination, malice nor triumph.
The premier said there was no real
difficulties; IN the situation. The strike
had compelled the government 10
carry on with a large number of vol
unteers. The majority of these men
were not engaged in the industrial
struggle at all, and the only difficulty
was to reconcile the government )
lone pledge that those who helped
during the strike should not. suffer
for having done so.
AS far as the taking back of all
strikers was concerned, he said, that
was a problem that must be thrashed
out between the employers and the
men.
Sees Fatal Mistake.
The Trades Union Congress made
a fatal mistake in calling off the gen.
eral strike" Secretary A. j. Cook of
the Miners Federation, told The AS.
sociated Press today. I'VE knew
nothing about their reasons. There
was no weakening of the men. We
have seen hundreds of kilograms from
all parts OF the country to the effect
that the men refuse to resume work
The meeting of delegates will not
be held" he said. because there are
no trains to bring them from the
country districts. We have our eX-
ecttive committee of "a men here,
but the delegates from Scotland and
other distant districts who are COM
ing by road cannot arrive until Fri
day night. and the conference has
been postponed until all are here.
Asked whether he thought Sir Her
bert Samuel's memorandum furnished
a reasonable basis for reopening nego.
tiations for settlement of the miners
strike. Mr.. Cook replied: Frankly,
my opinion is that it furnishes very
good basis. There is much in it that
/ thoroughly approve, and it contains
many points for useful discussion, but
l doubt whether the miners will ac-
cept it,
"One can only forecast that the
miners will accept no reduction in
wages. What we want Is definite
guarantee that the proposed changes
In the organization of the mining in
tlstry shall actually be made and ap-
piled Immediately.
"As it is, the lockout still continues
and the only terms the men have be-
fore them are terms applying to the
various districts. We want a certainty
that legislation in that regard will be
framed within three months before we
consent to any wage agreement, so we
shall know that the governments in
tentions are genuine. Our pledges
still stand and will be kept.
Emergency Service Kept.
Thus the battle which the country
last night thought had been settled
continues. But instead of the massed
fighting which proceeded during tn