Evening star., 1926-05-03
WaIkout Order a Challenge
by Alternative Govern
ment, He Declares.
NATION Is MODELLING
TO TRANSPORT ITS FOOD
Labor Leader Asserts Chance Still
Remains to Avert Disaster
by Negotiations.
By the Associated Press

By the Associated PIcss.
LONDON, May 3.-Premier Baldwin
today told the House of Commons
that, as result of the order for a
general strike at midnight tonight. the
government finds itself challenged by
m alternative government.
The premier declared that the Labor
leaders ordering the strike were threat
cning the basis Of orderly government
and were nearer to proclaiming civil
war than Great Britain had been for
centuries.
Further talking would be wrong, the
premier said, unless the government
got immediate and unconditional with
drawal OF instructions for the general
strike.
He became convinced last night, he
asserted. that A. Pugh, chairman of
the Trades Union Congress. and his
colleagues were no longer in control
Of the situation within their own
ranks.
Freedom Seen at Stake.
The only light hearts in the coun.
try today are those who either envy
or hate us, because they see the whole
of democratic freedom entering on a
course which. if successful. can only
substitute tyranny" he said. 1T is
not wages that are in peril. but the
freedom of our very constitution.
Everything for which L have
worked for two years and for which
] care a this moment has been smash.
ed to atoms. but that does not take
away my faith or courage in my
aims
1T is not too late yet TO avert the
disaster" was the pronouncement
made by a prominent trades union
leader at the conclusion of a joint
meeting of the Parliamentary Labor
party, the coal miners executive and
the joint council of the trades union
congress this afternoon.
The compositors on the Evening
Standard, Star and Daily News today
declined to set copy which they con-
sidered harmful to labors cause and
went to consult their union chiefs.
Early editions of the afternoon papers
were issued, but the others were held
up pending the unions decision.
One thousand troops were landed at
Liverpool and proceeded to the famous
Ointree race course. They are being
held in readiness to move to any part
OF Lancashire at a moments notice.
Emergency Call Issued
The members of the executive of
the miners federation began to as
semble this morning at the headquar-
ters here, coming from the mining
areas in response to kilograms sum-
moninS an emergency meeting. A. j.
Cook, general secretary of the union,
was quoted in an interview as say.
ing:
The miners are locked out-denied
the right of a living wage. The last
proposals received were from the
prime minister, with reductions of
wages and longer hours. The whole
trades union movement will prove TO
the government the solidarity of labor.
This is labor's greatest effort TO
protect the great mining community.
We asked for peace and bread. the
government and the coal owners are
determined to give us stone. We
shall win the right to live in 1926"
In view of the prospective tie-up
of transport there was big rush at
the stores today for the purchase of
! bicycles, oil stoves and camp beds.
Banks to Aid Employees.
The banks, financial institutions and
big commercial firms were arranging
to have beds set up in their offices
for those employees who live at a dis
tance, and have hired motor coaches
10 transport those living nearer.
The management of the county
council tramways does not expect the
drivers to report for work tomorrow
in which case many thousands of
workers, due at their businesses and
trades between and O'Clock in the
morning, will have to find other means
of conveyance or walk.
There is no worry as regards petrol.
as the supply in the country is suf-
ficient for three months. but economy
Continued on Page 4. Column 2.)