Evening star., 1926-05-09
Labor Begins Calling Out
Second and Third Lines of
Defense, Workers in Public
Utilities Stations.
BALDWIN REITERATES
HIS DEMAND FOR PEACE
Pledges Self to See That Both Sides
Get Fair Deal. But Hopes Are
Slim-Charge That Law Is Vic:
lated Creates Sensation Amon7
Leaders of Labor.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 8.-Labor's sec
ond line of defense is beginning TO
be utilized in the great struggle be
tween the Trades Union and the
government These workers were
not included in the general strike
which began at midnight last Mon
day.
The Trades Union Congress has
not yet issued call to this second
line. and there is grave apprehension
that the leaders may officially call
out both the second and third lines
OF defense. thus increasing the num-
Der of strikers to possibly 6,OOO.O0O
The second and third lines OF dc
fense' arc composed OF electrical
and gas workers and those engaged
in other public utilities, numbering
from two to three million men.
Such workers are customarily per
mitted by the trades unions to re-
main at their posts for the purpose
OF furnishing the absolute needs OF
the natkT.
G.vOm Covers Islands.
Gloom -uch as Great Britain has
not know" since the great war endei
has settle. over the British isles "a
the first TNeek of the general sttihe
drew To d close. II is just one week
ago, May day, that the miners laio
down their tools and abandoned the
mine fields to the safety men They
numbered more than l,000 900. and tn"
other workers who joined them i'll
creased the number to about 5000 ,0Ur
Everywhere the question is being
asked now long will the funds of thr
unions enable them to feed the Strik-
ers and their families.
The Trades Union Congress, through
it's executive council, however, today
refused to receive 100000 rubles
tabout $4,000. .00O) from the Russian
Red International Federation, a cheek
for which was received oStensibly
for the purpose of aiding the general
strike in Great Britain. In return
ing the check, the council Expressed
its inability 10 accept the money.
The labor leaders again emphasized
that the present movement relates u
industry alone and embraces no reVO-
lutionary ideas.
Settlement Hopes Dim.
Prospects for any speedy settle
ment have grown slighter from day ~
day Premier Baldwin refuses to dis
cuss the differences between the
miners and mine owners unless the
general strike is called off. and the
Trades Union Congress wont call off
the strike Neither will it negotiate
until the mine owners withdraw their
lockout against the workers.
Robert Mcneil, financial secretary
of the treasury, sets forth the sltua-
tion from the government side in Il
letter to the Canterbury Conservative
Association. He describes Great
Britain as nearer to actual civil war
than it has been for centuries"
In his appeal Co the public to realize
the gravity of the issue, he declares.
"All the revolutionary elements in
the country are doing their utmost to
exploit the situation to their own ad-
vantage, and every day the conflict
lasts must increase the danger of an
outbreak of violence, which would
have to be met by the employment of
the armed forces of the crown"
The Trades Union Council has re-
piled to the speech of Sir John simon
former home secretary, that the
strikers in leaving their jobs without
notice had broken the law and could
be held responsible.
I'VE are bound to repudiate
says the councils statement.
the allegation that the Trades Union
Congress is engaged in an attack on
the community. We are not fighting
the public, nor are we attempting to
overthrow constitutional govern
ment."
Baldwin Issues Statement.
Premier Baldwin, in a broadcast
statement tonight, again declared:
Before the government can re
open the negotiations the general
strike must be called off. 1t would
be q thousand times better to accept
this than to continue the struggle.
which would only increase misery and
disaster
The prime minister said he was a
man of peace and was longing. work
ing and praying for peace, but that
he would not surrender the safety
and security of the British constitu
ton to threats of violence.
The government, he asserted, was
not fighting to lower the standard of
living for the miners or any other
workers.
The prime minister's full statement
is as follows:
II have done my utmost to secure
an agreement upon the basis of the
commissions report and when the
time comes, as l hope it will soon, 10
discuss the terms under which the
mining industry can be carried on [
shall continue my efforts to see that
in any settlement justice Is Gone ootE
to the miners and 1oal OWnefE
Gould there be a more direct at
tack upon the community than that
a body not elected by the voters or
the country, without consulting the
people, and without consulting even
the trade unionists, and in order to
impose conditions not yet defined,
should dislocate the life OF the
country?
"Who is attacking the standard of
living of the people? Is 1t the gov
ernment, who have only sought to
bring about a reasonable settlement
of the mining industry, or the tradee
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