The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-07-24

hundreds OF thousands of trade union
lists who prior to the great struggle be-
lieved the fairy tales told by the labor
imperialists about the radicals, saw
for themselves that the disrupters
were not red but yellow, and that the
maligned reds constituted the steel
backbone OF the struggle.
When the general strike was called,
every active Communist whose pres-
ence was not urgently required at or
near headquarters was assigned to q
district to engage actively in helping
the local trade union leaders TO con
duct the fight with the utmost enaca-
ency. Wherever councils OF action
were organized, wherever the move
ment to build workers defense corps
was pushed vigorously It was almost
a certainty that the Communists
were on the Job. It was not surpris-
ing therefore that the government or
dered fits agents to Mound I'D the
Communists and II the general strike
had not come to an end on May II. It
IS more than likely that every active
member Of the party in Britain would
be locked up, provided there we're
enough tails. AS It was, even after
the general strike was called of hun
dreds Of Communists were arrested
on hfmay charges and many Of them
given Jail sentences. Any local trade
union leader who did not devote his
energies to singing hymns or praying
for success was also subject to per
secution and arrest.
TIHE dress rehearsal" ended as IT
L started-suddenly. It is folly to
consider It q victory, In view Of what
1t could have been Looking at the
incident in q historically objective
sense It must be admitted that Il was
an event that marks tall milestone
In the march of world labor towards
complete emancipation from wage
slavery.
The British Empire Is on thu tobog-
gan. Her political bagmen still put
up bold front and say, I'VE will pull
thru" But despair is beginning TO
seize them. The economic situation
at home Is only one Of the empires
worries. A General Bying muffs the
imperial ball in Canada and rumbles
Of rebellion are heard with the dollar
magician Uncle Sam watching the
drama: Egypt is hanging to the en-
pire by a wig, and the silence that Is
hanging temporarily over the teeming
millions Of India is not the silence
Of peace; John Bulls wares are as
popular IN China as the rattle Of a
snake; Japan is now engaged In an
open diplomatic war with the British
drummers for Chinese trade.
And the growing power OF Red Rus
sia with its far flung frontiers In
dangerous proximity to India is caus-
ing the proud ruling class OF England
uneasy dreams. Why, on the eve of
the general strike, when news Of the
Russo-German treaty was made pub
lie, near-panic prevailed in Downing
Street and British papers devoted
more space to that event than to the
birth OF an heir to the Duke and
Duchess of York.
Stin the king and queen entertained
royalty and abundantly; the guards at
buckingham Palace and the horses Mt
the Horse Guards performed their
tricks as usual; American tourists
watched them and said: "Arent they
too cute for anything" Other Amer
leans we're received in audience by
the king and queen, very likely in
consideration OF donation to the tory
treasury-all those things were taking
nlaca Whila tho en- mira hung On ihn