Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-12
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Of the strike to the men in the engi-
neering and shipbuilding trades. the
trades union congress have issued the
strike call to the unions in these
trades, which are affiliated with the
congress. Men working in govern :
ment dockyard: admiralty establish
ments and government engineering
departments here are not affected.
This is in part the second line of
defense which the labor leaders prom
ised several days ago would, IL neces-
sary, be brought into the field, and
making reference to the call, The
British Worker says:
These men have awaited their in
structions impatiently and through
out the country they have received
their marching orders with enthusi-
asm and sense of relief.
I'm addition to the men receiving
this call to reinforce the gallant first
line, others are out because of refusal
to work with blacklegs or because
the pressure of the strike is closing
down factories"
This was one Of the outstanding
events of an eventful day.. and it
means that not less than 100000 en-
gineers and shipbuilders have Joined
forces with othe- industrial workers
standing out against the government
| warming that the general strike must
be called off before negotiations for
the settlement Of the miners strike
are possible.
Justice Atsbury's announcement in
the chancery division that the strike
was illegal was viewed as highly i'm
portant, and was utilized by Sir John
Simon, the former home secretary, in
| the house of commons to support his
previous contention that men on
strike had violated the law and could
be held responsible for the damage
ensuing from the general strike.
Peace activities were of a livelier
and more extensive character than
on any. day since the men withdrew
from their labors. Sir John Simon
declared in the commons that he and
some of his friends were about to
take up the responsibility that both
the government and trades union
congress had appeared to avoid
that of initiating a definite move
| ment for the resumption of peace ne
gotiations. This will. take the form
of request that the house of COM
mons record it's view that the govern
ment,. under certain conditions st
forth. consent to give temporary as
sistance to the coal industry.
The conditions were that the gen.
eral strike be called off that work be
resumed in the mines at the old rates
| and that the recommendations Of the
royal coal commission be put into
effect.
There was apparently a general
| belief that Sir Johns proposal had
| received some encouragement from
the government and the former la
Dor minister, Tom Shaw, took occa-
sion to say that the labor men were
ready to make the peace move ef-
fective if the miners were guaran-
| teed a square deal.
Ramsay Macdonald, the former
Labor premier, who left a sick bed
to take part in the struggle and
who has been working with the
| others night and day to bring the
| opposing elements to what has been
| characterized as "a reasonable frame
of mind" was in the thick of the
Labor conference today. But, wear
led and worn, he kept silent, assert
| ing that he was not ready to talk
It was evident to observers. how
ever, that he is using every effort
to bring about the necessary pre-
| liminaries to settlement.
\ The ministers of the crown were
again in session today, and the king
| held a privy council, those present
| being the Earl of Balfour, Sir Will
liam Joynson-H Hicks and Lord Eus-
! tace Percy. Lord Balfour had a
private conference with the king
! previously, and Sir William Joynson-
| Hicks remained for a time with the
king after the council.
AS to the general situation, trans
| port and food supplies are being
handled by the government with in.
creasing facility. More regular
trains were in operation, but there
have been several accidents on the
railroads in the past two days. Early
today the famous Flying Scotch
man." an express from Edinburgh
| to London, which fortunately was
| travelling very slowly, came upon
an open rail, and was partly
wrecked. The rail had been re.
moved and /the locomotive and sew.
eral cars turned over, and the pas
sengers suffered no serious injuries
| Disturbances \ throughout the
country have been held to a mini.
mum. The general council of the
| trades union congress points out IT
| it's official statement that the govern.
ment's communique ARE beginning
| to bear out what we all along have
| stated. that order and discipline are