Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-04
Organized LabOr's Bid
Continued from PAGE onel

some of the five million workers will,
unless speedily terminated. cause un-
told suffering, with the loss OF mil.
lions Of dollars.
The last hours before the general
strike call went forth were anxious
ones. Thousands of citizens assemb-
led in parliament square and the adj
Joining streets, while within the
house ministers Of the crown and for
mer ministers, representing labor,
oattled in support Of their respective
contentious.
Premier Baldwin criticized the la
Dor leaders. on the ground that, in
ordering the general strike, they were
threatening the basis of orderly gov
eminent and were nearer to proclaim
ing civil war than Great Britain had
been for centuries.
Ramsay Macdonald, the Labor
leader, said the country faced a sit
uation, whose end and evolution not
| even the keenest observer could Wis
ualize.
Winston Churchill, chancellor Of
the exchequer, asserted that IL the
conntct were fought out to it's con-
clusion 1t could only mean the end of
parliamentary government or its de-
cisive victory.
.oHl hLHu OF apathy, the people
OF Great Britain. and particularly of
LONDON the central point of the
struggle, turned to speculation as ii
became apparent that the negotia-
lions for a settlement were to fail.
for even the lowliest citizen realized
what widespread strike of this
kind meant, with the stoppage of
| railway and transport services, the
| cessation of all building operations,
the possible suspension of shipping,
a breakdown in the distribution of
food supplies, the rationing of fuel
| and light. suspension of the news
papers and interference with all
/ business.
Although the government has
made preparations, backed by thou
sands of volunteers, to continue serv-
ice in the distribution of food, bread,
| and milk for the children, and for
continuance as far as possible of
the means of transport, and the big
| places of business and corporations
have arranged to provide sleeping
and eating quarters for their en-
ployees, so that the necessity of re-
turning home by day or night will
! be obviated, there is certain to be
| a tremendous tieup in all the big
| many forms of labor dependent up
on the greater industries comprised
! in the trades union congress.
| Troops have already been sent to
sections where disturbances are most
! to be feared, but it is the expressed
| intention of both authorities and the
| labor leaders to do nothing of
, provocative nature.
The men necessary to keep the
| mines from flooding will be held at
their posts. The railway managers
| will run skeletonized services, and
! the transatlantic steamship COM
| panies have promised to maintain
their sailings if that can possibly be
done The labor men have agreed
also to aid in bringing food supplies
to the people. having emphasized
! that their fight is not against the
! people, but against the attitude OF
the government in the present crisis.
| London has now had the unusual
experience oil partial stoppage OF
| the newspapers on account OF the
strike. thing heretofore almost I'M
| heard of in England. The printers
strike is largely the outcome OF the
Daily Mail incident. That paper
succeeded in publishing its Man.
! chester edition Monday, but as 1T
| contained the editorial the London
printers objected to, orders went
| from London. and refusal to print
any more editions followed.
| The king came to London from
! Windsor yesterday afternoon, ana
received first hand accounts of all
| phases of the crisis.