The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-06-15
British Miners Rally Behind Miners

| Macdonald speaks of the zone big
family" of British society, which must
never again" be disturbed by a gem
eral strike; Brailsford caters to the
rank and file discomfort by criticising
the surrender Of the strike, and then
proceeds quietly to swing this dis
content into the channels leading to-
wards "the restoration of the two
party system; Lansbury acts in a
united front with the Communists to
support the miners, but at the same
time announces that he is prepared
to urge upon the miners compromise
which will mean a reduction in their
wages, which will be one of the keys
Of the new combination.
c. P. and Left Wing Resistance.
Only the Communists and these left
wingers around the Sunday Worker
are preparing the workers to resist
this new betrayal. Against the idea of
Lib-Lab. coalition they put forward
the slogan Of real labor government.
Labor Wins By-Election.
Hammersmith, where Friday the
labor candidate won in the by-election
for parliament with a majority over
the combined vote of conservative and
liberal candidates, was a place where
the labor party lost in 1924 to the
tories.
This election was fought out on the
question of endorsing the general
strike, and the masses responded en-
Enthusiastically to the issue, which was
raised by the conservatives.
Leaders Try to Avoid Issue.
The labor party leaders wanted to
avoid the issue, but dared not. and
won in spite of their fears. Even Mac
Donald, who is propagandizing frantic
ally against the idea Of the general
strike, was forced by the rank and
ME sentiment to make his appeal in
the Hammersmith elections on the
basis Of endorsing the calling of the
strike as well as its conclusion.
The tory papers, which habitually
speak of Macdonald and his friends
with affection and tolerance. severely
ended him for this "backsliding," but
Ramsey has his ear to the ground and
cannot move as fast as they want him
too. The temper of the working class
is still high.
General Strike Topic of Day.
All sides are feverishly discussing
the general strike, debating its les
sons" and whether it was won or lost.
Gradually it is being understood that.
whatever the details may be, the gen.
eral strike opened new chapter in
the worlds labor movement.
For nine brief days the working
class tasted of its power. Whatever
the results of the cowardly surrender
OF the leaders, this will never be for
gotten. The appetite has been enorm-
ously increased by this little lunch.
The British working class is now get
ting ready for a full meal, and other
mouths in other lands are watering
for some of the same sweets.
In the words of the Daily Telegraph
today, the masses had a taste of what
Bolshevism means"
The bourgeoisie is appalled,, likewise
Mr.. Macdonald; but the masses of
the workers are preparing to place
their order for "a little more of the
same"
All of which is not to say that Brit
ain is facing an imminent Soviet re-
volution.
Not yet. Enormous confusion still
exists. The right wing still exerts
tremendous power over the workers.
Bitter disappointments are in store
for the masses. But they are learning
IN the school Of mass action and mass
experience, and the wonderful solidar-
ity and discipline of the British work
ers will make them invincible when
they again move as a class.