Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10
Continued From Third Page)

masses would cross the strike border
into a class war involving bloodshed has
blown away now like cloud of poison
gas In stiff breeze. Today, despite the
Industrial peace movement which has
just resulted in a joint agreement be-
tween a group of employers representing
81, 900, 900, 900 Of capital and the
Trade Union Congress group represent
ing all organized labor, there is clash
between labor and capital in those de-
pressed industries unable to pay good
wages or guarantee safe jobs, and If the
financial stringency, due to the scarcity
of gold and the jump in the bank rate,
is not relieved soon there may be de-
mandS for wage cuts and renewal OF
industrial strife.
But the general temper of the masses
of workers in the worst areas-where it
is not a question of so many dollars a
week added to or taken from the pay,
but bitter question Of how the family's
body and soul can be kept together on
dole-may be gagged by incidents Of the
Prince OF Wales four-day tour, one of
the strangest things that ever happened
In the kingdom and one pregnant with
the most curious possibilities.
Not Political Tour.
The tour had no political angle. No
party was consulted. The tale properly
begins back in April, 1928, when public
feeling against the miners for stam-
peding organized labor into a general
strike had died down sufficiently for a
areas to be inaugurated, with the Prince
of Wales as patron. The fund rolled up
100000 and gummed up.
Winter set in with sharp chill. The
Miners Federation issued an appeal for
aid-aid which that fund ought to have
supplied. The press backed the appeal
generously and some big papers con-
Quoted special campaign to provide the
miners with Christmas hampers. Also,
the prime minister was reminded of that
moribund fund and looked around for a
man to bring 1t to life. He found the
man in Noel Curtis Bennett.
Curtis Bennett is a brother of one of
the most famous criminal lawyers in
England. He Is head of what cor
responds to the trade union in civil
service. He was one of the chief organ
izers at central headquarters in the gov
eminent anti-strike organization in
1925.
What Curtis Bennett, big man with
a direct way about him and rough
tongue on occasion, did at fund head
quarters is another story, but by the
time he got through there wasn't much
left of the committee.
Then he went across to st. James
Palace and knocked on the dark, poll
ished door under the low arches. Be-
hind the door are the quarters of Sir
Godfrey Thomas, professional diplomat
and private secretary to the Prince OF
Wales. Curtis Bennett and Godfrey
Thomas had a talk. The result of that
talk was that the prince decided to 90
North to see conditions for himself. He
would go informally with Godfrey
Thomas and Curtis Bennett. No re-
ceptions. No dinners with county mag
mates. No mayors addresses Of well
come. No organized plan. No equerry
and no police escorts.
Spurns All Protection.
This latter provision upset the chief
constable Of selected districts. They
couldn't see how the prince could get
along without police protection, and one
or two rather thought there ought to
be troops around. Otherwise they would
have to wash their hands of all respon-
sibility. AS matter of cold fact, the
quickest way to get the prince killed in
the mine fields would have been to send
him thither behind galloping escort Of
police and soldiers.
OF went the trio. They put up at a
commercial hotel in q Northern city
Curtis Bennett had the name of an
elderly miner In the first village to be
visited, and was relying on him to show
the prince around the first day.
But when he arrived at the cottage
his plan Of campaign collapsed. The
miner shook his head. He had death
in the house. His wife had died that
morning. Curtis Bennett went back
respondent to tell the prince what had
happened and to explain that he scarce
ly knew what to suggest next.
"Td like to 60 in," said the prince
quietly. He went in. The miners daugh-
ter was inside, nice girl, employed as
domestic servant in good family
The prince caught her arm and gave II
a comforting little shake.
That broke the ice. It also emboldened
the girl to ask with the simplicity Of a