Transportation Strike

For the third time since the assumption of power by the Labor Party, London transportation facilities were disrupted.

A non-union walk-out of power station workers of the Great Western and London Electric Railways paralyzed the London subway system. The strike was said to have been inspired by Communists, who advised the men to take direct action, independently of their unions, in demanding an increased wage.

The National Union of Railway Men, to which the strikers belong, declared the strike to be illegal, in a manifesto reported as follows: "The people responsible for calling the strike have made a colossal blunder in thinking than an irresponsible small section of the Union can dictate the policy of the Union. Our membership has been so schooled into discipline that for any small section of unauthorized people to attempt to undermine constitutional government by such methods can only have one result, and sooner or later the members who are being badly misled will have to realize it. For any small section to think they can drive a Union with such a history as the N. U. R. to accept any movement made by them is simply beating the air. We again appeal to our members on strike to recognize the situation in all its seriousness so far as they themselves are concerned and get back to work immediately."

Meanwhile London streets were congested with every kind of conveyance and the greatest difficulty was experienced by suburban dwellers in getting to their work.