The General Strike is called…

‘Midnight–Zero Hour in Great Britain’ from The Daily Worker. Vol. 3 No. 97. May 5, 1926.

Troops Rushed to Mine Zone as Great General Strike Draws Nearer

LONDON, May 3. British industry and transportation will cease functioning promptly at midnight tonight as the general strike order of the Trade Union Congress goes into effect, and four million workers in all industries will join the million miners who downed tools on May Day.

All hope for a settlement was abandoned early this morning when Stanley Baldwin, tory premier of Britain, suddenly broke off negotiations with the following announcement:

“The government declared the constitutional rights have been challenged and no negotiations can proceed until the trade unions withdraw their instructions for a general strike.” In defiance of this demand, the General Council withdrew from the premier’s office at 10 Downing Street and took over active direction of the plans for the general strike.

Printers Strike on Mail

The militant attitude of British labor is symbolized in the action of the printers on the Daily Mail who went on strike and refused to turn out last night’s edition because of an offensive editorial entitled “For King and Country,” which was an incitement to fascism violence against the strikers and which closed with the plea: “We call upon all law abiding men and women to hold themselves at the services of king and country.”

The implication that workers on strike are outlaws caused the workers to refuse to print the paper.

This was characterized by the Baldwin government as an “overt act” and a challenge to the constitutional rights and freedom of the nation.”

“Law and Order” Bunk

The government this morning issued an official statement reading:

“The country must be prepared for a general strike in many industries and public services tonight. The government has taken all steps to maintain the supply of food, fuel, light and power for the protection of those engaged in these services and for the preservation of law and order.

“Recruiting stations for volunteers will be opened. Loyal (fascist) citizens should hold themselves in readiness to assist the government.”

Must Have Discipline

The Trade Union Congress executives in a letter to Premier Baldwin shortly after the breakdown declared they were “astonished at the government’s abrupt termination of negotiations.”

Referring to the strike last night of printers employed in the plant of the Daily Mail. In which all employes walked out in protest against the projected publication of an editorial violently attacking the trade union congress, the letter said:

“The general council had no knowledge of the Daily Mall strike. But such acts having occurred. It has been decided to definitely forbid such independent, unauthorized action. It cannot accept the responsibility for these facts, hence has taken prompt measures to prevent acts of indiscipline.

“We are directed to remind you that it is nothing unusual for workmen to cease work in defense of their interests as wage earners. The specific reason in this case is to obtain for mine-workers the same rights as the employers have insisted upon, namely, that negotiations be conducted in an atmosphere free of the threat of strike or lock-out.”

It was plain to observers today that inasmuch as the trade union congress refuses to accept responsibility for the Daily Mail incident, and is equally determined not to withdraw the order for the general strike, these being the two conditions laid down In Baldwin’s ultimatum, the General Council of the Workers is prepared to put the general strike Into effect tonight, despite the government’s declaration that the unions are challenging the constitutional rights and freedom of the nation.

J. Ramsey MacDonald announced at 3 o’clock this afternoon that as yet there has been no intimation of any intention on the part of the miner owners to reopen negotiations. He had previously conferred separately with the members of the Trade Union Congress and the Miners’ Federation in an effort to find if there was any way of opening negotiations with the government. His role of self-appointed peace-maker was viewed with disfavor by many members who resent any further overtures to the arrogant government after its Impudent actions of this morning.

Another Paper Suspends.

Hyde Park was alive with activity as the government continued the mobilisation of transport there and prepared to begin the distribution of food supplies at midnight tonight.

The evening Standard, owned by Lord Beaverbrook, failed to appear on the streets with its noon edition, while the publishers and printers negotiated concerning an editorial which the editors desired to carry. The printers were disinclined to allow the editorial published, maintaining that it was an anti-labor article.

Wear Red In Commons.

Not since the declaration of war against Germany has there been such a tense atmosphere in the house of commons as prevailed this afternoon when the members began to assemble. Labor members from the Clydeside entered wearing Red rosettes. The Duke of York took a seat in the royal gallery shortly after the question hour opened.

The archbishop of Canterbury, accompanied by many members of the house of lords, occupied the peers’ gallery.

There were great gaps in the labor benches, many labor M.P.’s being tied up in conferences of the trades union congress.

There were bitter scenes when Premier Baldwin entered at 3:18. He was feebly cheered from the government benches, but he was greeted with dead silence from the opposition portion of the chamber.

“No Soviet can rule this country,” shouted several Tory members.

J. Ramsey MacDonald and J.H. Thomas, labor members, entering the chamber were also greeted with cheers from the labor benches and with spasmodic bursts of song. There were jeers from the government benches.

The Daily Worker began in 1924 and was published in New York City by the Communist Party US and its predecessor organizations. Among the most long-lasting and important left publications in US history, it had a circulation of 35,000 at its peak. The Daily Worker came from The Ohio Socialist, published by the Left Wing-dominated Socialist Party of Ohio in Cleveland from 1917 to November 1919, when it became became The Toiler, paper of the Communist Labor Party. In December 1921 the above-ground Workers Party of America merged the Toiler with the paper Workers Council to found The Worker, which became The Daily Worker beginning January 13, 1924.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/dailyworker/1926/1926-ny/v03-n097-NY-may-05-1926-DW-LOC.pdf