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Show BRITISH MINISTER ADDRESSES MEETING Says War Has Resolved Into Conflict of Mechanics. I SPEECH IS APPLAUDED David Lloyd-George Is Cheered by Trade Unionists' Union-ists' Conference. bkistou England, Sept, 9, p. in.- -Amid uproarious applause ami some eon fusion en used by 11 u Insistent delegate demanding ihe right fco ques t i on him, Daniel Uoyd-George, the British Brit-ish minister oi" munitions, addressed a packed hull of trade unionists here this afternoon, striking the keynote of his speech with the declaration that the war had resolved itself into a conflict between be-tween the mechanics in the contending nations. He said in part : With you, victory is assured. Without Von our cause is lust. Great Employer. I come here as the greatest employer em-ployer of labor in this country. You passed resolutions yesterday pledging pledg-ing yourselves to assist the govern mem in a successful prosecution of the war, and I am here in behalf of the government to take you at your word. As between British and Herman work men. the minister said he believed the British were tho better. Mr. Lloyd decree said that notwithstanding all cf forts to speed up the work of turning out war muuitions, only 13 per cent OI the available machinery was being worked out on night shifts. Not Doing Best. "The country is not doing it best," he declared. The minister said the government had under construction eleeu new arseuals to man which 00,000 more men were required. re-quired. The government." he added, ''cannot ''can-not equip the army at this time uuless the unions suspend during the war all restrictions barring unskilled labor and all restrictions tending to prevent a maximum output." ''Has the state kept its end of the bargain!" a voice shouted. "No," another voice answered. Replying to this, Mr. Lloyd-George said the surplus profits of the firms engaged en-gaged in munitions work would go to the treasury to finance the war. Quotes From Circular. Mr. Lloyd-George quoted fiom a trade union circular Issued in Coventry In which the men were counseled in effect not to work at their full capacity. "This means," he continued, "there has been a deliberate attempt to restrict the output in guns, the making of which Is vital to the protection of the lives of the men at t he front. Is there anyone here who will defend an action of that kind?" There were loud cries of "no." "Then." said tfce minister, "you have answered the question I came down to ask you. I knew you would not support such action." Continuing, he raid that ae minister of munitions, he had the right to ask workmen work-men to come forth eourageout-Iy and fearlessly say they would have no part "In trying- to hold the arm of iheir native na-tive land when It Is fighting for its life and when their future labor depends largely upon the result of this war." The minister concluded by 'appealing to the men not to array the country against organized labor. |