members did the same. The arrangement worked with wonderful precision, and London became totally dislocated and undone. Extraordinary scenes were witnessed on the streets, every sort of vehicle being pressed into service, and still many thousands had to walk. A meeting was arranged with Sir A. Stanley at 3.30 p.m. on February 5th, and it continued until 9 p.m. On the following day the Railway Executive and Sir Robert Horne (Minister of Labour) attended the Conference, and on February 7th all members were to be called out, but at nearly midnight the opposition yielded the claim "that no break whatever should take place within the eight hour day, with payment therefor," but contended that the break or relief should not be called a meal time. The following agreement was then made:—
"The Underground Trainmen to be booked on for eight hours work. Meal time will not be included in the eight hours, but in the new conditions of the eight hours day the companies will offer all reasonable facilities to meet the ordinary physical needs of the men."
A. H. Stanley.J. Bromley.6th February, 1919.
Major Gilbert Szlumper, Secretary of the Railway Executive Committee, then wrote a letter applying the terms to the electric sections of other railways. In my view this is one of the most remarkable demonstrations in the history of the Society. It won an important principle single-handed, and it did it by wonderful marshalling of forces one after the other. There was abuse, of course, showers of it, and great strength was needed of mind and body to carry it through, but it was carried through with ability and courage. London, of course, was intensely pleased to get its services back, and for a few days it remembered the strength of the man at the front of the train.
Inside the next four months 6,000 new members had enrolled, and in Ireland Ivor Gregory had opened five new branches with 250 new members.
