The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-07-27
ENGLAND FEARS A
COAL STRIKE

London. July 2I.-The industries
of Great Britain are facing serious
situation and are looking forward
with tremendous anxiety and misgiv-
ings to the decision which the NOR
row will bring Is there to be a ma
tionai strike of the coal miners, or
not. that is the question of which the
final decision is expected tomorrow,
Miners Confederation of Great Brit
ain will meet TO canvass the votes
cast at the referendum.
About ten days ago the Miners
Confederation, after prolonged
meeting, in which no decision could
be reached. decided to submit the
question as TO whether or not ma
tional strike should be declared in
support of the Scottish miners, who
are resisting wage reduction of six
pence a day, to the vote of the mil.
lion or move members of the confed-
GRAFTON. The referendum was COM
pleted today and tomorrow, it is ex-
pected, the executive committee,
having canvassed the vote, will an
nounce the final decision.
IT is rather a serious matter, for
should the decision be in favor of a
national strike, the complete stop
page of the work in the mines would
entail practically the complete par
alyzation of British industry. The
crisis in the coal industry is due prin-
cipaiiy to the passage last year of the
so-calied eight-hour law. 1t was put
into effect on the first day of the
present month, except in the dis
tricts of Northumberland and Dur
ham. in the neighborhood of the To-
cation of the present difficulty.
The questions at issue in South
Wales are two. The colliery owners
contend that the shortening of the
hours OF work will prevent many
mines from being worked productive
ly, unless the men consent to the
two-shift system, under which two
distinct patches OF miners are en-
gagged in the pit. each for eight hours
thus giving sixteen hours productive
labor in all. To this the men are
hostile, as they assert that. with the
double shift. it is difficult to keep
the mines clear of dangerous gases
The owners contend that the system
is safer. A second demand to which
the men take objection is that they
should work sixty hours in the year
over and above the eight hours per
day, which is permitted by the law
The present difficulty is not the
first which has arisen under the new
act. Just before it went into effect
a general strike was threatened over
the situation il Wales. where the
same questions were at issue as are
endaugering the industrial peace.
The trouble in Wales, however, was
settled by a compromise. The sixty
hour question was left open with, the
understanding that it was to- be set
tied by a test case. With regard to
the question of double shifts it was
agreed that that method may be
adopted. provided it can be done
safely and the men do not object;
but the owners agreed not to intro
duce the system without first having
consulted their men.
The men employed in the coal
mines of England, Scotland and
Wales were working under an agree
ment which, under ordinary circum-
stances. would not have expired I'M
til March, 1910. But, when the new
law was passed. the operators con-
tended. that Is nullified the agree
ment, as it forced certain important
alterations in working conditions.