The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-17
Mny Mean Go.crpm.u, ovncr.n,p.

lSprNihi cable To The DISPATCH
london, March lG.-CioVcrninunt own
ership of coal d posts doomed IN m
night as a probable result Of the coal
strike. Reports from the mining dis
iricts Indicated that the employees were
not enthusiastic over tho minimum.
wage scale which Premier AsouitR
proposes 10 rush through Parliament
next week. while the others arc n INIT
III opposing the measure. II the lrgis
iation is rejected h: the Interested
parties ne a means OF settlement. It was
said IN Official circles that tho only So
luton would be for tho government 10
take over tho collier!cs
On all sides It is r.nli2ed that tho
government must act quickly. Already
the Industries OF the country have re-
ceivcd n setback that il will reuuirc
months TO recover from. 1t was csti-
mated Tonight that loo, geo, inclutiu:.
tho miners. were idle. The loss in
| wages alone during the last two ,y,clS (
was S@U.pOv,O00. Railroad receipts have
| iallcn on S5,00o.oUo during that iimo.
while tradcsmen ana manufacturers re-
port vast shrinkaSG In their business.
The prices OF all household supplies
continue to soar. l'oodsturs nre so
nigh that even the middle classes are
forced TO live upon the cheapest fare.
Meats and fresh vegetables ara nur-
are cutting down the size OF their
loavcs. and the cheapest fish are being
sold for 30 cents a pound.
Thousands of famil. IS are now on
the verge of starvation, and the char
liable institutions are unable 10 mo 3,
demands. Tho thousands Of uneu,.
ploycd WHO roam the streets OF L,oudoi,
at all seasons have trcbled In number,
and hunger demonstrations arc likely,
10 occur at any time.
Premier Asquith and chnnce,io-
Lloyd George were both pessl,oistir
tonight over the probable success OF
the minimum wage bil! which tilev
hay drawn m. The hostility Of rhn
operators 10 the measure and the
probability that the miners would not
receive 1t cordially, 1t was said, had
about convinced them that govern
ihent ownership WAS the only way
out of the difficulty.
Figures Arc Startling.
Whun 1t IS Impossible 10 give an
accurate statement or the number OF
men who have been thrown out Of
employment because Of the STRIKE 50
rapid and widespread mas been tho
closing OF industries in tle past few
days q rough estimate kased on tbo
best information obtaInebla places
the total number OF work people who
are idle in tho neicliborhuod of 1 $50 :
600 Divided by trades the figures
SHOW the men idle TO be: Miners, sac
/ 500; other mine workers 2ogS4O. fox
! tile trades, 10000; railway Inen. 100
900: steel ana On. $4,000: tinplare.
j"."Oo; puttcries. $1,000; glass work ers.
''tOo: stone aud iron qui,rries. 5000,
! builders nld hrick yers. 2g.TOG. en-
] Giuccring. lI.aGo: seamcn. 2470O, irtn
( WORKERS, $4,000 lockers and long
.horrnen. l2o.ooo other skilled work i.
( ers. 3u,VVo. and laboreys. 2i,;0o
! These figures inflated though tbc,.
! may br, are suniciently near the mark
| 70 furnish striking EXHIBIT or the
I great flight tina, has come upon
7 Eneland, scotland and Wales
British mine owners and coal shin
4 perf are watching with interest tho
7, Developments OF the coal situation in
/ thc United states It IS rcalizcd ~
(, thcm that the resent Is one of the
| grcatcst opportunities ever possessed
| by thc coal operators Of tho United
! states TO extend and keep the trade
OF foreign countries, which have
! patronized Great Britain almost OK
| clusiveiy, but 1t is realized also ina;
! Il strike OF American miners Is bound
( to lose the United states this udvan-
ItaSo Not only does the advantage tc
! tho United States apply to the helplcs,
| position OF Great britain. but IL has
/ wider application in the danger oi
! general colliery troubles on tho CONT.
I ncnt which havo begun In Germany.
| and are likely TO extend to other couI,.
I tries where thu miners, partly on nc.
| count OF the example of the Britlsf
strike. nre showing a disposition to In.
| sist on an increaae in wages
Tulcs Of distress are incrcasin,,
! particularly In districts where the in
| Gustrics are AZ n standstii on ac.
| count Of the la{S Of fuel. Tho miner.
~ not firoringS because thoy have =
large fund This. however. is becom
ing exhausted mora, rapidly than ex
nocteh.
Tho rlilHeSs oonti;Ne 90 curta!