New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-08
A TERRIBLE RECKONING
Miners Victory WaSted-A Two
Edged Sword.
London. March %.

reprOdCneu TOT InelF ODStlnaCy IN retuS-
| ing to abandon the strike when they
were not allowed to name the figures OF
a statutory wage. If they did not know
that they were beaten they were Britons
with the robust fibre characteristic Of
the breed Their real vulnerability has
been disclosed by their inability to prof.
by their own successes There had been
prolonged agitation for the minimum
wage and the miners throughout the
kingdom had balloted in favor Of the
principle and by an overwhelming ma
jority had agreed to abandon work until
it should be carried out in every district.
The Prime Minister accepted the princi-
pie and pledged himself to establish Il
by act Of Parliament The miners were
victorious, but did not seem to know f.
There was no alternative measure; the
Opposition would not undertake the re-
sponsibility Of throwing out the bill on
the third reading; the strike leaders
and Labor members had merely 10 ac-
cept the measure in order 10 eneraft
upon one of the greatest industries the
principle Of the minimum wage With
fatuous recklessness they have arrayed
themselves against their own policy.
What has been the explanation of this
extraordinary lack Of judgment by which
decisive victory has been frittered
away after 1t has been won? The min.
ers' leaders have overestimated their DO.
litcal resources. They knew that the
Prime Minister was dependent upon =
coalition in which the Labor party and
Radicals representing mining constitu
enGies controlled about a hundred seats.
They were also convinced that the Chan
cellor of the Exchequer was on their
side and that tremendous pressure would
be brought to bear within the Cabinet
and outside from the Radical benches
and newspapers to force the Prime Min
lister 10 accept the federations figures
as well as its main principle. With Cab
inet intrigues in their favor and with
a Radical cave opening in Westminster
they confidently expected to incorporate
their own wage figures in an act OF
Parliament. They have overreached
themselves by not being content with a
sweeping victory and by arrogating the
right of debating precise terms to the
government and to Parliament. In the
last resort the Labor members have
voted against their own principle and
the strike leaders have proclaimed
barren and impossible war for wago
schedule.
Political influence has been a broken
reed under the most favorable circum-
stances. If there had been Unionist
government in power a compulsory ar
bitration bill might have been passed
or the trades dispute act might have
been repealed and the Miners Fedora
ton would have been helpless. But even
with an unstable coalition Cabinet and 4
powerful, homogeneous Labor group the
strike leaders have not accomplished
their purposes with political assistance.
James Ramsay Macdonald and his asso-
ciates, after being contemptuously thrus-
aside during three weeks Of agitation,
nave ulduS n IuIllo uSIIlOuslIAIAoh VI
hostility to the third reading of the gov
eminent measure and expressed their
sympathy with the syndicalists Of tho
federation. Otherwise they have not
been helpful to the miners organization.
Indeed, the extremists who ere directing
the fortunes OF organized labor in the
kingdom do not conceal their contempt
for the Labor members Of Parliament.
They consider It a waste Of money for
trade unionism 10 send representatives
TO Westminster where they become
tainted with political opportunism and
are out Of touch with the vital interests
Of the working world. If their counsels
prevail organized labor will keep out OF
politics hereafter and concentrate It's
forces and reserve funds upon syndical-
SIN, employing the miners. transport
workers and railway men as the main
army for liberating and enriching the
.oiling millions.
The older socialist idea has been thai
he great industries must be national
zed by purchase or appropriation" and
managed as Joint stock undertakings for
public benefit. The new teaching o.
Syndicalism is that the property inter
,sts of employees must be abolished and
hat the industries must be conducted
lnder the direct control of the wage
,arners. The social revolution, of which
he strike leaders are dreaming, will en-
lble the trade unions 10 arrange tho
schedules Of wages and the hours and
conditions of work, and to attain COM
)lete transfer OF all the means OF pro-
Iuction from capitalists and employers
o the wage earners themselves. The
proceedings of the Miners Federation
Turing the last four weeks demonstrate
he futility and impracticabilty Of trade
lnion management of national indus
ries. A hundred representative miners
ave shown themselves an unmanage-
bile body for negotiating wage settle
nent. They might have had their prin-
iple at the outset without strike, fot
he government was prepared to put it la
bill and to set up thirty boards Cor ar
angling details. Instead Of prompt
cquiescence there have been Tour weeks
f futile talk in peace negotiations. with
final reputation of the bill and a sui
en-. resentful declaration that the ire
ressible conflict is not at an end.
A national stoppage of industrial pro-
uction is a two-edged sword This
ruth has been established in the course
f the coal strike, even If nothing else
as been learned. The Syndicalists and
socialists between them have provided
rade unionism with a powerful weapon