New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-28
THE LAW AND THE STRIKE.

Mr.. Asquith's confession of failure Is
swiftly followed by some promise OF sue
cess. His efforts at mediation before
the strike Immediately after the strike
began. and again as an interlude IN the
process Of lawmaking. all failed. There
was nothing left, then, but 10 enact the
pending bill. in the face OF the declara-
tion Of the chief labor leader in Parlia-
ment that it would be worse than futile
and Of the disQuietinS realization that
the measure contained within itself no
potency of self-enfOrCement, hut might
he floutcd with impunity by either side.
Now. however there is sudden change
for the better. The mine owners are
understood 10 have signified their inlen-
ton Of accepting and abiding by the
provisions Of the law. which are op-
tiOnal and not mandatory, and the fed
Grafton Of the striking miners has de-
| termined TO submit the question Of their
doing likewise 10 universal ballot Uf
| the men. This ballot will he taken i'm
mediately. and, while its result may he
! doubtful. there Is reason for hoping that
! il will be in favor Of accepting the terms
| Of the law, and therefore Of Immediately
resuming work pending the establish
! ment of wage scales by the district com
missions which are 10 be constituted
This hope is strengthened by such
prudent and patriotic utterances as that
which is attributed to one labor leader
| in Parliament. who says that he Will
advise all his constituents that when the
wage bill has been enacted it will he the
| law Of the land and must be accepted
and made the best Of. There is another
| important reason besides the mere end
| ing of the strike which makes 1t highly
desirable that this shall be done. That
| IS. for the sake of vindiCating the gov
ernment and of avoiding most unfortu-
nate disCrediting Of governmental func-
| tiOns in such matters There can be no
doubt that If the law were fouted and
the strike were continued the prestige
| of the government would be impaired
and its authority to deal In any way
with social and industrial problems
would be compromised and that, In
| turn. would give a mischievous impetus
| to the Syndicalist movement, which has
already given rise to so much concern.
| Mr.. AsQuith was right In refusing TO
prescribe any rates of wages in the law.
But. so far as the law does go. it should
I'm some way be assured of effectiveness.
The demand of the strikers is for a
minimum wage. They at first declared
| that they must. as a sine qua non. have
the scale which they themselves pre-
scribed last year. but later they let it
| be known that they would be satisfied
with minimum of five shillings day
for men and two shillings for boys but
| they must have those rates prescribed in
the law. Nj. Asquith refused, but he
secured from the mine owners Il sub
Stantial pledge that they would accede
TO the establishment of such a scale by
private agreement or by action of dis
trict boards under the law. Therefore
| the substance of the miners demands Is
practically granted. The only question
Is whether il shall be granted by direct
mandate OF law or by agreement under
the law. IL is difficult to believe that
the people Of the kingdom. or even a
majority of the strikers themselves. will
approve further inhictiOn OF the evils Of
the strike upon the nation just for the
sake Of form. when il is form which
most of them regard as undesirable. II
not actually pernicious. There are. no
doubt, those who would like to see the
minimum wage prescribed ny law in
this case just for the sake of the prece-
Gent. hoping presently to have the same
principle extended Ia other trades until
Ii should become universal and the gov
ernment should guarantee every man a
living. But We believe that there are