Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-03-15
COAL STRIKE GROWS
LABOR TROUBLE MAY BECOME
WORLD WIDE - ENGLAND,
FRANCE, GERMANY HIT.
WAR APPEARING IN AMERICA
Sailing of Vessels canceled-General
WaIkout Would Make Navies OF
Countries Named Practically Use
Iess-Miners of Belgium involved.

London.-That the world is facing
the most gigantic labor upheaval OF
history is shown by the 100000 coal
miners on strike in England; SIM
liar number of Englishmen out OF
employment because of lack OF fuel;
175,O00 miners walking out OF the
German mines, to be followed IN all
probability by a similar number De-
fore the end Of the week; all French
miners out for one day as warning
to both government and people tnat
they are dissatisfied with conditions.
and a strike impending in botn an
thracite and bituminous mines In the
United States.
There is increased uneasiness IN
London over the tie-up Of the coal sup
ply of both Great Britain and Ger
many, but a ray of hope OF settle-
ment at least so far as England is
concerned, broke the gloom when the
miners agreed to accept the govern
ment's proposal for joint conferences
STIMULATING that the principle OF MINI
mum wage be excluded.
Meanwhile the completed paralysis
Of many branches of industry contih'
ues, while very few trades nave es-
capped being hampered in their opera
ton. TIE price of coal is soaring ID
both England and Germany and prices
Of foodstuffs are rising rapidly Hiot-
ing and footing are holding sway IN
both countries. with unappeased hun
ger running amuck.
The trouble already has resulted IN
a Encouragement of the sailing sched-
uSAs of many Atlantic liners. The gall
Jugs of the steamers st. Paul ano
Oceanic set for March % and ~ re
spectively, were Cancelled because OF
| the inability to get coal. Several sail
| ings to Baltimore were Cancelled. Inc
giant Olympic, which was already
coaled, will sail as scheduled Marcr
! IA. The American liners Philadelphls
and New York, which sail from New
York on March 10 and 20 respectively
will not sail from Southampton as
scheduled unless there is quicker
| adjustment of the mine troubles tnan
the steamship officials expect.
In France the French miners hac
their 24-hour strike as an object les
! Hon. The leaders of the organization
of miners wished to demonstrate &c
the public, to their employers and te
the government that the demands
we're just and that they were ready te
enforce them by strike if necessary
They particularly object to the Ole
age system of pensions. The demands
include an eight-hour work day. pen
sion of two francs day for all work
ers over fifty years old, and mini
mum wage scale similar to that de
manded by the British miners. The
demonstration was made because II
was felt that it would be more effect
i've with the English and German
strikes in progress. If the employers
do not grant the demands a genera
strike of all French miners is probable
within ten days or two weeks.
In Germany, with the strike only in
augurated, the price of coal advanced
materially The strike leaders say
that they will be able to tie up the
| German INDUSTRIES DIS 0nCCLud11y 0S
the British miners have done.
A general strike in the three coun
tries would have an appalling effect
on Europe, although it is hoped that
conditions in England will show bet
torment inside of week as a result
of the turn of affairs. Should the gen
eral strike occur, the navies of the
three great powers would be rendered
practically useless and millions Of
workers, in addition to the strikers
would be thrown out of employment.
It is believed here that the miners
of Belgium will refuse to work If q
general strike is declared in France
There also is some disaffection amone
the workers in southern Europe, and
the labor war may spread there. the
leaders say In fact the ramifcations
of the trouble seem without end
should the movement be given full
sway in the four great countries
Great Britain, Germany, France and
the United States.