The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-31
PURGATORY FROM
BRINK OF HAOEs
English Coal Strike Summed
Zip By Eye Witness Cost
About $500, 600, COO.
PROBABLY 1T WAS
WORTH THE MONEY
Irony of Fate Gives Coal
Miners Chance to Double
Their Money By Reason
of Sho. tage
BY W. T. STEAD.

LONDON. March 30.-A month ago
/ said Great Britain was on :he brink
Of hell Today l have to report that
Great Britain u emerging from purga-
tory. The result Is not unsatisia csory:
tsas strike Of the coal miners has
cost the nation about 100000, 600.
It probably was worth the money.
On every hand II il readily ad-
united that nothing will ever be the
same Axai,, after TINS crisis Tho doc
trina Of the economical and political
neeessaty Of q living wage has obtain
"a legislative sanction. and what's
more important. 1t has been indeiiDly
Impressed upon the national con-
science.
This has not been obtained without
great sacrifices. On the part OF labor
tho miners have lost 320.000.000 in
wages. and they have distributed $5..
90. geo Of the union fundA IN relief.
Other workmen thrown out OF work
equal sums.
The Irony Of Fatc.
BY the strange irony OF fate the
mine owners stand to profit by the
strike. which doubled the price Of
coal. II IL An object lesson. which
may prove salutary. There ID much
iees likelihood Of reckless striking In
ether trades for some months to
come.
Apart from the acceptance Of the
minimum wage principle and the DEM
onstration OF costlines OF strikes there
- other solid gains, "a record. The
d31& h the establishment OF district
cards under an act Of Parliament fol
ths settlement Of wage disputes in
coal trade by Cancellation and arbi-
trafiou, The second IL the decision Of
fhe gcvernment to institute an inquiry
i&tA. the causes OF the existing I'M
m inquiry which may raise the
wAole condition Of the reo-ie.
II Hut Ahat ID perhaps the most valuA-
bic asset Of all that w3 have brought
out OF purgatory u tho Increased con-
fIdence OF al ciasse In the common
sense. good temper and patience OF
the people. Foreign observers have
been lost In wonder At perceiving the
leaders Of tho opposing parties as-o-
ciatinE together on 1.-The friendlfest
the hotels.
Love 70 Firshrand.
d. A. Thomas. Welsh mine owner.
and the most. able and uncompromis
Ing OF the militant capitalists Is a
personal friend OF Vernon Hartshorn.
tho Socialist nrebrand Of the South
Wsles miners.
You're going to rec Hartshorn -
Thomas said to mo. Give him my
love. You will md him . real good
fellow"
Ar it was with Thomas ana Harts-
horn. 80 II was everywhere. In Lon
don and IN the pit district4 tho ut
most order prevailed. At wis1n the
chief constable jocuiarly said the dis
trict had become so orderly aince the
strike that he feared he would have
TO put his policemen ON short time.
So far. although a million men
have been At play for = month. not
life has been lost. Only in two
di-+ricts Rive scsAie~. been cal,~A ous.
and In neither did they fre . short o,
display 4 bayonet-
In districts which suffered tho most
from the stoppage OF coal. the peo-
pie bore their privations with the ut
most comrosuro.
Destitute Are Fed.
All classes have co-operAted In
feeding tho destitute. but there has
bean no manic.
John Burns. Of the local governmen,
board. proved himself an Ideal ad-
ss,s-- s.<~a fs-s. n
You've rot stse. hsavsest hurdans d
I'll ~ bar" aid tn him.
''True." ne reni,ed. The Lam
c.shire cntt~~ f.rrine VS. q flea bite
compared with this. but my broad
shoulders arc strong enough to carry
IT,"
Another xsiu has bern the extent "a
which Il PRESTIGE Of tn. government
srd saneciallv RI Pve,ni~- A-uuith. has
been irrprov~d bv the tsreIess energy
with which he lsbowed f0s peace and