Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-10
Many Trains Laid Off.

Already railways are laying off trains.
J, shipping companies are disseminating the
service of steamers. All over the country
where industries are worked very largely
by British coal short time is reported.
Oranges are rotting in Spain because
steamers are laid up which were to- have
carried them to London. Cargo freights
have gone up in Norway 30 per cent, ow-
ing to the uncertainty of the supply of
north country coal. Iron works every
where are closing down. Mills are under
notice, and already the shadow of coming
famine spreads over the land.
Lady Aberconway has gravely proposed
a great scheme which is almost stagger-
ing in its suggestion as to the seriousness
Of the struggle upon which We have en-
barked.
Five hundred thousand workmen who
have no quarrel with their employers
will draw no wages this week Next
week the number will be double or treble.
Funds of trades unions which are not
concerned in the strike will be depleted
by Out-of-work allowances paid to their
suffering members, but the paralyZed in
dustry will throw upon the streets a
hungry horde which is estimated at from
two to ten millions Of men, women and
children. Hunger knows no law: starva-
ton converts even saint into a savage.
May Fix Price of Coal.
1t is, therefore. proposed that munich
Iali:ies should at once commander all
stores of coal within their limits and
issue regulations fixing a maximum price
both for coal and bread provide portable
ovens so that all private cooking may be
rendered unnecessary: supply boiling wa
ter free of charge for making tea and
coffee.
These and other measures such as the
opening Of portable soup kitchens in
every district for providing a basis of
food suffcient to keep body and soul to-
gether for the cost of a cent, remind US
wildly that we are practically entering
be under conditions of siege where the
only law will be that of self-preservation
and all fuel and food Of the community
will be liable to be seized by the authori-
ties In order to save it from plumber and
| loot at the hands OF the mob.
Everything Lady Aberconway suggests
will have to be done If the strike con-
tinues. but I doubt very much whether
week
The way of escape by which it is pos
sible for both parties to rescue them
selves from the present deadlock is very
simple. 1t is asked why should the state
not insure the mine owners against risk
OF loss arising from working the mines
| upon the mems terms for an experiment
tai period of three months. The maxi
mum loss which it would entail upon the
mine owners is estimated a. S3,OOOOOO a
month. or. for the three months, So
| 600 900. This sum is less than the amount
which Is being flung away in sacrificed
wages and in ruined trade which is stag
nant throughout England.
Risk Might Be Small.
If the government; could insure imme-
date reopening of the pits by guarantee
ing its readiness to meet the risk,
which by no possibility could exceed
9.GC0,O0O. and which might not amount
! to anything at all, it is difficult to see
why this program should not be adopted
as an insurance against the immeasur-
able catastrophe Of impending anarchy
and civil war
This suggestion has been brought per-
sonally to the knowledge of the king, the
prime minister. the chancellor of the eX-
chequer and the president OF the board
of trade. 1t has excited keen interest in
the highest quarters, and / am sanguine
enough to believe 1t is possible that by
the end of the week the scheme or some
modification of it may he adopted 1t
has great and obvious ADVANTAGES 1t
saves the amour propre of both parties.