The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-03

as victory for the miners. who are
much encouraged by the knowledge
that the sovei nment has indorsed their
claim 10 the minimum wage scale
schedule. Two-lhirds of the mino
owners. all In iact, except those of
Scotland and South Wales, have ac-
cepted the principle of the minimum
vase and the present inability TO
cure resumption OF mining is due to
the miners who. having obtained half
their demands, insist that the rest
shall be granted literally before they
will consent to negotiate with the
owners IN regard to certain essential
DETAILS. such as guarantees of fair
output and the security OF contra IS
by the miners.
Means Government Control.
1t Is not going beyond the range If
reasonable prediction to say thai the
government, in Its determination that
the strike shall not tie up the coal
industry indefinitely. may resort TO
measures which would virtually place
the mines In the hands or the gov
eminent for operation and mainte-
nance.
Mr.. Asquith has been frankly told
by the moderate members OF his own
party In both houses. especially. of
| course, by the wealthy mercantile
men, that they strongly disapprove
of his speech to the Miners Fedora
ton. In which he approved the priu-
ciple OF the minimum wage, which
they maintain. prematurely gave the
show away" The drafting OF bill
which Will satisfy the men and the
mine owners, and VIII be able to pass
the House of Commons and House Of
Lords In time to avoiu the mlseries OF
q prolonged strike seems just at pres
cnt almost impossible.
| AT present, although no one secs
clearly ahead. the shippers and coli,ery
owners look forward 10 strike OF
| four or five weeks. The former al
ready are laying up their ships. Sixty
are Idle to-day at Glasgow alone. The
! big satp owners say they can coal
once at an outport. but not twice They
Will then stop their steamers and cut
the loss.
Great Britain's huge Importation of
frozen and chilled meat, which is the
only sort the majority OF Britishers
ever eat Will probably cease in lfteen
days, if the strike continues The
grain imports will last longer There
are more firms in tho business. more
ships at sea, and speed is not so i'm
portant.
An unobservant stranger might have
thought that London to-day was not
thinking of anything except the win
dow smashing outburst of the suffra-
gettes last night, but there were many
signs TO Indicate the extreme anxiety
OF the government and the public. The
government took Russian coal, which
was purchased for the depot at Malta,
practically without any question as to
its quality or price. The officers OF
tile territorial army, which succeeded
the militia somo years ago, have boon
warned to be in readiness for service
simultaneously they wero assigned to
various barracks, many of those In
London to Wellington Barracks, close
TO Buckingham Palace. This shows
that the government some days ago
contemplated the necessity OF using all
the regulars to keep order throughout
the country and assigning the terri
torials TO garrison duty.
Heavy Purchase of Revolvers.
Among the other signs OF anxiety 10
the peculiar fact that thu purchase of
revolvers has been 30 heavy In London
during the past week that many post
Offices have run short of the ordinary
forms OF license to carry or possess
firearms, and the post office officials
havs been forced to write licenses by
hand. Cold storage companies and
also the large stores with cold storage
! have been notified that they will BIO
cut off almost Immediately, us all
power will be reserved for supplying
light. Tenants in expensive apartment
houses nave been asked for their own
Sakes to economi1e in the consumption
OF coal and Ell .ctric light.
Monday viii see the train service of
tho whole north of England reduced
one-haif and some. large towns have
already reduced their tram servlcs
ole,thlrd.
The effect OF tho strike on industries
which arc dependent upon coal will be
stuncndous. Over 100000 IN IN en-
ployed In Lancashire cotton and other
industries. and 10000 in tho pottery dis
trcts will be thrown out of work at
! tho end of naxt week, and 10000 per-.
sons In Leicester, mainly hosiery oper-
atlYes, will be obliged to stop II 1t lasts