New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-16
WELSH MINERS
DEFY CABINET,
BEGIN STRIKE
100000 Men Quit Coal Pits
Despite Governments
Threat of Force.

London, July 15.-With the eScep-
ton of two small colleries IN the
Rhondda district, employing about 200
men, all the coal mines in South Wales
from which comes the coal for the
navy, were idle to-day, and the miners
despite the action Of the government
in bringing the industry under the
munitions of war act and the entreatie3
cf the responsible labor leaders and
their own executive council, decided by
a vote of $50 to ll3 not to accept the
recommendation TO continue work cay
by day until an arrangement could be
concluded. More than 100000 men are
involved.
The delegates voting for the strike
represented $3.50 men and those
against the strike Al 800. Thus, although
opinion is divided, the extremists are in
the large majority. The conference,
however, agreed to meet the president
of the Board of Trade, Walter Runci-
man, tomorrow TO discuss the stu
alton.
General business on the Cardiff Coal
Exchange has ceased, owing to the
government requisition for the Ad-
miralty of all available coal supplies,
while shipping and the railways which
depend on the mines also had little
TO do to-day. There is a general i'm
preston, however, that the strike will
not last long, but that the mon, after
a short holiday, perhaps over the week
end, will return to work.
Opposed by Labor Leaders.
All the responsible labor leaders of
the country are opposed TO the strike,
and while il is hard 70 see how the
government can enforce the penalties
of the munitions act, il is believed the
men will be influenced by the fact that
they are opposing an act which was
passed for the safety Of the country.
The strike has been forced by the
men of the Aberdare Naller, who are
strong syndicalists and have declared
that the present was a good time TO
force the government TO take over the
mines. This policy has been advo-
Gated by the Independent Labor party,
which is more extreme than the regu-
lar labor party, and one of the leaders
Of which is J. Kcir HardIe, whose par
Hamentary constituency included the
Aberdare Valley.
Asked in the House of Commons to-
dav what steps, if any, had been taken
10 suppress the organs of the lnde-
pendent Labor party, Premier Asqulth
replied that the question of increasing
the power conferred by the defence of
the realm act was being considered
Lloyd George Appoints Board.
An official announcement made this
evening says:
pointed a general munitions tribunal
for Wales and Monuo' thshire, as fol-
lows: Chairman, Robert Wallace,
Kinp's counsel; Assessors, Sir Grlihth
Tdomas. representative OF the employ
ers. and Councillor Grifiths, represent
ative Of the work people
Cardiff. Wales, July 15.-In spite OF
predictions that labor difficulties in the
coal fields would be averted, virtually
every mine in Wales was idle this
In one district alone 10000 men
struck. defying the governments proc
l8mation that the provisions OF the
munitions act would be invoked TO pre-
vent a cessation of operations. BY 10
o'clock upwards of 10000 men were
out.
A meeting Of the executive commit
tee of the South Wales Miners Union
was called for this forenoon 70 confer
with representatives of the Board OF
Trade, but the rank and nle OF the
miners are obdurate and the govern
mcnt's proclamation seems only 10
Rave stiFened their resolution to stand
firm in their demands.
Men who strike in the face. of the
government prohibition are subject to
a fine of SIS a day, in default of which
they may be imprisoned.