The Washington herald., 1920-10-18
The British Coal Crisis.

Since the drive on Paris the world has had
presented for its contemplation more important
battle than that which now impends between the
British government and the men who work in its
coal mines
Coal is Brtain's liies blood Not only the
great manufacturing industry of the British Isles is
dependent upon it, but it has been through carry
ing cheap coal to all the other nations OF the earth
that British supremacy on the high seas has been
built up. The cutting off OF this supply OF Eng
ish and Welsh coal will cripple the industry OF the
world, outside OF the United States almost as much
as it will that of Great Britain.
The immediate issue involved is the demand Of
the miners for wage increase OF 40 per cent but
back OF this is the persistent demand OF British
labor tor the naturalization OF the mines. The
government believed have played its last card
OF concliation and the situation is not made the less
difficult by the TACT that the miners voted to strike
despite the advice of their leaders Viewed at this
distance it appears to be d strike OF the actual
workers, and not OF those much berated labor agi-
tators."
In the British coal industry are employed 9o4-
900 -men-a notable industrial army Their organ
zaton is practically unit in favor OF nationaliza-
ton, and general strike was averted in the days
mme diatey following the armstice only by the
agreement OF the government to appoint a Royal
Commission to consider this subject This COM
mission reported that parliament should be invited
immediately to pass legislation acquiring the coal
royalties for the state, and paying fair and just
compensation to the owners and furthermore that
"the principle OF ownership OF the coal mines
be adopted"
This report Lloyd George virtually cast aside
with contempt and ever since the spirit OF revolt
has been growing among the miners until now i,
seems about to break out into open defiance
1t is to be remembered that the British gov
eTnment still retains its wartime control OF the coal
industry. Under this control the government fixes
not merely the wage OF the miners but the price OF
coal to the consumer. This power Lloyd George is
accused OF using to influence political sentiment as
by making coal very cheap when the question OF
naturalization was actively in agitation and boost
ing 1t to wartime rates when that que stion was laid
temporarily on the shelf The possession OF this
power by the government makes the employment
OF the heavy hand to suppress the impending labor
revolt possible 1t does not however make it at all
advisable. As firm believer in what the learned
would call the "suaviter in modo" what the less
cultivated might call soft-soap" and what the Brit,
ish workman terms Cannon" Lloyd George will
doubtless endeavor to wriggle out Of this critical
position without actually yielding all that the unions
demand
1t is reported that he may blunty refuse their
ultimatum, permit them to strike, and when the
country has suffered few winter months without
coal appeal to the people in a general election
This would be stalking much on single election
Whether people who had suffered bitterly from
the strike would show their resentment against the
strikers by giving vote OF confidence to the gov.
ernment which had made it impossible to avert the
strike is at least doubtful.
The United States has had its troubles with the
endless quarrel between master and man in the
coal fields. 1t will have them again Perhaps out
OF the situation with which England has now tc
grapple may learn something OF value to US
when the intermnablc controversy shall again be.
come acute.