The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-02-19
BRITAIN MAY TAKE
over HER MINES, IS
N. HENKE'S BELIEF
BY MARY HENkE

LONDON, Feb. Observation-Disclosures
OF coal mines in Great Britain is to be
the big issue before the Trades Union
Congress in London on Feb. 20 accord
ing to labor leaders here. Predictions
at recent labor meetings have been
that strike or political action that
will mean the breaking of the govern
ment." will follow the meeting of tho
UnionistS.
A committe composed of representa-
tives of the miners federation. trade
union congress and cooperative Soc
ieties has been busy calling meetings
and distributing propaganda over the
kingdom urging government ownership
of local mines Present waste OF coal
and money will be eliminated by this
action, its supporters claim
Coal Scarce, No reason
The prevailing scarcity of coal with
out any apparent reason is throwing
many workers and middle class people
to the support of the naturalization
scheme. Coal deliveries are delayed
for months and domestic consumers
are kept in a constant state of anxiety
by the difficulty in obtaining even
small quantities of fuel
Nobody seems to know just why this
condition exists, for there has been no
labor tie-up, and production has in
creased since the armistice. The
heavy coal exports to the continent are
blamed by the labor unions. who
claim a profit of $3.50. 100000 has been
made on the exporttion of coal in the
last year.
Royal Commission Reports
The report of the Royal Commission
to investigate the mine situation,
although turned down by the govern
ment, is put forward by it's supporters
as a practical solution to the problem.
The scheme is for the purchase of all
bonds, to be cleared by the profits
made from the sale of the coal
District committees to consist of
labor representatives and mine mana
gers and a national committee that
would work under the Minister of
Mines, would have charge of the oper-
alton, and the distribution of coal, &C
cording to the plan.
Gets Government in Bad
The government has gained marked
unpopularity by it's handling of the
coal situation, in the first place it ad-
ded 60 cents to the cost before control
was lifted, and then a short time ago
lowered the cost of domestic coal but
made no change in the price of indus
trial coal.
Critics Of the government point out
that more wisdom would have been
shown in lowering the price Of indus
trial fuel SO that manufacturers would
be enabled to recuperate and build up
their output.
AS it is the domestic consumer finds
himself unable to get sufficient coal
at any price, and the manufacturer if
he gets any, has to pay an exorbitant
prise for it. The price of coal has
gone up 200 percent in Great Britain
since 1914, figures show.
Labor Trouble Shoulders.
Although to outward purposes the
labor unrest has died down, trouble is
still smouldering. The railway men
are not yet satisfied; the miners want
more money, and the number of men
unable to find work forms dangerous
element.
Where naturalization of mines is
discussed, there is also the predic-
r. ton that land and railways will come
next.
The English labor orator is not fiery
rs a rule, but his auditors always
give vocal OPPRESSION to their senti
ments, and the concensus of opinion at
most labor meetings seems to be that
the English working-man doesn't like
the government of the house of com
mons, or things in general, and that
he in in the mood for taking things
in his own hands and showing, pref
erably by the ballot, just what his
ideas Of reconstruction are.