New-York tribune., 1920-10-17
Million Men Out, Indus
tries Idle, Shipping
May Be Tied Up Within
"a Week, Officials Fear
Nation Returns to
Var Ration Basis
sympathetic " all1-Ou; Of
Railway " orkers To Be
Voted On Wednesday
By Arthur S. Draper

From The Tri5unc's Europccn Burou,s
Copyright. 1920. New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Oct. 16.-England took
step backward toward war condi-
tlons tonight as the first visible re-
suit of the stoppage Of work to-day
at all coal mines with the walk-out
CT million miners. Emergency or
ders were issued by the Board of
Trade, directing that all electric
signs and store windows should be
darkened to conserve coal. Other
orders issued by the board lower the
quality of gas, limit the use of gas
and electricity for power, limit coal
purchases for household consump-
ton to one hundred pounds week,
forbid the sale of coal to persons
having supply cf more than half
ton on hand, and restrict the use
OF coal for industrial purposes.
With the nation again on rations
and facing the coal famine on the
verge of winter, Premier Lloyd
George in a statement this afternoon
declared the country's determination
to fight the strike to finish. He
defended the governments course in
refusing to yield to the miners de-
mands in the long series of negotia-
tions which preceded the strike call,
and said that the miners were seek
ing to gain by force what they had
failed to win by negotiation.
Rail Leaders to Oppose Strike
The attitude of the railwavnen and
transport workers partners with the
miners in the Triple Allance--is yet to
be determined. James Henry Thomas,
leader of the railwaymen, who returned
only this morning from Czecho-Slo-
vahia, told The Tribune correspondent
that he intended to use ali of his in
1uence to prevent the railwaymen from
joining the miners in a general strike
movement. lie said he hoped to keep
his followers at work The railway
mems executive met this morning and
decided TO cal a lul conference of
delegates Wednesday, when the atti-
tude OF the union viii be decided
The executive of the transport work
ers' union meets Monday to consider
what stand it should take toward the
strike, iut there is yet no indication
OF whether any support Will be given
the miners.
LONDON, Oct Is (By The Associ-
ated Press With the miners out OF
the pits tonight, thousands OF dock
and industrial workers already out Of
employment as Il consequence, and the
transport workers and railroad men
called to meet soon to discuss a SYM
pathetic strike, Great Britain faces
one of the greatest industrial upheav-
ais in its history, in the opinion Of
labor and political leaders who dis
cussed the situation to-day.
Reports from all industrial centers
are not reassuring, while port officals
say that shipping will be tied up within
d week. The most hopeful message
came from Sheffield, where. it IS be
iIeved, there Is enough coal to last
three weeks. At other ceneers one
weeks supply is the limit
Men Misunderstood Vote
The statement that the men struck
against the advice of most Of their
leaders was confirmed to some extent
by the attitude OF many who left the
pits. They said they did not under
stand that voting against the datum
line "a fixed line Of nrodE M
meant strike, and it is clear that a
great many misunderstood '-Cne l.u.9r-
-unate phrase as }. ii. Thonlas called
t in a speech. MIR. Thomas admonished
the railroaders TO listen TO III advice
Of their leaders, which would be given
after the meeting of the delegates
Wednesday.
A different note was struck, however,
by the South Wales branch of the
Miners Federation, which called
meeting for next Friday to recommend
that if the strike was not settled by
October 80 the pump men and other
employees who are sticking to their
jobs should be called out
1t is indicated tonight that Premier
Lloyd George will make no important
move before Tuesday, when Parlia-
merH meets, and undoubtedly will dis
cuss the situation No disturbances
are reported and no troops have been
sent to the mining centers, but they
are held in readiness.
The strike began at some of the coal
helds yesterday, the men bringing their
! tools up when they had finished their
shifts. Nottinghamshire, Durham and
South Yorkshire were the first thus to
respond. While a large section of the
men IN some Of the coal fields wei
coined the call, it IS evident that else
where the strike is not only unpopular.
but unexpected, the men having felt
confident that, Notwithstanding thew
voted against the datum line" set
tlement would be made.
This attitude is partly explained by
a member OF the miner $ executive com
mittee who said: a large number OF
the men VINO entered the industry as
boys ju-, before the war had no trade
union experience. 4na had become so
accustomed 70 readv concession OF the
de'pt nds ~ wartime THAT ta 1... %
e0ne.ep'l'n Of the meaning of nego-
Notwithstanding their surprise. row.
eve, tnere IS no inGica..of. OF -,.saAen.
ing and II is forseer that everS sn;ns
Will JOIN with the extremists, who ere