The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-10-18
DISORDERS BREAK IN
BRITISH COAL STRIKE
Unemployed Men AttemDt to Break Into
Downing Street-AbOut Fifty
People Injured.

LONDON. Oct. Is (Associated Press.
Disorders occurred in Whitehall this
afternoon in connection with the coal
miners strike during a demonstration by
unemployed men who had sent a delega-
tion to Premier Lloyd George in Downing
street Several persons were injured in
attempts to break through police Gordon
and others We're hurt when some stone
work from a window on the treasury
building fell.
The situation which developed at the
entrance to Downing street was an ugly
one. There were thousand of the unem-
ployed there awaiting the return of their
delegation and the great thoroughfare of
Whitehall in the vicinity was jamned.
The disorder started when the unem-
plOyed demonstrators tried to break
through the heavy police Gordon and get
into Downing street.
During this rush the window stones
from the treasury crashed down. Police
Ireinforcements were rushed up and
mounted police were called out to assist
the regulars. The parapet on one side of
Downing street also collapsed during the
rush. \ number of persons were injured
when a crowd headed by the red flag of
the Tottenham district Socialist and La
Dor party made a rush and tried to break
through the police. Eventually the red
flag was captured.
The deputation to the premier con-
sisted of - heads of London bureaus ask
ing relief for the unemployed. The diSOr-
deTS were still proceeding when the depu-
itation emerged from the premier's official
residence at No. 10 Downing street and
ttried to quiet the crowd At the same
time a small party of demonstrators went
ITO the neighboring Trafalgar square, set
up red flag, sang the "Internationale'
land cheeTed Lenine and Trotsky. The
police did not interfere here, but finally
[ idispersed the rioters in Whitehall.
| Fifty injured persons were given treat
lment when the trouble ended. Twenty of
| these were sent to hospitals. The injured
| treated included two policemen and one
woman.
The sugar ration has been cut almost
One-half, but trains are running regu-
| larly and there is little anxiety, because
! Lloyd George says there is plenty of
coal.
! Although there has been no futher
| definite move by either party, it is OPP
| timistically expected that an effort will
! be made soon to bring them together
/ 1t is not considered likely that the gov
ernment will open negotiations, but
seems to be awaiting the decisions of the
conferences of the two other sections of
/ the triple alliance. The railwaymen'S :
/ executive committee has called a full
meeting of delegates for Wednesday to
consider sympathetic action. The par
/ liamentary committee of the Trade I'm
ion congress is also meeting Wednesday
| Public interest centers in the moves OF
/ the railwaymen and transport workers
| unions. If they vote a sympathetic
strike, the country probably faces the
greatest industrial crisis in its history,
! but while it is rumOred the government
already has planned for such grave
! emergency, there is a belief that il is
| more likely the government will try for
mediation since the leaders have been
/ emphasizing the calamity that would
/ befall the country if the strike becomes
| general in all trades
| Much depends upon the debate in the
/ house of commons. which reconvenes
| Tuesday. The strike is the principal
| issue TO be threshed out and a strong
| statement from Premier Lloyd George
/ is expected. Yesterday Mr.. Asquith.
/ speaking at Newcastle. referred to the
! strike menace and called it the impend-
/ ing shadow of a great national caIam-
| ity.' He said:
| None would grudge an addition to
/ the miners remuneration if it were JUS
titled, but that there is any excuse for
plunging the country into the unmeas-
ured dangers and sufferings of indus
trial war would be denied with practical
| unanimity by the whole nation"