New-York tribune., 1920-10-18
Iron, Steel and Pottery
Industries Are First to
Feel Grip of Walk-Out;
Tramway Service Cut
Citizens Volunteer
To Help in Crisis
Shipyards Are Still Oper-
ating; Parliament Is
Urged to Intervene
By Arthur S. Draper


LONDON, Oct. 17-Industry
throughout England is menaced by
the coal miners strike, which was in
full effect to-day. Even factories
which do not come under the Board
Of Trades restrictions ale counting
the days until lack of fuel will force
them to close down and throw thou
sands into unemployment.
The spread of the closing move
ment is already apparent. The iron
and steel and pottery trades were
the first to feel the effects of the
sudden stoppage of work. In North
Yorkshire 10000 workers already
are idle, with iron works, blast
furnaces, coke ovens, steel furnaces
and mills closed. Most Of the steel
works at Leeds are idle. The blast
furnaces in Durham have been
stopped and those in Northampton
shire will be idle tomorrow.
Seventy thousand workers in the
North Staffordshirc potteries will be
thrown out Of work this week when
the factories close down for want of
coal. Their supplies now are short.
.Shipyards Still Operating
Local shipyards arr still operating.
but they will soon feel the pinch Of
the embargo on export coal, and not
only they but other harbor industries
will be thrown into idleness
The tramways in Manchester will
abrldge their service beginning Tues
day, although most large cities plan
to maintain their gas and electric serv-
ices for month. Pullman cars on
the railroads probably will be the first
to 60 Some sort of reduction will be
made the last of this week in the
service, although no sweeping cuts are
now expected
The mills at Oldham and in Lanca-
shire have three weeks supply of coal
n hand
Volunteers have begun to offer their
services to fill the ranks of the miners.
but the government has not accepted
them, as enough miners have been left
at the pits to man the pumps and pre-
floods or other causes
Estimates Of how long the strike can
last vary. 1t IS understood that the
Derbyshire miners have strike fund
that Will support them for nine weeks,
while those in Nottinghamshire have
enough for six or seven weeks.
Parliament Asked to Intervene
Ben Tillett, Labor NJ. P. has appealed
to Speaker Lowther of the House of
Commons to have Parliament, when it
meets Tuesday, intervene between the
Cabinet and the striking miners and
bring about a settlement. Lowther re
piled that he could not take any action
1t is understood that Parliament Will
consider the strike situation. but there
are no immediate prospects that it
will act.
Despite the fact that these union
funds are limited to a few weeks. the
miners would be able to hold out for a
much longer period, as it is said that
the merchants are siding with them in
a measure and would be prepared TO
extend credit TO them for months
The Evening Telegram says it learns
from authoritative quarters that com
mittee of labor leaders will attempt to
intervene in the strike situation in a
few days, but it is regarded generally
doubtful whether any steps toward
settlement will be taken until after
the meeting early this week of the
railway men and the transport workers.
The Welsh miners executive has de-
cded to urge the withdrawal of stokers
md engine men if the strike is not over
in month.
Bishop Appeals to Miners
Many leading public men issued
statements opposing the strike. and
Bishop Frodsham, of Gloucester Ca
thedral, this morning made a stirring
appeal to the miners, ending with the
words: "lf | appeal TO the workers it is
because the issue is largely IN their
hands. | beg them to throw all their
weight for peace and against the strike
for the sake of the unemployed, the
manned soldiers, the women and chill
dren."
LONDON, Oct II CBy The Associated
Press Everywhere there is talk OF
the possibilities of medating between
the striking miners and owners but IN
to late this evening no step had been
taken.
With the exception of the Food Min
istry, which to-day presented scene
of activity, recalling the times of the
railroad strike last year, all the official
departments were quiet
One effect of the strike will be, il is
expected, to bring the industrial crisis
into greater prominence than the Irish
question when Parliament reassembles
tuesday. There is much speculation
whether, in the event of the railroad
men or transport workers deciding 20
support the miners by sympathetic
strikes, thereby precipitating a still
graver industrial crisis, the government
would decide to appeal to the country
by general election TO indorsc the
course taken by it,
mo strike ever has been en-
tered upon with less passion or
either side" The Manchester Guardian
| says. commenting on the coal miners
strike. "The good will may not last
under the pressure of the strike, but il
is a great help that the strike is not
being entered in an atmosphere Of
unreasoning anger"