The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-10-19
First Strike Disturbance in Coal Region, Re-
ported From Wales Where Paraders
Stone Shop Windows.
COVE ERNMENT ATTITUDE
Two of Most Serious Questions Ever Laid
Before That Body.
IBy Charles MCCAIN, United Pres
- Staff CnrrespOndent.l

IBy Charles MCCAIN, United Press
Staff Correspondent
LONDON, Oct. 19.-The first strike
disturbances in the coal region were
reported today from Tondu and Fandy.
mining centers in Wales.
Large bodies of miners gathered in
both cities near midnight, singing
"The Red Flag" as they marched about
the dim streets.
| Shop windows were stoned, but no
serious damage resulted.
The mobs dispersed Of their own
accord.
!! The government today began use OF
publicity bureaus developed during
the war. The miners bombarded the
public with statements issued through
their own publicity department and
that Of the labor party.
Unofiicially a report was spread
that at the end of a fortnight propo-
sition may be put forth that will en-
able the miners leaders to save their
faces while the government will not
have to yield much ground
The riot yesterday in which two
score were injured in Downing street
and Whitehall was forgotten today ex-
cept for the hospital list and the dam
aged front Of the foreign office.
| The coal situation was the first
thing to- be considered when parlia-
ment reconvened today. Later in the
day representatives of the transport
union will meet the board Of trade In
Downing street. A clear statement of
the attitude of that wing Of the
triple alliance may result from the
session.
The government attitude was said
to be unchanged. That attitude was
that the way was open for resumption
of negotiations, but that it will not
take the initiative Officially it was
said the country was in good shape
to withstand the strike ;
Robert Smillie, head of the miners
union, will resign when the strike
ends, it was reported authoritatively
today.
London papers today agreed the
Downing street riots were the work
of east end hoodlums-not the un-
employed men bent on a quiet demon
stration. The looting of two jewelry
shops in the Strand and the baggage
room of the Military club showed the
motives of the hoodlums, character
sion to George Lansbury, former rep
resentative in parliament from the
east end.
The Post warned ex-soldiers that
British Leninites were attempting to
exploit their grievances from the
revolutionaries.
! The riots were not a result of the
I coal strike, but showed the strain
/ 90 I11,
the News said.
The Herald, Lansbury's labor pa
per, denounced the "cossack-like bru-
! tality" Of the police. but the other
/ papers praised the officers for their
restraint.
Amazement was expressed that SO
! few were severely injured In the
| charges and counter charges in Down.
! ing street.
Although more than one hundred
| persons required medical treatment
only six remained over night in hos
! pitfalls. Fourteen policemen and twen.
! ty-four civilians were seriously in
! jured Twelve arrests were made
the men being held in jail today.
Case Before Parliament.
LONDON, Oct. 19.-The British
parliament went directly to the Goa
strike problem when it convened fol
the fall session today.
! Sir Robert Horne, president of the
board of trade, put the case before
parliament in a speech reviewing ne
gotiations with the miners leader:
on their wage demands.
Premier L1oyd-George was no
scheduled to speak, but he was pres