Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-09-27
BfsEpiSH COAL MINERS STRIKE
... $50 = tx POSTPONED.
IiISti3s

y 80 i.sl, .r-ys.' +
S Nov that; the strike of British coal
|; sii,inners which was TO have occurred
I. Z Yesterday has been. postponed for
Week; fthere is a bright prospect that
4 itt1;#tH not take plnce at all, and that
4 satisfaesory settlement of the out
standing issue j. Wi!t be effected
through the negotiations which have
. been Il Instituted: between &c mine
] owners &c her and their employees.
i, sssThss Il gratifying and not wholly
sunp1ri:ssing change Of circumstance
!.SFfor; which the credit is primarily due
ssTf6 the PremiersGpowers Of persuasion
and ,tactful diplomacy, Years ago at
I. the beginning af his public carer he
Z, ~ achieved: his first great success.
stKheR,l as president Of The Board OF
{: srfsis, a :threateped. strike of rail.
wayynlen was avertcd by his media
ton after every previous effort at the
adjustment Of the controversy OF
the WORKERS and companies had fail
; ed: Now the confidence in his con-
ciliatory abilities which his record
had inspired has once again been
justified. and he has rendered Ser
!. vice to. the country whose Importance
hardly admits Of exaggeration.
Yet while to Mr.. Lloyd George
must be accorded the honor which is
undeniab,y his due for having evolved
q plan Of compromise which the
miners could not reject without plac-
ing themselves. in an untenah!e and
inr;dous. position before the Peep e.
It may be doubted whether ne could
have accomplished what he did, had
not the miners, conscious OF the
weakness Of their case, entertained
grave misgiyingS as to the outcome
Of the struggle which they were IN
wiling. 1t is l-cstablished Tact
that while a large majority Of the
rni1ssfs :Rctcd for strike they did SO
without any enthusiasm, and IN many
cases with a reluctance which only q
sense oflnyaItE to their leaders scrv-
! ed to overcome. This was particular
ly i true of the Yorkshire district.
where the. union. funds had been de
pietet :by q recent local conflict, and
, where. owing in part to the bitter OPP.
/, .:uo6sHiiion of the miners wives, the
lSgtNke imajor;ties were significantly
u Email. The women did not want
,$sIssai,sther. strike after the painful ex-
sperience through which they had SC
:sstssately; passed, and they made their
..:ipfslenee felt.
Ss;; ..Then again there were many indi-
Taflons that IL precipitating dis
asStrous struggle. which could not be
Sshyincingly justified. the miners
!. would forfeit the moral support with
QUIT which they could not hope for
success. They would find that puh-
lie opinion was unanimously arrayed
against. them. Already the great
businesS interests were co-operattvc-
ly arranging for q contest. which IN
some directions there was even a
disposition to welcome upon he
ground that these reiterated strikes
and threats Of strikes had grown to
be intolerable. and that the time had
come to accept the challenge Of an
organized labor which was multiply
ing its demands with reckless dis
regard for the national welfare. and
to sassel shey Fighting TO a 3 definjtiSc
conclusion Sooner or later as things
were going it would have to be de
:5ternined once for all whether the
country was to be governed BY the
trade unions or by the duly consti-
tuted authorities. anE the feeling was
that this momentouS issue might as
we'll be decided right now.
..Such are some aspects Of the stu
alton by which the miners and their
], leaders are confronted. and they WILL
show sound discretion in taking the
:. way out of it which the Premisr's
proposition provides.