Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-04-01
TO FIGHT STRIKE
!. Of COAL MINERS
King George Declares State
of Emergency In
England
TO USE ANY MEASURE
l.OO0.O 900 Workers Leave Pits and p
100000 More May Follow-Eecno-
mics in Effect

London, April with 100000
miners in the United Kingdom lay
ing down their tools for the second
time within six n.nnths, and 4 crisis
facing the natioa ia; may involve
100000 more workers. if sympa-
thetic walkouts are declared, King
George, in proclamation issued
last night, declir'd that an emer-
geney exists anI that the Govern
ment under the Emergency Power
act of 1920 would take any meas
ures necessary to handle the situa-
tion.
The proclamation asserts that the
strike of min.rs comes under the
law which provides 10: Government
action when persons or groups Of
persons interfere with the supply
and distribution Of fooG, water, fuel,
light and means of lucomot:on TO
deprive the community Of the essen
tials Of life.
Rationing measures putting the
country on war time basis already
have been ordered.
Reports received III London up to
midnight said that mer. everywhere
were leaving n. pts. Even the
numpmen and enginemen, who in
the strike last Oc.pber we're kept at
the mines to Keep them in order,
bat dispatches late Yesterday even
ing say that the errinemen in Scot
land, Northumi,c .land, Yorkshire
and Mormouthsbir have decided to
disregard the union orders and will
stay at the mines. In Il local strike
two years ago the Government used
sailors to pumn out tbs mines, but
n the present emergency has none
to spare fer this work.
Yesterday was :"pen; in confcren-
ces between reg "sant:.t;ves of the
miners union and the Government
*ith representatives. of the owners
Dartic: pa tirg to some extent. No
s..gns of reapproacament were ap-
parent as the leaders separated and
went to their iares, although hope
was long held aat by Sir Robert
StcvenSon Horn, president Cd the
Board Of Trade. ttat some settle
ment could be reached before the
strike order bcca ne effec Give.
The superficial cause os the strike
is the refusal IF the Government to
continue lis control Cf the mines
and the subsidies that will maintain
the present level .os wages. But,
underlying this, i the fear on the
part Of all organized labor that this
is a move toward a general cut of
wages. With Tie mines no longer
under Government control, the
miners will earn from a few sh;l-
'ings to more than a pound less a
week than before.
The railway ncn and the trans
port wcrkers.--r,artnc,S with the
miners in labor'S triple alliance
decided to call executive meetings
early next week to decide on the
attitude these two unions shall take
toward III. miners walkcut. II
they join, grave situation vii! re-
suit. for. with l,O00o00 miners out
1000 900 other workers ready T.
Join and 100000 persons already
idle, production throughout th'
country will be 81 a Standstill.
The railway MI and transpor
workers were clearl, sy7npathetu
Yesterday with tie stand Of the mi
rers'. In connc,tion with theI'
meetings neyt Tuesday and Rednes
day, it is recalle: that their threa
last fall to call great nationa
strike in sympthy with the miners
demands then Was responsible TO
the miners victory then: :
The miners are in far less ad
.vaptageous position to maintain
strike than they were last fall Thei
strike benefit funds were greatly re
i,ced By the roar ara:a On them a
| .hat time. The situation has bee
aggravated by ,hr dnnovrcemert B
rhe Ministry Of Labor that if th
riners 80 out 'the7 viii not Re a
'owei to draw the allowance of $
? week paid BY the Go, ernment4'
unemployed men. : ! :
The wartime regulations that ar
u =.