New-York tribune., 1921-04-02
King Calls Parliament to
Meet Apr. 4; Short Fight
Predicted Because of
Depleted Union Funds
Federation Leader
Hints Revolution
Minor Measures Taken to
Conserve Fuel; Shortage
Will Be Felt Next Week


LONDON, April with the vast
majority of Great Brtains 100000
coal miners idle to-day. in protest
against wage cuts and a return to pri-
vate control, the country faces what
many believe can only be a short strug-
gle. The miners lack funds to carry
on the strike many weeks and must
force break in the present deadlock
Thomas Rowland, president of the
North Wales Miners Federation, said
in an interview to-day that the situa
tlon was so serious that he feared a
revolution. This, he said, some were
anxious to see.
King George tonight issued proc
lamation reassembling Parliament. The
House of Lords and the House of Com
mons, which had adjourned to April 4
and II respectively will both meet on
ATril 4. The Kings act was in accord
ance with the emergency powers act
of 1920, which provides that parIla-
ment shall assemble within five days
alter the proclamation declaring that
state of emergency exists. Such a
proclamation, empowering the govern
ment to protect the supply of essentials
to life, was issued last night.
Only here and there was the union
order calling the strike disobeved. In
Yorkshire, Lancashire, StafYordshiro
Scotland and in few outlying districts
the men stayed in the pits The work
crs In some other areas showed no
great enthusiasm for the strike, but so
far nave remained loyal to the fedora
ION me pumps in many mines, where
the greatest danger of flooding exists.
are being kept going by skeleton crews.
and IN some cases by crews of clerical
and administrative stats.
Government Ready to Mediate
=, lnasmuch as government control of
the mines ended at mdnight no Of
hcial action willbe taken to brine the
miners and the owners together, al
tnough the various agencies Of the gov
ernment are ready and willing to be
called on as mediators. The Cabinet
was in session for two hours to con-
slder the situation, and although no
action was announced it was under
stood that the members of the govern
menu would remain in the city for an
emergency call
Only minor steps have been taken
under the emergency proclamation to
safeguard fuel trans portation, food
and other necessities. The irst visible
effects of the stoppage of the mines
VIII not come until next week, when
tram service and public lighting will
be curtailed and coal rationed to fac
torres. These measures, although tech
n,cally already in effect, are being held
temporarily in allegiance in the hope
that some settlement will be reached
quickly.
The miners, short Of funds, are par
tlcularly anxious to force speedy
decision. They are now centering their
efforts on obtaining the support of the
transport workers and railway men
partners with the miners in labors
ward cxpectantly to the decisions to be
reached by these two unions next week.
If they vote to support the miners
and the matter IS carried to an ex-
treme, national business life would be
completely paralyzed The railwaymen
clearly sympathize with the miners, but
the transport workers are less en-
thusastic. owing to the fact that a
great number of their own members
are already out of employment few
leaders of the railwaymen are CON
ferring here over the week end, plan
ming measures to be presented at the
meeting of the national body next
week
The miners accomplis he'd little to-
day toward settlement, as the few
owners remaining in the city were un-
able to offer any new terms. The
miners are severely handicapped by the
absen Of their champion and leader,
Robert Smllie. At present their inter
ests are in the hands of Frank Hodges,
the secretary of the federation, who
is an able young man, but who lacks
Smillie's powerful personality.
Strike Benefit Funds Depleted
The situation in the miners ranks is
PLAIN in the case of the union branch
in Yorkshire. That organization has on
hand only enough money to pay strike
benefits for two weeks. On the other
hand, the supply of coal in that district
is said to be ample to supply ali de-
mands on it for between one and two
months Reports from other districts
show similar depletion OF the union
treasures and, on the whole, enough
fuel to supply the country's coal needs
CONTINUED on page rourl