Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-04-02
BRITAIN FIGHTS
TO AVERT TIE-UP
OF INDUSTRIES
Coal Strike 'Gravest Situation
Since War; Government
Declares.
PARLIAMENT IS CALLED

LONDON, April 2.-The first furry
of violence in the great coal strike
Of EnuIand's t,2oo,o0o miners was re-
ported this afternoon from the Dow
Iais Valley, where strikers, watching
the removal of ponies from the pits,
stoned the sheds, breaking windows.
At Gymney a crowd of striking
miners marched on the Pont
Lottyn coIIiery, and forced the Of
ficlaIs to cease manning the pumps
with emergency crews
The strike was reported to be fast
spreading to the mines In Scotland.
The enginemen of the Lanarkshire
mines voted to abide by the orders of
the miners federation to cease work.
LONDON, April Although the
United Kingdom trembles upon the
brink of q tremendous industrial up
heaval which is considered inevitable
If the nationwide coal strike lasts,
the general public displayed remark
able calmness on this, the second
day of the tie-up which saw practical
ly all of the 10000 miners of Eng
land idle.
The spirit of "muddling through some
how" was apparent on all sides but
eve. in conservative quarters 1t was con-
ceds-d that this crisis is more dangerous
thar. any Of this kind the kingdom has
passed through.
The government. from King George
down, is giving every indication that it
is thoroughly aware of the gravity of
the situation. The king has called Parlia-
ment TO convene for Monday, eight days
sooner than the date originally set, be-
cause "a state OF emergency exists" The
governments official declaration, more
over, described the situation as the "grav-
! est since the declaration Of war in 1914, -
and a special cabinet committee has been
pointed to deal with the crisis.
Ezz AR CONCERTED ACTION
TRIPLE ALLIANCE"
- As In previous coal strikes the all over
@ allowing fear Of the government again
s. that the two other parties to the triple
lance" the railroad men and the trans
II workers. viii join the miners.
Thousands Of dock workers employed
ndling coal have gone out.
The main concern is to get sufficient
hen to man the pumps at the mines. a
difficult problem owing to the strong
$picketing by strikers. six big mines are
already flooded so that they can never
i be put in speration again Thirty 9th
ers have applied for government help IN
Apumping TO prevent flooding
a nationwide call has been issued for
volunteers to assist n pumping at the
#mines.
local RATIONED FOR
HOUSEHOLD USE.
ID Meanwhile the usual stringent measures
restriction and economy have been or
sred by the Government. Rationing Of
for households has been resumed and
n service has been greatly reduced.
Rg will be stopped Monday.
q Hfovernment is appealing to the
10 exercise the strictest economy
kse of coal. light, transport petrol
a. d supplies
her Industries being dependent
upon cofl are beginning to be affected Iy
the tie-qp and many Of the biggest plants
and factories are notifying their employees
that thef must shut down in a few days
II the strike lasts.
PRESS SHARPLY
DIVIDED ON STRIKE.
The Bfirish press is sharply divided in
its discussion of the strike and IT'S mean
ing Thle general view, however. seems
to be ttat it is a battle for the ma
tionaliza zion of the mines
The Mbrning Post charges labor with
a deliberate plot to bring about a revo-
luton.
The Daily Herald, labor's official cI-
gan, on ithe other hand, brands l. as a
lockout, saying the operators terminated
the contracts with the unions. In sup
port of the continuation Of the wage
scale which the owners want to reduce
the Herald publishes figures showing the
profits made by the owners during the
war
In the fat years of production for de-
structions" says the paper, the employ
ers drew from the industry total profits
exceeding the prewar capital of the in
: dustry by 25,O0000O pounds NORMALLY
) s125. .OO0"1
George Landsbury, editor Of the Herald
\ In a two-column plea for unity, ex-
!, dresses the hope that the government will
.&ke its powers to the fullest extent.
Then we will have the battle line cor
#tly drawn between those that have and
Rse that have not" he concludes.
'<z INIT D0DTNCnN