Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-04-12
BRITISH LABOR. STRUGGLE
Rail and Transportation Workers Are
:. United With Coal Miners.
A GREAT. UPHEAVAL IN ENGLAND

Workers Claim Employers Trying to
ThrettIe Them-John Bull Is Facing
Another Mighty Crisis-May Result
In Strife and BIoodshed.
London, April s (By the Associated
Press.) - Tuesday midnight, unless
there is some new development, will
see the commencement Of the greatest
labor struggle in the country's history.
Approximately 100000 workers
then will have ceased their duties in
protest against what they consider to
be an organized attempt on the part of
the employers to enforce general re-
duction in wages:
This is the central fact Of the labor
situation as it developed today in a
breakdown in the miners conference
and a consequent decision by the triple
alliance-made. up of miners and rail-
way and transport workers-.;for, the
first time since it was organizaed, that
its entire membership, roughly estima-
ted at 100000 miners and SOC. 900 each
from the railway and transportation
workers organizations, should quit
work in support of the strike of the
miners. a..
The governments standpoint, as
voiced by Premier Lloyd George in a
brief speech in the house of commons
this afternoon is that the action of the
miners and the other members Of the
triple alliance is an attempt by direct
action to intimidate parliament and the
nation. The premier announced the
military and other measures which the
government intended to take to defeat
the attempt.
Claim Of Miners.
The standpoint Of the miners Is that
the sudden removal of control Of the
coal mines is the result Of pact be-
tween the government and mine own
ers to enable the owners to enforce an
unjustihable reduction in wages. The
attitude of the railway men is that un-
less there is support Of the miners at
present similar dilemma will face the
railway men when the railways are re-
leased from government control.
The refusal of the miners to yield ON
the question of permitting pump men
to return to the mines had as it's mo-
tive conviction that the withdrawal
of the pump men is the on'y weapon In
their hands. They argue that few
weeks cessation of work will not really
injure the mine owners, who. consider
ing the depressed condition Of industry,
have ample stocks of coal on the sur
face. They declare that the mine
owners have brought this fate upon
themselves by including the pump men
among those whose contracts Will be
cancelled unless they accept the new
wage terms, made, not through joint
discussion, but by the mine owners
themselves.
Conu smned BY Press.
The arguments of the miners find no
support except on the part Of the ex-
treme Socialist newspapers. All the
other newspapers condemn them very
strongly, and general regret is express
ed that the miners refused to listen
to the advice of men like Herbert H.
Asquitf, John R. Clynes, Arthur Hen
derson.
In this connection Mr.. Ciynes, who Is
chairman of the parliamentary labor
party, made an interesting statement
ON the adjournment of the house OF
commons this afternoon. While ex-
pressing regret over the decision Of the
miners he said he equally regretted
that Premier Lloyd George had thought
il proper to make imputations against
the motives of the leaders Of the min
ers. He said the actual damage done
to the mines up to the present time
had been so, small it did not justify this
fact being made the cause for interfer-
ing with negotiations which might lead
to a settlement Of the dispute. He con-
cludcd by declaring that the cost to
the country likely would be far greater
than would have been the case IL the
government had continued to control
the mines a little while longer until the
wage question was settled.