New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-06
Police of Scotch Town
Besieged After Attack
ON Strikers; Disorders
Are Reported Spreading
Industries Close:
Troops Modified
Lloyd George Tells Conn
mons Nation Cannot
Subsidize the Industry

LONDON, April (By The Asso-
ciatcd Press) s).-Rioting broke out to-
night III connection with the coal strike
IN Cowdenbeath, in Fifeshire, Scotland,
according to a Central News dispatch
from Dunfermline
The police attacked the strikers With
batons, but the strikers hoisted the red
flag and besieged the police station.
Inc situation is assuming critical
aspect, the dispatch says.
The Trouble arose when the strikers
captured the undcr-manager of a mine.
who refused to cease manning the
pumps. The police responded to a call
Tor aid and rescued the man, but the
police were surrounded by the miners.
whose forces had by this time been in
creased 10 thousands.
ele government is concentrating
troops in Kensington Gardens in the
fashionable West End district. suppos-
ediy III connection with plans TO main
tam order in the event Of strike dis
turbances.
Refuse to Subsidize Mines
Premier Lloyd George renlyjng IN
the House of Commons to-day in the
debate on the coal situation. declared
that what all wanted was to arrive at
paclilcation in very dangerous dis
pute. if it could be done in a way com
patible With the interests of the nation
as n whole. He contended, however,
'hat subsldlzing a great industry out OF
taxation was wrong in principle and
completely indefcnsible, especially at
the present time, in view Of the heavy
taxation and the condition of the TX
cheQUer.
He recalled that the loss before
MarcA n on government control Of the
mines was more than 81 100000 week
~, winch would mean loss OF gl00,-
100000 If the arrangement was net
terminated
Must Terminate Control
III 1t had been purely a question Of
extending CONTROL one month. said
Lloyd George, the extra burden on the
taxpayers 10 avoid calamity would be
justified, but there was no guaranty
at the end of the extension that they
would not have been faced by the same
position. Under control there was no
inducemont to terminals the negotia-
tlons, because both wages and profits
were guaranteed. The government had
therefore concluded that il must bring
the industry face TO face with the end
Of control by placing it OH an economic
basis
The Premier would not express any
opinion as to whether wages were ade-
quate or inadequate, as, he pointed out
that would cripple the government $
effectiveness in any negotiations. The
government could not enter upon nego-
tiations on the expectation that it could
recommend the maintenance of the in
dustry through taxation, or on the as
sumption that it would be possible to
resume control. Outside of these lin
itations there was wide field for dis
cussion.
Willing to Mediate
The government would be willing
continued Mn. Lloyd George, to under
take anything it could do in promoting
an understanding between the miners
and the owners, but it was essential
that the miners should be given every
facility and assistance to prevent the
pits from being destroyed He hoped
the leaders of both parties, with OF
without government representatives.
would meet Immediately and try to ar
rive at a permanent settlement to pre-
vent a repetition of these disputes
which menaced the whole industry of
the country.