Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-19
WHAT A GREAT STRIKE MEANS.

expressions of this sort.
WHAT A GREAT STRIKE MEANS.
In an address delivered before the Fortnightly
club on Monday evening, Reverend Jonathan Wat
son gave an interesting and instructive, summary Of
conditions in Great Britain as he found them on a re.
cent visit. Mr.. Watson was one Of the great body. of
American Rotarians who attended the general con-
~vention in Edinburgh, and during his stay he visited
many localities of the United Kingdom which had
been familiar to him during his residence there years
ago A great coal strike was in progress at that
time, and Mr.. Watson's descriptions of the condi-
tions which he found in connection with that strike
are of peculiar interest here and now.
The British coal strike was in some respects the
greatest and most important strike in history. We
have had nothing in this country to compare with it,
Sections OF our coal mining industry have at times
been tied up by strikes; individual railroads have
experienced strikes. Efforts have been made to make
strikes general throughout the country, but in no in
stance have these efforts been successful. Always
sorue coal has been mined, and always trains have
travelled. In Great Britain the coal mining industry
upon which the entire industrial life Of the nation
depends was absolutely at a standstill for weeks, and
the conditions arising from that cessation of work III
one of the %country's most important industries were
decidedly interesting to the observer as we'll as dis
%astrous to those who experienced them.
The British coal miners were among the most
highly paid work1nen in the United Kingdom during
the war. They had made repeated demands for in
creased wages and more desirable working cendi-
tons, and under the stress of war exigencies,, most
OF these demands had been granted. In the coal
mining sections money was plentiful it was obtain
ed easily and it was spent right and left with cheer
full abandon, and apparently without a thought of
the time when the reduction of wages would be inn
lp%erative. The war being over and the government
wishing to be relieved of the direction Of this great
industry, the mine owners insisted on a readjust-
ment of wages. 1t was not contended anywhere that
they:could make ends meet and pay the wages which
were then customary. Even. the labor leaders did
~>+ klak 49,. IT.. .. ~
avowed over and over again was the naturalization
of the coal industry. The government was to own the
mines, the miners were to operate them, and the gov
eminent to guarantee such wages as were desired.
Failing to obtain the concessions desired, the work
men went out on a general strike, and with a few
insignificant exceptions every mine in Great Britain
was closed. The government offered as. "a concession
to appropriate ten million pounds sterling out Of
which the workrnen were to be given increased COM
pensation. One condition insisted on was that this
increase should be accompanied by increased OUTPUT
at the mines. The labor leaders rejected the plan.
One of them in a public address at Brighton de-
clared that the miners did not desire increased eff
hciency. they desired more pay than they had any
prospect OF getting under existing arrangements. He
said, Give me plenty to eat and plenty to drink, and
| don't care a damn who does the work" The OBJ
)eet was the highest possible wages With the lowest
possible labor output. -
Not only was production discontinued at the
mines, but the mines themselves were impaired. and
in some cases ruined. The problem of keeping the
British mines free from water is a gigantic one. Vast
systems of drainage have to be maintained in con-
slant operation and great pumps are employed night
and day in the work of drawing water from The
mines to prevent them from being flooded. En-
gineers, fremen, and others engaged in this work
were withdrawn at the same time that the miners
themselves quit work. The result was that water
accumulated in the mines. Some mines were flood
ed so that many months of pumping will be required
to drain them, and in other cases the flooding SO
weakened the supports that great areas collapsed,
and for the purpose of at least this generations, those
mines may be considered obliterated.
Ihe miners had gone into the strike with a
cheerful abandon. Their organizations had accu,n-
ulated large sums of money, and the individuals
themselves had enjoyed good credit at all local bust
ness places because they were receiving high wages.
There seemed to be a feeling that the funds in the
organization treasures were inexhaustible and that
the credit which had been advanced freely during
the flush times would be continued without question
although the incomes of the individuals had vanish
ed. Presently it was discovered that there things
were impossible. The funds in the treasures were
large, but there were thousands to draw from them.
Families had to be supported, and the treasures
were soon empty. Many of the miners were shocked
to find that they could no longer obtain goods on
credit from local merchants. The merchants them
selves had to pay for their stocks and they could.not
continue dealing out goods without, a prospect. of
payment for them. Starvation began to stare. the
miners in the face. Soup kitchens were established
in localities well known to Mr.. Watson where but a
few months before there had been the highrEtide Of
prosperity, and those who received food at those
kitchens were the very miners and their families who
but a short time before had been living on the top!
shelf. Ultimately the governments proposal, even
with its condition of increased output was accepted.
The union treasures in Great Britain. a short
time ago filled to Overlooking, are empty. Workrnen
who had accumulated little stores Of money during
the period of their greatest prosperity find that their
savings have vanished. Mines which gave employ
ment to many thousands Of men are nonproductive
not been completed, and others because that work
has not been begun, the mines Themselves being 1t
|terly ruined. The miners formerly employed in those
mines are out Of work, and their families are BEING