New-York tribune., 1921-04-09
The British Coal Strike

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Lloyd George, the British Premier,
has shown on many occasions an
extraordinary ability to meet practi-
cal questions in practical manner;
that is to say, to yield on moot
point, even though involving high
principle, to divert dangerous con-
troversy into different and safer
channels.
His 'fin2l effort to settle the Brit
lsh coal strike was along these lines.
The miners, initiating the blinded, by
intimidation have driven from the
mines men working to prevent per-
manent injury to them. "Unless we
are allowed to levy tribute as we
would" say the miners, eve shall
make the mines valueless, even
though in SO doing we destroy our
own livelihoods, shut down every
British factory and force millions to
starve or flee to other places of the
Garth"
The miners believe that by this
desperate threat they will get their
way-that in face of their terrify-
ing power the owners and the public
will yield. So, at the first confer
ence, when Lloyd George said that
the first thing to be agreed on was
the od interim preservation Of the
mines the miners replied with an
emphatic negative. Their intelligent
leaders realized what they were do
ing-that their tactics were to sink
the ship with all on board, including
themselves; but they declared they
would do it rather than give an inch.
A matter so fundamental is
scarcely discussable, and the con-
ference naturally came to a sudden
close. But Lloyd George was not a.,
the end of his resources. At mid
night session he announced to q
waiting and anxious House of Com
mons that he had offered another
conference and would not insist that
the preservation of the mines be con-
sidered in advance, but merely be
the first item considered By
slightly shifting the issue he hoped
to open way for the subsistence of
the stubbornness which commonly
develops when there is a deadlock.
But this offer the miners promptly
declined. They will not parley.
Their second thought is the same
; as their first. They insist on destruc-
: ton. So yesterday it was more than
) ever evident to the people of Great
| Britain and the world what their
policy means. Lloyd George at least
J found a way to make the truth
plain to even the Gullest and the
most prejudiced. Every one who
countenances the flooding of the
mines must know what he is doing
to himself.
The problem which now convulses
Great Britain has lesson for every
civilized people. Intrenched minor
tiles, in control Of key industries, are
able to prevent general access to the
stored wealth of nature. Adequate
machinery does not now exist to
keep these minorities in due subjec-
ton to the common interest. The as
sumption that no considerable num-
ber of human beings can be induced
to assail the human species is being
shown to be baseless.
All of us, if there is not to be a
return to Stone Age conditions of
life, must find ways to uproot the
idea that association with an in
dustry gives one the right to control
its fruits exactly as he pleases.
Under the leadership Of modern rad
icalism selfish minorities have de-
veloped technique of mastery
which must be countered by new
technique of majority rule. AS long
ago so-called private ownership of
property became non-absolute and
possession was recognized only to
the degree society allowed it to exist,
so the new masters of property may
be allowed control only to the de-
gree that their control is compatible
with the common welfare.
A new definition of the rights of
man must be written, a definition
j.. even more important than that of a
century and half ago. A Hun and
Vandal power has re-arisen, this time
within, which must be overthrown if
the world is not to become as des-