New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-03
Nation Divided Into Eight
Administrative Areas as
Labor Alliance Talks of
''Raising Fiery Cross
3,5OO,OOO Now Idle
Or on Part Time
Household Coal RationTo
Re 100 Lbs. Weekly:
Factories Cut in Half

Copyright. 1921 New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, April with $500 900
workers idle or on short time, Great
Britain tonight faces the most critical
emergency she has known since the
war. Although order now prevails and
there certainly is no likelihood of a
revolution, the government is not at
tempting to minimize the gravity Of
Its position. If the railwaymen and
transport workers make common cause
with the coal miners in their present
strike against wage cuts, at least g.
100000 persons will be thrown into
idleness Immediately, and the total
VIII be greatly swelled by the stop
page of related industries.
The deadlock in the miners strike
continues, with both mine owners and
workers standing pat. The govern
ment is making no direct attcmots to
b1lng about negotiations.
Some additional safety EMPLOYEES
pumpmen and enginemen-whoh had re.
NAMED at their posts, quit TO day. but
the enrolment of volunteers to nre-
vent the mines from flooding apparent-
~ mas about counterbalanced these de-
sertions.
Only Small Plants Flooded
There has been flood Of contrad;c-
tory reports about the condition Of the
mines after Il two-day cessation of
WORK, but it is safe to say that only
rev Of the smaller ones have been food
ed TO an extent that will make their re-
opening impossible. In Wales a few
dlSorders, led by the rampant extrem-
lists, nave been reported, but in gen
eral the strike has been orderly.
The action which the miners part
ners IN !abor's triple alliance-ra railway
men and transport workers-wll take
was perhaps forecast to-day by James
Sexton, secretary Of the Dockers
Union. which is affiliated with the
transport workers, when he said The
coming weeks are fraught with grave
issues for industrial peace, and I
wouldn't be at all surprised if in sheer
desperation the fiery cross of the triple
alliance were raised in common de-
Tense. il no way out Of the present
situation can be found"
The government is going ahead with
measures to protect and feed the
country IN the event Of breakdown Of
transportation. To-day the United
Kingdom was divided into eight ad-
mlnlstrative areas and commissioners
were Immediately dispatched from Lon
don to each district. 1t will be their
duty to report the situation to the
government and to advise what steps
should be taken in crisis. Thev also
are to report Immediately any riots or
other disturbances.
On Monday a proclamatio will be is
sued under the emergency powers act
limiting the supply Of coal to individ-
ual households to 100 pounds week.
The proclamation will order return
TO wartime lighting. eliminating all
display lights, and will ration coal to
industries.
Constables Being Enrolled
The government also is enrolling
special constables for civil duty. Train
service win be cut from 25 to 90 per
cent next week and all excursions. that
nave just begun 10 come back again
Tor the first tinc since 1914, will be
discontinued
Among union workers generally
there is widespread sympathy with the
cause of the miners in the present
strike, because the belief is held that
this IS the first move in campaign TO
cut wages in all industries. The news
papers. with the exception of The Daily
Herald, the labor mouthpiece, dcpre-
cate the strike.
James Henry Thomas, leader of the
railwaymen's union, returned from
Holland to-day to attend series of
conferences scheduled to begin to-mor-
row. lie refused to comment on the
situation.
The railwaymen can strike on the
recommendation of the unions execu-
tive, but the transport workers must
submit the question of striking to a
vote A two-thirds majority is re-
CURED to effect walk-out.
LONDON, April (By The Associated
Press s).-Long statements were sent out
to-day for publication by the new Chan
cellor of the Exchequer, Sir Robert
Stevenson Horne, in behalf of the gov
ernment, and by Arthur Henderson and
Frank Hodges for the miners, justify
ing the opposing attitudes. The miners
representatives. accuse the government
of heedlessly precipitating the crisis
Continued on page thrss