Evening star., 1925-08-09
COAL SURRENDER"
ALARMS BRITAIN.
Subsidy, Which Gives "Direct
Actionists" Upper Hand,
Threatens Parliament.
Ry 4. G.. GARDINER.

By Radio 10 The star.
LONDON August s. Never in the
writer's memory has there been a
more nervous and apprehensive con
dition of the public mind than exists
today. The fact is due to the gov
ernment's momentous departure in re
gard to the subsidy for the coal in
dustry. AS the implications of that
step are realized the feeling of dis
quiet deeper into one of alarm.
The scene in the House of Commons
Thursday when Prime Minister Bald,
WIN defended the surrender TO the coal
trade recalled in its intensity the at
mosphere of the House on the eve of
the great war. Mr.. Baldwin's speech
did not relieve the depression. His
speech amounted TO an admission that
the government had SuCCumbed 10
the loaded pistol of the direct action
lists. The trade unions had practically
declared won on the life of the nation
in support of the miners, and the gov
ernment dared not risk the ConSe'
quences of that catastrophe. IL
bought off the attack by hrihe.
Warning Sounds Empty.
In view of this astonishing result
of the struggle. Mr.. Baldwiuis warn
ing to la Dor that il it pursues its
present course and CompelS the ma =
tion 10 fight for its life. the nation
will win, sounds like an empty
threat II does not disguise the, fact
that in the first set battle between
the direct actionists and the govern =
ment the direct aCtiouists have won
4 decisive victory. The irony of the
situation is that the victory has been
at the expense Of a conservative gov
ernment No other party could have
dared make such a revolutionary
proposal, or could have survived the
parliamentary opposition.
Mr.. Baldwin's followers are panic
stricken by his surrender to the trade
unionists, but are between the devil
and the deep sea and cannot throw
off their leader.
The position of Ramsey Mac Don
aid. leader of the labor party. in re-
gard to the situation is most difficult
His first comment on Mr.. Baldwin 5
surrender was Cnat IL was a victory
for the worst enemies of the labor
party. This statement represented
his notorious antagoniSm TO the di-
rect actionists.
Macdonald in Danger.
A great storm arose in the Labor
y
trade unionist policy in supporting
the miners and Mr.. Macdonald since
has been engaged in explaining away
his outSpoken comment. But tha IL
comment expresses the feelings Of
many of the most responsible leaders
OF labor. who realize that the extrem-
lists have stampeded the trade union
lists into their camp and have dealt
heavy blow at parliamentary gov.
ernment.
Can the stampede he stopped The
extremists have tasted blood and have
given labor A startling sense OF its
power. when acting in combination IN
impose its will on the government.
Behind the conflict i'm the coal
trade is the shadow Of a coming con
fiict in the railway world. The lie,
cision of the railway men to refuse 10
handle coal was a decisive factor in
forcing the government to yield on
the question of a subsidy Having
helped the miners bring the govern
ment TO its knees, the railwa men in
turn will expect the support of the
miners in compelling the government
To surrender in regard TO their claims.
No End in Sight.
Where this landslide of direct action
will end cannot be foreseen. Every
hold on the community now knows
how easily it can frighten the Gov
ernment by direct action. and people
like Cook. the extremist leader of the
miners. do not hesitate TO proclaim
that they have started revolution
which will not be restricted TO the Goa
trade. but will involve the whole socia
and economic founda ion of the coun
try.
As 10 the cost Of the coal subsidy
all estimates are purely speculative
but il can hardly he less than 500.
600 600 for the experimental six
months. But what then? Will the
government inquiry produce any
scheme which will restore solvency II
The coal trade without a reduction OF
wages?
II not. will the government continue
the subsidy or allow the miners, rail
way men and transport workers II
do their worst?
The industrial outlook for the com
ing Winter is extremely black. Par
liamentary government versus govern
ment by direct action now seems tC
he the definitely defined issue anC
Ramsay Macdonald will find il diff
cult TO continue sticking on the fence
between the two opposing schools
His sympathies undoubtedly are with
the Parliamentary principle. but his
timidity in facing the extremists has
given them the whip hand and has
enabled them to take effective leader
ship from him.
n.D