The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1926-08-13
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
By LAURENCE TODD

WASHINGTON-(FP) - Britain's
million striking coal miners, through
their own special delegation, put up
to William Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor, in his
office on the morning of August z,
the question as to how he could and
would help them to raise money in
this country to feed their wives and
children.
Joseph Jones, general secretary of
the British Miners Federation, led
the plea. He was backed by James
Robson, president of the Durham
Miners Assn; Paul McKenna, agent
of the Scottish Miners; Oliver Harris,
treasurer of the South Wales Miners
Federation; Ben Tillett, secretary of
the Transport Workers and delegatee
from the general council of the Brit
ish Trades Union Congress, and Miss
Ellen Wilkinson, M. P, who is gen
eral chairman of the Women's Re-
lief Committee. Tillett, as the vet
eran and the member of the party
most familiar with American labor
conditions, was prominent in the dis
cussion.
They came to the president eff the
A. F. of L. with a frank statement
OF the need of the strikers families.
British pOOr-law relief, which is now
the main reliance of the bulk of the
strikers, is so small in amount per
family that it does not even provide
a minimum of the plainest food. It
leaves nothing for clothing, shoes.
shelter or fuel. The strikers an d
their families must have food and
clothing. From the Russian trade
unions they have received S2,50O,OOO,
and have spent it in their soup kitch-
ems. From their own trade union
funds and from other British sources
they have received and expended S40,-
100000 in maintaining some $780,
600 for IA weeks of industrial war.
Now they ask American labor, which
has sent them a total of about $780,,
600, to really become interested in
their struggle to maintain civilized
standards Of wages in Europe.
Miss Wilkinson and Tillett told
Green that there was no chance of i'm
mediate settlement. The miners del
egates confirmed this view. British
mine owners are determined to break
down the wage scales and to crush
the union The strikers have no
thought of surrendering the ground
won in past years at heavy cost. In
stead, they propose to put their case
before the trade unions and the lib
eral public of the United States, in
union meetings, in conferences and in
mass meetings in the cities. Miss
Wilkinson will specialize on women's
organizations. Most of the delega-
ton returned to New York from their
visit to Washington, to start their
Embarrassing campaign.
Green gave them his best wishes
in their effort, and promised them
all help within his power to reach
the audience they seek. AS a for
mer general secretary treasurer of
the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca, he is familiar with the generous
spirit of that organization, and is in
touch with its leaders in all parts
of the country. Armed with creden-
tials from him, the British miners
spokesman will go to the various Am
erican coal fields and tell their story
and they will also test the sympathy
of the organized workers in the cit
les and towns Of the east and middle
west. Wherever there are workers
who understand the heroism of the
battle that the British miners and
their families are fighting, there
these delegates will go, with goodwill
and active assistance of President
Green and the executive council OF
the A. F. of L.. The work will be
organized Immediately; hunger al
home is severe.