Evening star., 1926-08-22
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS

not want peace for its own sake. and, as nap
pen to know. he is utterly INDIFFERENT 10 the
welfare Of the miners. Not so long ago ne
confessed to a friend of mine that it would not
trouble him at all if 200, 600 men lost their Jops
long as he could force the government 10
nationalize the mines as one step toward the
ideals of Communism. Fanatlcai theories anu
class hatred are his guiding principles, NOT
peace and prosperity in the British mine fields
But he has to be careful of his own body ana
his political position. If he delays the nationa
agreement too long there will be preaka"a!
among miners making local agreements anu
repudiating his leadership Yesterday his voice
gave out and he had to whisper his appeals
for loyalty and discipline amidst the tumuit
of angry disputes and divided counsels
What of Premier Baldwin? He smokes his
pipe in his quiet gardens. For months ne mas
done nothing at all in the way of intervention
He has made stirring speeches which might
convert the miners or their leaders to spirit
of compromise. He has put no public pressure
upon the mine owners He has given Diahk
negative to the proposals of English blsnops.
There is doubt that this inactivity has DIS
appointed the nation. which he held i'll the
hollow of his hand during the general strike
by his strength fairness liberality, nobility and
vision.
What has made him dumb? 1t is his knowl
edge that reason is of no avail with men Ike
Cook, who do not work on lines of reason, but
uphold passion and claptrap. 1t Is MS pfoiouHu
disapproval of the way in which all his efforts
were flouted both by owners and miners. 1t
is his conviction now that any government
attempts at compromise and arbitration are
foredoomed to failure, because both sides re
gard them as weaknesses of which they can
take advantage.
But | think his decision to stand aloof all
this time has lost him a great deal OF the
prestige he gained when he played a strong
hand during the general strike and gained
spiritual leadership over all moderate OPINION
Perhaps this is his best proof of courage.
Home Secretary Joytson Hicks makes dark
prophesies of more general strikes. Ramsay
Macdonald ex-premier Of England, abuses the
governments lack of initiative, and in eau
tious. crafty way tries to keep the support of
revolutionary labor. while disappearing their
methods and keeping way of escape for his
reputation.
There will be widespread distress when this
coal strike is at last settled. Large numbers
of miners will be unemployed because OF the
closing of poor pits. British trade has received
staggering blows Unfortunate taxpayers will
be faced with bill costs because of reduced rev
enue A conservative government will receive
odium and future trouble. Then Ramsay Mac
Donald hopes to return to power strong enough
to purge his party of it's revolutionary poison.
independent enough to trample on his cankered
little Communists
have written enough to show that behind
this coal stOppage in Great Britain there are
many motives and ideas in conflict more i'm
portant than the price of coal 1t is that con-
fict of ideas which is strangling the industrial
energy of the British people. although now, to
American visitors, in beauty the English coun
tryside life looks prosperous and stepped in
ancient peace.
Copyright. 1920