The Great Coal Strike.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 62, 17 May 1912, Page 12

The Great Coal Strike.

A Special Article from a New Zealander in Great Britain.

By JAMES THOKN.

. ! 'I In , :iir i-» jiiM'ti-iidius wiih tevolui inn in (IviMt Hrilain. All llii' inithnoiy i lo.nines i)l radical ell;i mil. , are in evidence, and in the whirl and turmoil j o!' I'lviM-i the prejudices of ages arc !)'•- I ing s'.wpt nn;\y. A million miners an- ■| on slriii.-, and have now been tlmv I weeks Ml.- ; i';v!iisl-i i<,s dependent on <-<r:il have crumpled up, and stark dos- ; tlUltlnll ha.-i seized hundreds ()f t-llOU- ■ .sands. Kmployerdom is inflexible in i;s arrogance and adamant in its greed. Labor never before !i;id .such :i sense of ; working-class solida.ril.v, not such a : consciousness (if its iudispensabilit y to iI he 'if human society. And 1 while feeling, in consequence, is strain!cd to danger-point. Government hedge* and v,i''illafi'H when it does not- blunder \s i 1 li n firm Ininrl. Nothing has so emuj pletely exposed the bankruptcy of orthodox political philosophies as this strike. Wit.hin the narrow confines of Liberal and 'J'ory tlioufxht nothing exists which by any stretch of the imagination oonkl b< , descrilwd as possessing remedial proper lies fur industrial iir:I rest. It i.s unnatural (r> think so be- | cause Liberalism and Toryism in their ! even day practice and policy accept in- | justice as lixed and iiniiiutable in so- | < iei.v. So, despite the halting tiniidij ties of Lib.-rul shreds and pat-clioa and jto the accompaniment of Liberal ,isj s.-udis on frfw speerh ;>nd the Mosaic I law and of Tory shrieks for the.military I and .some simplifyinc; murder, (he strike I persists wit-h ;\ uiiitv (ililv broken by defoctioii3. LIBERAL LOGIC. ! It vi-oiild not be difficult lo visualise ; i!i" 1.-iberal i'arty in an aUitude of inj tense thankfulness to the Dcily for 11 i^~ i t I'ou^hllHl construction of the human interior. In the words of Lowell, iln i members no doubt thank (iod that "II" j made ih-.'i) Jiolioiv in order that Ibey i mii!;hl ilp'ir princi])les swallow." r J hree i wi'el;-; before the strike th<> (»overn•Ment. with its tongue in its cheek, < !r,!r;!c:.'i!.sed a r< , .:o!ution of the Labor Parly a tnininuini way;i> in Itritish indusiry as Utopian, ridiculous, absurd and impossible anyway. Wslerdav it ]>assi'd :i bill providing for a niiiiimurn for rill miners! T.his is enrtain'v but; what is to a (I'.iverntrK'nl faced by a strike of a million ln.-a;-' JSiit. just because the Clovernnieni ',s attidule is contradictory nnd the Minimum Wa;j;e ]>ill n> more than embodies the principle, il.r. Asfiuith, fiiipjiurled, mi" course, by Mr. Bonar Law, the Tory I'M.-ler. to stilts any specific ilffure in the bill, but left t!u\ fixing of ilio amount of io the hoards provided by the jiicasnre. Their cliief objection u> defini;.> legislation as to what the minimum wage should be was that if I'.irliauient agreed to k'.gislate. a wage for iniii-MS, it would have, to do ih<> same, for other workers! ])oep down in th<'ir in-; •! able souls, too, i.s an abiding faith n ihe utility of the abstract, '.I hey will believe in anything "in the abstract. ,, H'.tl ""iii the concrete , ' (hey olijecl ironi (iM'ir boots upwards 1-n anything thai wiil clearly and plainly and witho-jl any c.-jnfu.sion and uiysl iiiealion benefit. l!;e workers. Tliereforo, Mr. .\sf|i!;t;i, h-lios. , minmuiiii wage fixed by j:i.w is jLM(H') a, we/'k. and who most assuredly look.-; pink and blooming on ihe i::o:iey. with slatKrfiiKinlikc digniiy :';iid fir.'aji-'-.is, rejects all proposals to include a L , ; ini.'iiimnn fur boys and ."is. for men. ,"\ioie disgusting behaviourwould no! ':>:• loolwhl for in a liig-slye. r J !ie filanii ol tho Kadii-a! jiivss :it ] ibe (iovei-i'.iii-ert's weakness is must e>:- j iiilara-::sg. Th--> ''D.-tily Aeiv.--." in i!-:. ! I'arlianvnlary ariieles, pi'rdic-ts ill" ! d-shiicl:.! , of ;!;,. f.iberal Party :>s II:- j o'.iteoine of a'! c!:d<';i.vur to "foozle'" j Iho iniix rs wit-h misty and unsubs-taii-j ii:ll s'i:«r:,-:. Tin- u:ii!C-r.s, it' says, nnlike i t/io railwa/ii:"!!, will not Ik> conien-i ■>■:[ '■ I.V auyiliiiu :,);.);■ I of easily intelligible j i;i bla-c!: and white. All lh-> j i>bi!o--.i>ph'...- iogit -chopping will be of i;.> | ,;-,ni! to coiiviiic:' !lie i.iini'i,, Hint Lib- ' ei-rilisiii their interests, jim.l f :')<y jii.;i ifii'iitiiDi of i.iiß susjiicioii ih;it Lib!-,-;i|i.--in is a-:-.i.-,! ipg {he m.'isierj in] f.t.d-v-' , t'p> i:i.-»:t [■> iv:;ik will impel \);.< : rsi.ii!*: ■; ti w: .-.ik a ''"rribie v'c: "<•, m< ■■ ~:. Hie Lib.-r.ils ;.i ',)■■<■ t:,-:vt .eler-tion. S-, i iiinks ! I- H.i'i.' al ji. <•■■.-;. Tii" si: -l:ti :•••■! !l' 'i!!, , •■.!-.-• 'he miner.; wiil fi'l'(O s')!-i •- I !hi;ig ; nigibie friiisi AsiiuiMi or in [h<- : i; ; ., r . ; ; ,, v > v ;il .-,'A-an:p Li'vMli- ;;i in .-: ; : ! --> >d of Labor si.'ihu it v. AVith Li ! ,-r. | Jisni >,•■■.-.'■ to Cel-.-fltry, a--'(i1,!,,..:- o': l iii of. And .-i good job 100 ! A :iv ■ j;i;ly vjih nv.v'U'hehi'.ing proof's of ■;■'•■ 1 , ,; 1 poverty ai:d misery liefore i , , II \{ .-, >e ! ;s t;i pos(j>;.iio tl.-r> pri'lil'l ones- ■ ion.s of work and gnod by weeks <V,' .ii!le-t:..f!.]e upon Welsh Dsesfablisii- ■■!■ n! an-! Iridi IToni. , Hule, v,)\h h, b-r--v.-s - ;»'■'-; ; ; ;;g, are matt. , ol' rrlnii.-.-----miititio:-! t !'..e, des.-rvs obliteratin:!. ''he !!',iT:ers -.voiihl he I'n.t].; i;'. ir. er tlieir r:v>gnit':."e::t ofForts, they '■"(■!■!■ f<i al!o«' thf!r;sel'.'f>!i to be j:>bb"i >H; with :t bellyful n!' wind fn.m. 'V'.'esiOON'T SH3OT: During ihin striko tho Liberals h:iv-> >i«'ii ttgi-'.'rf'ubiy circumspect in their ise. of miiit.ary. Tlie only dediictiin o U> drawn from their compl<>te. clmnge if military policy i 3 that their expcvl»co in connection with tho railway and Locker-3 , strikes of last year put them n the wuy of a lifctlo common 6CJi.se. !v«>iylK)dy who U wot totally ignorant tho ooditi'judi in a strik-e area kaowi

; lll:li tin iiKHi , provor.ti i\ c iactte ea'l in , . : employed than in nv.T-iliU | be ;i flVeU'd < i is' ric t in,!, sold km.\. Last s c;i f's .-.ln'k.vs jin>. in.-,! ;i <'rn,.j,|i-ti< demons'r:ili.i.i i.)i tin* lolly ;iiu! madness of rui-niiii; mi'iiary their leilow-country iivn. Tin , pie-,ei;er of soldiers proieeiii'.i!; blacklegs witii drawn bayonets ■exciied and violence.-, ai.d pro- [ dllivd ;i Mate 01 , ci\ i| uiir. No .-r\iM<T eondemuai ion of the :isc of troops tia< heen ;;iven limn by tin- jxmc.'l'ml t ..n----diict (ii : the miners. Their strike ■■•;- (ends orer !i()0ll s'liuir ,, mihs <>)' <• <ut<tr\, aid ;iji:ir( from some isolated ami inconsiderable excitement s :m break h;is been made- iti the paciie <■ ulVtrt-i-tnctti "I the strike*. The <>x:>i.»i'ntion is thai /ml only «.ri' Ihe iniiieis cniilid.n! in Il'e power oi' their otvi! organisation, but that no ;tt tempi- ;is vet li-is Ivm-ii m.\i\-' to ii!:iii:id;ili- I hem with soldi , ! <. This i'e;illy hits been a virlll" <ii' llerossil y on (11-e p:u f: of Ihe Lib.-rais. I'ear oi' 1 ho voting strength of the miners has induced I.he powers that I)" li. withhold ;y display <if military liosliliiy. Dnriiijj; this iiplic-ivnl ihe !,iin>r»ls ii;ne. however, been unable to eo\"r no cini!pl"te|y tlieir e!;iss Tii'-v ;iVe in.i i iistuic to openly limit ibe n.iiiers, s> i they Hiiike a ''mviirdl;. ;ilt;iek upon ib.'j Syjidic;l.list ll!0> einenl . Turn Mnitli iiM'l I four obseui-o persons hit , pi;f r,n- j dec nrro.st for lirruhi! im. , ; ;ui iipDc.-i! to j ilie soldier , ? not to shoot iliejr strikiir , i }Vllo-.v voi-ker.s if <:dled o.: lo do so | The nppeul w;is coiiehed in pinin biii | idi'iilisf hiiiLjiKiLV , , ;ind look I'm- ii s ;.<xl ; the Sixth Corminitidinent. i''or this heinous offeiK-i' they wen . In i<l by ihe fowls and Tom .Miiiiii h.'is bi"n i.-iii.-.cd b:iil. The ljiw under which ! h< , nHioii W;is t;<ken \v;m pii.-siwl in 17:1". Alien m>l n worker Iwid ;i \o!e in l>!iii-,b ;'oli:i.-K. ■■iilife ], y l)1 not on ,, («;•-» -■•-fii i io>! h:is V-etMi III;!'!-" under tins Aei, ;?lld V.:<:.',liiii'l runs iiii Iviublis-lied C-liiii-eli. f his I:r,v is drilled from tin , d;i-t oi' Ih > past to stifle th» teiichiii.Lt of Mo.-, i.ie j rtM)!-.ilit.v to :il!o:;vdlv ( i;i !: <'it izen.-i! ! W'il.-it irotl\ ! Al.d Mk-sc proceed.'!!"-. ;ir:' ■ i d.-:'. , i:,]ed by ;b •Ai tor-u-y-Cieii-.r.-il. ;i lawyer by i he rum r> of 1.-vies, v-i'i , sin'ii: o;t.siii-it r.v :i.nd ciiiitiini* word-rioii-eeiy ;ii>oi]t respect for ihe 1.-nv. Th ,, ■ lik:.s of ilic G(>vc-ri;;i!.f!ii; s;.-•ii'l-! <>ii! in j>i-i>:niii'*:it relief wlicm it-; ! Tom N!;iliM is <-o:''. r;r.' >■'[ ;•. ; lh j its n-.-lion <>f ii'.iftion with r to I ihr* Atiti-l'lomo Hule ]i:.)veii!":i- i:i I'Kt-r ;t few We.eJ.-s :mo. There. I^-!;-- ,- ---lawyers and privy councillors in the I Ti.ry iVirlv ;.dvis •! ihe people of V-\-\.'v ] r'i{ to uiLV' tin , s-'ldiers i , ')' I.i ! (i"i> on linnniieii men nnd \vo!r."ii, }>■■:'< j to iir ,, on ;!;<■ Kind's s-n-di' , : - .-? ;<;■<} in -c! | op a provisio) , ;'! eovcriiMient ii; I'lsicrj :n ;i pi'ote-L :is;;jii's| Iri.-h }{■■,■:•■■ \\ ■<<■-. ] Tin's '.'.; is i.n'iHon, if yi'l !ik ; \ out ii'i-j vv:is dnl;e lo preve-,! l'."ir djieii I iidvix-.U'V of i !'■:(:-i:t'|-\' :r<\<] rebelii iti j Tli , - , rensci is phiin. Th.. , Tories belon- , - I i:-o t!i<» f,a:ms ehi.is as llk- iJlienils, :nid ! botli of tbe.'ii !iii')',y th:il v,-';:i! is iin , .* | known as 'Tls!eri:i" is iM'Mel,- t;:irt of , iiin -:tl.ie of divide- Ikf ' v or-!;•.]■.■ I a'-i'iiiisr. tne'i'si-r.-e-i by " 'p:< i"!"i«;*. ic" i , ' , - 1 i.i-wi. Treason in only ;i <>f- j fciiee when ; t v.or!ier <•■ >m:;r~:ii,s it. nniTONS BRAVE AND FRF.S. 'J.jl-O efforts <;<. 1 i:e p;-i";s {-i work H|i a pa'tic-borj' [i::b.'!c opinion .•!_; iiii-;t i-in , miner biy hire {be ]>oli!ie;i! p-.vciiii!----o.';y of t!ie Mrj;,.,!, p.:-,.;)!-. t-b'-y ;>re n» .i: j;. .'• new n::'np t-.-riili-'S i-i'.om and drive--. ! liem .sciirryi!:f; to i 11■:• •■.safety" o: ' ( h:-, : r rheri 4:cd s 4 :n)!dif ie-i. ■'I'-Ik> reason why ihn Hri!.i,sii psibiic re-ii-Ji-'.ls S.v'iaiisii- Willi aversion is -J:,,: jl d .•'Sl,';. iiko ii;e ..:i::i:tl of t!i« wo;d. ji is j-i'w by i-onip.irix in -.villi .■1 , . , .! Toryisi;;. 'J lie , ,- J-iii'i Ivito'.v vii.-i' it--111 --:• i t -i. a>:d ilieri'fiire sir ,, tri:.:;!; 1 'iu'd of '.'■ i"'-.' "Ai , . Ii Svn-ii'.-i'ism. '!';!;■ rir-ei-; h:<H ; .-''"!-,:!s!y asr.er!.'d jhaf r.-; , .'!!! -hike,; a.- V tilt , 'rnpiit i'iotie ii:;i!' ! i'es!,.i'i!:;i.-; of -v, c i.,.!-!-:'!)! , ' tlriiie, ;-.i!!.-d Syn'fie/.lsjti. 1 ,, .? a m-'U' word, iv\<l, of it i ; !il-V !■! "W! s:>!*ie; iiiu;' ;\\\ \u). Tile i'rit;sii ;>:iblie is ;•>> mejitjilly ia/.v it) i";nd : i ; i: what It doe.- , TiH"i:i, in , : , ! m ill i> l^i'^b'p. , )';'!■>";'■' ■.'"ii'ble 1, 'ibio' , . ''i:..■.':■.' i:: :, ;! -;-k (!,,;;: ;, ,'i ?•{ r. mH ■■■! . l ,i.ev:,;j,yV-ik. , 'iheir'V , :r.:: :, d '-'r\'-c ' rh-lv "iyh'.d« ";>:■;■, Wide ';';/' 'i:'. i: ;,'■?:. -'y '■■<;• .;.".' :!)■ 'v;ey jl';; :-,,'!- ---;•..■ ./.'n'' , -',';:'(';;',' V. o'.v.'.'.v'V.'i'i :!:• '-...J. TV. ■ ;-\;:',!.. :i; ; -.' i, -'•; !,■,,;;•;., ' -. , !i.-i: ~ ■:■ •!; -:V'- f,,. ,, , .„• ; :; ')•- •,■.•!■ »!e -bdoe.-,! ;,)•). | : , -r !;;)■■ fav-ir ;)e::''-.il aefi.nn :i.i ;: : ;:eJi ;i.s '.:-■■ To:y. ,; , ;-., ; ;..:i5.'!ii.-vl <:...j ; -,:];•:,;,! : ..•■;,,":.. ( ti lf !i iviJ- e..,r,, ]!; v!;er,, .-,'■ i::,o;riI ',!'.■•! ro'Uiiv. f.ir ■■)- , !f-L>vt(,',-r.;.' , ::: . Tb/ , :;- , , ' bit s ■yr-''..c'!"'ci ru ; :iiii:-!!ii 't>'->X ! ' : I 1'r.,;.. Is. jld !o 7s. <!d. j day. | I 3'":cee;.>'. i>) '~,, \':iy ;i S |Jm :si.r;!,-.-> pi-n.-';::?;;•( | I I , "! , iii;;;h'. :>! .>:■ ■';! 'UM'A J'v: ,, :' !t !il !!./ j I '.v.v li'.Sii,-,,- , .-. 1 1 1 -.'e..j ) R,-.!i;s!-, ord ,, :-. !s'.( I ! '-b,u r-sp.Tt. it b;,;; weld-'d !■■:; w >rko: ; :■■^• > -'i t, i. , •■' lh<".n tli:i ( .">*>-j •let , / is li'.aivt -.»i.i'.-itl by ilw labor of its i '.ie-,pi-,•>.'.] toil. :„, inn, hy v<v->l\ :'n c ;' I.ib-erj.li.-i!:: i:i .sbiid'lum, .liiit lif.sit;iiion, and Toryism ;u !):.)tar\t oppositioM, performed ma ri.'.s for uio political .Holi(l;irifcy' fif Labor ami for tint principles of social property in public utilities. Industrial oonsbi;sa.i.ioii ultimately mc-a.ri3 ftolitical v.:('„/. Lab-or, o;!.-* n.:i<i iii'livi.sibte, and (he mitchl.y will Jkj pulled from their setts a.ul tho.w of low will be^