Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-03-21
BALFOUR BACK
AT PARTY HELM
Fate Of Minimum Wage Bill Trem-
blcs In the Balance Govern.
mcnt May Fall.

IorJou Nar'h ~ The fs.n ot the
minimum Wase bill seems to he trembling
in the 'p'Haco \. J. pal'our viii move
the rejection Of the bill in the i!ouse Of
Commons morrow. TIC dramatic re-
apOearau o of Mr.. Balfour in the role of
leader of the opposition comes as
surprise. thc decision being taken at
lnoetlng ~ rronincnt uuionists at which
Andrew pcr?r Law. who assumed the
leadcrslio on the retirement Of Mr.
I7elfour last November, requested that
the fofm-r leader Undertake tho duty
or ruovins tho bilra rejection.
Who.hor his development heralds the
return Of ~. Ralfour 10 the active leader
ship cf the party remalns % be scon
Tho union - lately have been greatly
elated a tr' growing difficulties that the
covernment has been oncounter!ng, due
in part 70 fhe unroou'srlty Of the !nsur-
ance bill the increasing labor troubles
and the greatly Increased public expendi-
ture involved IN social reforms. and
evidence Of change in public opinion has
been given ia recent Nve-electione II, as
some OF the unionsts osscrt. tho govern
ment IS riding for fail, It may come
over the minimum wage bill. bu. there
is little doubt that tive Government can
carry the second reading of the bill rs
tho Labor party and tho ultionalists have
decided to sive their support to that end.
Difficulties viii arise in tho committee
stage. when the 'aborites move amend
ments. with the object Of having inserted
the schedule OF minimum rates as fxed
by the miners federation. 1t appea rs
however. that the federation onlY carried
the resolution in favor Of this procedure
by a mniorit- of 12 in 1Go votes Evidently,
therefore, large section of the fedora
ton fevors less extrome procedure. and
possibly when the committee srage ar
rivos moro reasonable counsels may
prevail
y cable council will be held tomorrow
to consider the whole situation. It 'e
stated that he ministerialists stll hold
to me opinion hat much Of the orpostior
| to the bin VIII disappear when It comes
| to actual discussion and there Is lttle
| doubt that the miners throughout tn,
| country are ANXIOUS to resume work vii
| Thorne. tho labor leader, tonight ex
presses the opinion that the coal owner.
are engaged in a consr r'racy to depett
! and drain the trades unions funds whicl
| il would require years to restore. Ger
| tainly the financial necessities will .ent
| to shorten the duration ot the strike. Th,
| probability now is that the parlimentar,
discussion Of the bin will extend int.
| next week and that there will hc no re
sumption Of work until the bill is passed.
| The govern o~t had issued n clrcu
lar tonight 10 all local boards o
| guardians suggesting co-operatioi
with all authorities and agencies abl'
to assist in the exceptional distress
! arising through the coal strike. AM
! empowering the guardians to fin'
work for the unemployed.
The distress IN South Wales has be
come extremely SERIOUS. Nothing lik
| IL has been suffered since the strik,
of 1893. At Cardiff. 10000 men arr
idle At Swansea and other ports am
! towns, the mayors and councils ar
overwhelmed with appeals for relief
THOUSANDS ARE SUFFERING
Grimsby, England, March 2O-Thre
hundred starving men marched to tn
town hall to-day and begged reliet
The mayor promised to raise funds :
! supply their wants Meanwhile foo
was distributed by the chief constabl,
silence.