New-York tribune., 1912-03-15
GBy Cable to The Tribune. J

pected to-day, but it would appear to be
improba BILE that even in the most favor
able circumstances the strike can he
ended until at least several days have
elapsed
The position, In fact, is scarcely less
critical than it was when the joint con-
ference first met.
The Daily Chronicle Is becoming
alarmed at the prospect Of the collapse
Of the coal conference, and protests in
an editorial against the governments
policy of secrecy. The Chronicle de-
mands that Parliament and the nation
shall be fully informed as to how matters
stand, so that force of public opinion
may be brought TO bear on those respon-
sible for continuing the deadlock.
Another index to the check on national
trade caused by the strike is found in
the returns of the Bankers Clearing
House tor the week ended March 13.
These show s350.000000 less business
than for the corresponding week in 1911.
Arthur Chamberlain. brother Of Jo-
seph Chamberlain and head OF the bust
ness world in Birmingham. declares that
the miners demands are just and should
be conceded. with Parliamentary secur-
ity for their enforcement. He further
advocates the naturalization OF the
mines the owners Of which refuse to
comply.
London. March 14.-After a session
lasting four hours to-day the combined
conference of the representatives of the
government, the coal owners and the
miners at the Foreign Office adjourned
until II 80 o'clock tomorrow morning.
The increasing clamor against adher-
ence to the policy of secrecy concerning
negotiations vitality affecting the whole
nation seems only TO have made the gov
ernment more reticent. The official
statement issued was the briefest yet.
the only information given concerning
the proceedings being:
THE position was further discussed"
The miners executive committee after
ward gave out resolutions which were
adopted prior to the opening of the con-
ference and later presented TO the dele
gates and ministers in joint session. The
resolutions state that the miners will
sanction district negotiations for a set
tlement Of rates for piece workers other
than coal getters when The owners con-
cede the minimum rates provided for in
the schedule drawn up by the Miners
Federation, with five shillings as the
o.,
shillings for boys. The resolutions indi-
cate that contrary view was widely
held yesterday.
Insist on Full Settlement.
The miners still insist that the settle
ment of the strike must be national in
scope. This one of the miners dele
gates frankly admitted, leaves no ghost
of chance for immediate settlement"
There are indications that the English
colliers who are in a position TO make
favorable terms with the owners are
growing restive. At Sunderland the
miners of the neighboring districts met
to-day and protested against the con-
tinuance of the strike. They agreed that
the DuTId1l lOuEtS VI sc tlt
bers TO return to work if truce is not
effective by the end of the week. In
Lanarkshire, Scotland, two pits have
been reopened with non-union miners.
Hunger already is affecting tens OF
thousands of workers who have been
thrown out of employment owing TO the
miners strike. There are more than one
million of these men who have lost their
work in consequence of the impossibility
of running factories and mills without
fuel, and their families have to rely on
their savings or or the small out-of-
work pay provided by the trade unions.
There are. however. many men uncon-
nected with the coal trade who do not
belong to any trade union from which
TO draw benefits, and these, with their
families are among the greatest suf-
ferers
Affects More Than 4,000, 900.
The magnitude of the strike is almost
inconceivable. 1t has affected in direct
way, counting oniy the miners and the
other men thrown out of work with their
families, more than four million persons.
In other respects 1t has paralyzed prac-
tically the whole life Of the nation.
Prices Of food have gone up, fuel is
virtually unobtainable. railroads have
curtajled their services, shipping has
baen held UP and every branch of in
dustry stopped to a greater or less ex-
tent.
Even the wealthy trade unions are he
ginning to feel the pinch caused by the
great demands on their resources by the
huge army Of the idle.
prussels. March 1.-THE enormous de-
,ds for coal from the Belgian coilieries
o., sh,nment to Antwerp are paralyzing
,r,.nort arrangements. The merchants are
o,,nIaining TO the Minister of Railroads
80. ,rado is at a standstll because they
cannot obtain cars.
T., ,s believed that the strike which
threatened all the Belgian collieries viii
~ a,erted. as the owners are showing a
a,snos,,ion 10 concede the increase demand
- -, ,,,e men. The Mariemont colliery has
s,.s,, Granted a per cent increase
po-u, March H.-The German coal strike
60 snreading rapidly TO other coal feids be-
s,des those in westphalia. More than three
hundred thousand miners have laid down