The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-02
ENGLISH MINERS
 VOTING AGAINST
 MINIMUM WAGE
Majority for Continuing Strike
 Increasing as Votes Roll In
Government Anticipating Worst Prepares To Call Out Troops To Aid Operators In
 Opening Mines
fSpecial from United Press.)

London, April 2.-At o'clock. to- pirht. the Miners Union headquarters announced that the referendum vote on whether the miners shall return to work under the terms of the new minimum wage scale law stood:
 Aagainst returning, 135.OOO; for re- sumption. 123, 1000.
 Many of the miners who vOteu to accept the law have already returned to the pits. it being estimated that there were not less than 10000 at work. today. If the decision is against going back to work the oper- aforS are counting on wholesale de- SertiOns from the unions.
 London, April 2-GOvernment offi- cials and commercial circles were aghast and greatly perturbed at noon. today. when it was learned that the optimistic statements of the miners union leaders, that the miners would carry the proposition to return to work by a to 2 vote. were not only unfounded but that the men would probably vote not to go back. Even though the proposition should be car- ried in the last few hours, the result would be so far from decisive there is doubt whether the militant mem> bers of the organization will go back to work.
 At noon. today headquarters an nounced that the situation stood: against returning 1O6,252. for resuming work 101.44.
 The bailoting will continue, tonight. and the complete result will be avail able early Wednesday. Leaders throughout the country are troubled by the stand adopted by the men. They are satisfied that the maximum concession has been made that can be secured by law and they believe the government is determined, if the union men will not return to work on their own initiative. to bring into ac- ton every resource of the govern ment to end the strike.
 That belief was strengthened by the activity in military circles, this afternoon. when it became apparent that the proposition to return to work was in danger of defeat. The great troop trains that have been standing on the sidings at the larger military depots were got into readiness for in- stant departure. Engines were att tached and baggage cars loaded down with camp equipment and supplies from the commissary depots.
 The big transport automobiles of the engineers were fitted out and it was stated that all of the fighting force in England. Scotland and Wales is ready on signal to move to the coal districts
 Premier Asquith has made it plain that. if the men will not go back to work, he will send plenty of soldiers to the mines so that the owners can make good their boasts that they can operate with incomplete forces if they are only furnished with protection.
 we expect trouble and we are ready for it, said one of the officials, today. 'If the men will not accept what are really liberal terms then all we can do Is to grant the right of any man to work We may have some bloody riots but they will be prompt ly put down and a lesson taught"
 Because of a belief that the miners will be able to bring about a trans> port strike to aid them, the govern 1nent is prepared to furnish troops to run all passenger and perishable freight trains and to move coal trains with needed fuel to the big centers of industry. There was a wide diff ference of opinion as to whether this step will be necessary, most of the railreoad men insisting they are not in accord with sympathetic strike.
 Strike Cost Government $2,OOO, ,O0O.
 London, April 2-The coal strike was. today. charged with a loss of $2,000,00 by the government, when Chancellor LlOyd-George introduced the budget in the House of Commons. The chancellor declared that the strike has cost the government that amount in revenues. The loss to the postoffice service, he estimated, was $20O,o00.