New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-26
DISTRESS IS NATI0N-WID
Every Industry in the Land Is
Throttled for Lack of Coal
Some Miners Break from
Leaders and Return
10 Work.
IBy cable to The Tribune.

leaders. which was TO settle everything,
did not after all, take place. The own
.ers met the government and the miners
met the government, but the owners
and the men did not meet each other,
presumably because they would not.
At the close Of the day every moment
of which almost was occupied by meet
ings of the parties to the dispute, the
much desired settlement was not
reached.
That the subject which was so long
under discussion was the now famous
five shiIlings and two shillings demand
may be assumed. and it seems fairly GER
tain that the owners refused to consider
this.
II is expected that the government will
proceed with its minimum wage bill in
the House Of Commons to-day.
London. March 25.-The twenty-fifth
day If the national coal strike ends with
nearly three million workers idle tens
keep them from starvation every manu-
featuring industry in the land under
going a thrOttlng, and a settlement ap-
parently as remote as ever.
The sanguine expectations at the be-
ginning of the day that the joint con-
ference of coal owners and miners,
dramatically summoned by the Premier
on Friday last. would reach an agree
mcnt that would end the struggle, were
replaced by the gloomiest forebodngs
when it was learned that no Joint con-
ference had been held. For two and a
half hours the Prime Minister and his
colleagues labored with the committee
representing the coal owners, and for
four hours and a half with the miners
executive. but they failed so completely
to secure concessions from either which
would afford a basis for agreement be
tween them that it was found inadvis-
able 10 bring the disputants together
again.
As in previous crises in the situation,
the government resorts 70 mystifying
secrecy, the only information vOuchsafed
in the official statement issued this even
ing being: The conference adjourned
until Tomorrow"
With everybody concerned in the nego-
tiations pledged 10 silence, what changes
tomorrow will bring cannot be pre-
dicted.
The one fact that stands out promi-
nsntly is that the Intervention Of the
government thus far has proved entirely
futile
The nearest the disputants got to each
other during the day was when the rep
resentatives Of one side entered the door
Of Premier Asquths official residence
as the others left.
Owners Still Obstinate.
The owners still appear dis!nclined to
depart from their original attitude of
opposition to the introduction of specific
figures. such as Sr25 and 30 cents for
men and boys. respectively, into any
terms Of settlement.
What expectations are now enter
taincd that the ruinOus struggle will be
speedily terminated are based on the
hope that the miners will in increasing
numbers break away from the leaders
and resume work. Their funds are rap
idly dwinding, and the men are likely
to take this step if assured that recog
milton Of the principle of the minimum
wage is conceded. 4 majority of them
have nothing 10 gain 10y q prolongation
Of the strike
il ~
incnt is not reached by the end of this
week all the passenger trains on every
branch line in the UHitcd Kingdom will
he suspended. The general managers Cf
'he railroads held q meeting i'm London
to-day and after taking stock Of the
fuel on hand reached the conclusion thai
this step would bc necessary.
Everywhere the working classes par.
uoularly those dependent upon the
MINES are undergoing unspeakable suf-
ierhg. 1t is recognized that some meas
ures must be speedily taken TO put an
eho to conditions which. If not remedicd
M''hh very few days, must result in
ulsaster in the whole nation.
Starvation in South Wales.
In South Wales. where the funds ol
,ne miners unions are completely ex.
"'"S'eu' conditions have reached a ter.
'''ie pitch. Many Of the chapeIs ano
d" OF the schools in Cardiff and it's vi.
''"i'! nave organized soup kitchen,
where the poor can obtain some meagr,
"oufishment. Labor yards have ais.
''eh opened by the authorities am
many Of the men are there. earning 4
small amount daily. Besides this tn,
officials OF the municipalities are busiI>
engaged In relieving the women ant
children.
In one district alone in South Wale,
lour hundred non-uniOnlst wOrkme.
nave applied 10 the parish poor authOri
ties for relief and throughout Wale,
me army of unemployed continues TO IN
crease owing TO the reductions In th'
working staffs IN every branch Of trade
a similar story comes from Scotland
Large numbers Of the miners Of Eas
Loihlan are in such straits that they
are searching for coal In the disuset
WORKINGS along the beach.
lp Glasgow alone forty thousand non
miners are idle while in and arouno
CoDtinued On nftb PAGE