Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-02
GO TO MEET CONSTITUENTS
Will Ask Instructions at Week. End
Local Meetings.
ONE MILLION MEN ARE IDLE
Miners in Only One Colliery in
Wales Remain at Work.
RAILWAY TRAFFIC Is CURTAILED
Several Hundred Steamers Held Up
at Various Ports by Fuel Short
aEe-Minimum Wage Bill
..a In Probable.

LONDON, March l-Premier Asquith
today invited the miners executive COM
mittee TO meet the coal owners. but the
men declined. saying they had nothing
TO discuss. They had, they said. placed
their schedule Of minimum rates on the
table and they would maintain that po-
sltion until otherwise instructed by the
miners.
The miners delegates are now returning
TO their respective districts and viii sub
init the whole position in the coal dis
pute to their constituents at weekend
meetings and ask Instructions from
them as 10 how they are 20 deal with
the new proposals OF the government.
Even should the men approve Of the
submission OF the schedule OF minimum
rates Of wages to discussion as proposed
by the government the strike could not be
arrested for a week.
The shortage OF coal has had already
disastrous effect on commerce The
miners everywhere are quitting work in
the best holiday humcr and there is no
disposition anywhere for rioting
Premier Asqulth in the House OF
Commons this evening said that the
coal owners In practically the whole OF
England and In the north Of wales had
accepted the proposals Of the government.
The premier hoped TO be able 70 make
a further statement to the house on
Monday.
Only One Mine Working.
With the exception OF few small col.
leTies situated IN Isolated districts. all
the coal mines OF tho country are idle
this morning. Some OF those places where
work is stlll going on, notably In Warwick
shire, where 1000 men are employed. the
miners VIII join the strikers tomorrow.
, The only mine in the country where
the men have decided 10 remain at work
'is a little one in northern Wales, sld.
here Ise .mlning y carried On under pos
lice pfotfction. -
An official return issued this morning
estimates the number OF strikers who
have already laid down their tools as
Los, ,4O7.
In most or Tho districts fise men are
taking advantage VI the strike to efiloy
4 holiday and no troubia "a anticipated.
Ths greatest danger spot IL in South
Wales. where the most determined spirit
prevails. and where thc union funds are
oRly sufficient 10 provide strike pay 10
the men for a short time. The railways
throughout Wales issued notices today
that their train service would be cur
tailed. and othei ranwnys in Great
Britain VIII follow this example tomor-
row.
Conferences Are Hcsumed.
The miners federation resumed its con-
ferences this morning and one OF the
members expressed the opinion that the
negotiations with the owners would be
successfully terminated in the course OF
next week.
Public opinion generally endorses the
governments decision TO pass a minimum
wages bill unless the remainder Of the
owners agree TO that principle, which
has already been consented 10 By 90 per
cent Of the employers.
The conference of the miners fedora
tion adjourned after delegatIng TO the
executive committee full power TO con-
tinue the negotiations with the owners |
and 10 summon the conference TO meet |
again when Il shall be necessary.
Several hundred steamers are held up |
at the various ports through lack OF coal.
but the large Transatlantic, lines assert
they are well provided with fuel.
French Miners May strike.
PARIS. March The French Miners
union meeting at Amin telegraphed today
to the British Miners Federation coii-
gratulations on the coal strike, adding:
I'm few days the French miners will
strike"
There is no present indication of a gen.
eral strike in France. although many min
ers In the north are In favor OF II.