The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1912-03-22
ENGLISH STRIKE
IS NOT CHECKED
PREMIER ASoUlTH REJECTS a
MINERS AMENDMENT. .
CLOSES DOOR TO SETTLEMENT
The Bill, introduced j. the Great
est Calamity Ensla 50 'r Knew
Must Still Run the Gaze -. # Com
nnitteemen. y q

Wust ot'iI NUN inc Sas[ u So'"
mitteemen. u "a
London, March 22.-Pren. u. s.
auth in the house of Commo, ~.
afternoon refused to accept the q,
ers' amendment to the minimum W,
bill providing a minimum of Sl25 an
80 cents as the day wage for men ana
boys respectively.
EnoCh Edwards, labor member of
parliament and president of the Min
ers Federation of Great Britain, at
once acknowledged the premer's re-
lection of the miners amendment and
closed the door to an immediate set
Element of the strike.
The bill which the government in
troduCed into parliament to put stop
to one of the greatest calamities that
ever overlook this country and which
was read second time in the house
of commons last night, still has to run
the gauntlet of the committee stage
1t was here that the miners represen-
tatives in parliament endeavored to
procure the acceptance of amend
ments fixing minimum rates of wages
Refusal Causes Sensation.
The house had just entered on the
committee stage of the minimum
wage bill when the miners amend
ment was removed and Premier AS
ouith's pronouncement, the gravity of
which was immediately recognized be-
cause it is practically certain to
bring about another deadlock, caused
a sensation among the members. In
opposing the miners amendment the
premier said that he was inclined to
think the figures reasonable ones, but
that it was most undesirable to in
sert in the bill any specific wage or
to establish the precedent of fixing
the rate of wages by act of parlia
ment 1t would, he pointed out, be
peculiarly dangerous to the men them
selves, because if parliament express
ed it's judgment that $l.25 was fail
minimum wage that sum would be
treated as the maximum
Enoch Edwards, the miners leader
declared the decision announced by
that the final form of the bill would
commend itself to the good sense o
both sides.
The refusal of the amendmen
meant the closure of the door which
yesterday appeared open to a settle
ment.
Andrew Bonar Law, the officia
leader of the opposition sided with thu
government which, he said, could no
have taken any other course.
Government May Take Hand.
If the miners refuse to work, tn
government must face the necessit
OF taking those "other and differen
measures" foreshadowed by the pre-
mier yesterday and which are belieN
ed to mean adequate protection TO
those men desiring to return to work
Despite the decision of the union
there already is, particularly in SEQ
land, steady trickling of the miner
back to the pits. Even with a genera
resumption, however, the mines wi
not be in working order again befor
Easter and some of the smaller one
which have been flooded will neve
be reopened.
Some of the larger mine owner!
100, declare it will be impossible
work their pits IL the minimum rat
of wages are granted.
Thousands Face Starvation.
In the meantime starvation face
the industrial population of the coul
try. The funds of the trades union
are running low, and in some place
this weeks payment of out-of-wor
benefit will be the last
At Burstem in Staffordshire 400
meals have been served by the vica
OF the parish in the last eleven day
for which small charge has bee
made. Now the people of the distrit
are unable to bear the burden of pa
ing even penny for the meal, an
are compelled to fall back on Chart
Soup Kitchens Established.
In Wales and Scotland and in II
industrial districts of England, reli
work has been started and soup Ii
Chens established. There is scarce
mining village in Scotland whe
the children are not being fed by Il
public authorities. The work OF I
lieving the distress is gaining beyor
>the means of the local charities al
demands are being made on the go
eminent to take it up.
II is estimated the miners thus I
have lost in wages $26, 40S, $50 besid
the depletion OF the union funds.
Factories and work of all kinds ;
over the country continue to clio
down and all the railroads are redr
ing their services to the minimum
The food supplies from abroad a
also threatened.
The Whole World Affected.
The bacon factories and creameri
of Denmark, which depend entire
on England for their coal, will so
have to discontinue their shipmer
TO this country. News comes tod
that one OF the South American e
ernments is communicating I
stocks of coal on hand at its ports I
naval purposes, which will prete
the shipment of meat to England.
1t is officially declared today Il
the Derbyshire pits will not be