The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-03-22
LOTS Of TALK
But No GOAL.
English Mines Are Still Closed While
Members of Parliament Argue
on the Wage Scale
Bill.
NO DECISION REACHED
Both Sides of Strike Find Some OBJ
IectIons to the Plan and States
mon Play Politics Arund

limited Press Leased Wire Service.l
LONDON. March 22.-That the con-
servative members OF parliament will
content themselves with voicing their
protest against the minimum wage
scale bill designed to settle the mine
strike, and will not be parties to any
combination to kill 1t, thus defeating
the government and precipitating
parliamentary crisis, WAS demonstrate
ed today
After Premier Asquith had explain
ed in the house Of commons that he
bad been forced to reject the labor
members amendment fixing the min
imum wage rate at Ave shtllings for
the men and two shillings for the boy
workers because the miners opposed
the fixing of a minimum amount Of
work as days labor, and also be-
cause 1t would establish dangerous
precedent which would be followed by
& demand from other trades for sim
liar action he received unexpected
support from Bonar Law.
Law is the leader of the conserva-
tives, selected to succeed Former
Premier Balfour when he asked to be-
relieved of most of the pressing
duties OF floor management of the
minority He said that the action OF
the premier was to be commended
and the tone of his remarks through
out were conciliatory. indicating that
4 the conservatives will not vote as
4 unit In any combination against the
j government.
Enooh Edwards and other mine lead
ers who followed the DEBATE, express
ed the fear that the passage Of the
, bill, practically unamended, ignoring
the planks which the miners so earn
estly advocate, may prevent the i'm
mediate settlement of the strike.
:, 1t was semi-offcially announced
that the federation of mine workers
had quietly served notice on the
| premier that If the fixing of the min
imum wage rate was not left to the
| local committees instead of being in
6 cluded in the general law they would
) refuse to open their mines. AS no
i penalty was fixed for failure to abide
r by the provisions of the proposed law
the government could not make the
, owners open their mines and Asuuith
3 1t is said. was compelled to fall back
E on the original bill with few slight
0 amendments to the text, which failed
to change the general intent Of the
measure.
Premier Asquith announced that
j, the bill will be placed on order OF
third reading tomorrow and after a
debate will be passed. He stated
r positively that the necessary votes
have been assured. The premier
further declared that the bill will be
called up in the house OF lords on
] Monday and passed there.
. The debate became general, a num-
= ber of the leading labor members
= denouncing the premier for acceding
% to the demand of the mine owners and
= refusing to fix the minimum by law.
= They warned the premier he would
% have to shoulder the responsibility il
u the bill failed to settle the strike
y when passed in an emasculated form,
20 Sir A. b. Markham, representing
the Newcastle district, said that il
lID6 MINIMUM wage SCdl6 tdlueHuHe1lt
70 was not incorporated present condi
ie tions would continue at the majority
y OF the big Newcastle colleries. The
II miners there, he said, have adopted
~ resolutions urging their leaders tc
su stand fast for the fixed scale ant
pledging themselves not to return tt
work until they gain their point.
J. r. Macdonald, the leader OF thf
laborites. after it had been demon
strated that the government was ii
1 control, and only amendments sane
toned by it could be tacred onto th
i'll bill. announced that the miners wer
willing to waive the schedule fixed
and have it referred to the distric
boards created under the act.
e,] 1t is expected that the genera
ng widespread distress resulting fror
the closing down of industries ever,
ny where, the depletion of strike benz
get fit funds and the general pressure {
ate public opinion everywhere will fore
in both sides to accept the bill an
fu- abide by the decision of the common
If the miners refuse to accept b
ge- cause they want their utmost d
to mands granted, the premier will a
the eept the offer OF the mine owners
the operate the mines if guaranteed pleni
OF guards to protect strikebreakers.