Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-02-29
EIGHT HUNDRED
THOUSAND STRIKE.
Members of Every Miners Union in
United Kingdom to Put Down
Their Tools.
INTO EFFECT AT u TONIGHT.
British Government ERdeaTorinS 10 In.
duce Operators to Accept the infYita'
bie--CrPat Anxiety.

/ London, FEB. 29.--Sevcn hundred
! thousand miners were on strike at
clock today. according TO reports re-
ceived today By the Premier. and il
| was certain that this figure would DC
! increased TO one million by midnight
London. Feb. 29.---Despite The op'
timistic attitude assumed for public
! consumption. no effort was made TO-
day by the British cabinet 10 dis
guise its apprehension over the coal
miners strike situation. A special
cabinet meeting began shortly before
noon, at which the entire matter was
gone over. II possible, Il final plan
was TO be adopted 10 end the strlkf
after its inception.
The general strike order goes into
effect at - o'clock tonight. Unless
| icountermanded. every union miner
| in the United Kingdom will throw
down his tools and they will not re-
turn until ordered 10 do so by The
union.
The union officials sent word tC
Premier AsQuith that no terms ar
ranged could be acceptable unless a
minimum wage scale was liked Tor
each district So far as the gov
ernmcnt's promise that such mini
mum scale would be guaranteed by
q law 10 be enacted was concerned,
the Premier was told this would be
all right, but the men would strike
until the legislation became reality.
+ The government was busy today
trying 10 influence the operators 10
accept the inevitable. 1t was pointed
out that. if the demanded conccs-
sions were made apparently volun-
iariIy TO the men. the position OF inc
employers would be much stronger
than if they were eventually forced
TO submit TO legislative coercion.
London. Feb. 29.-At five o'clock
this afternoon il was officially an
uounced that $4,000 coal miners
and their assistants had joined the
strike.
London, Feb. 29.--Compnlsory
legislation by Parliament is now the
last hope Of The officials to settle the
, big coal miners strike. which up &c
! late this afternoon had affected moro
than 100000 men and was expected
| 10 involve more than million b!
midnight.
| The tie-up Of the mines Throughout
/ the country is complete. Many oil tht
men quit ahead of time and those wht
remained at work did so only unit
| their notice TO their employers o
intention 10 quit, compulsory undc'
| the law become effective.
Todays meetings OF the strike com
millec and The employers proved I'll
tile. Each side stubbornly stood b!
their original position. the represen
tatives of the men explaining the.
| had no choice. that the rank and ilit
insisted on minimum wage scalt
and had voted To strike 10 enforce 1t
! Meanwhile the garrisons in ever.
army fort and post in the countr.
are in readiness for instant use
! Troops. however. will not be callet
out unless absolutely necessary. s.
far the temper Of the men is excel
lent. Their leaders have urged then
10 remain quietly at home.
The special cabinet council ad
iourned without action. Premie
Asquith explained that Parliamen
would have TO act TO establish
minimum wage scale, and a furthe
conference will be held tonight t
decide how this can be done.
The strike situation tonight wa
the most serious in the recent hlstor
OF the United Kingdom. Few OF IN
big industries have a reserve suppl
Of fuel on hand and they may nav
to close down, adding their thous
ands 10 the many already idle TN
may cause rioting.. as the maJorlt
of the industrial workers have llttl
monev 10 buy food, when their was
earning ability is interrupted.
Washington. Feb. 2S.-Five hui
dred thousand miners throughout IN
United Kingdom were reported
nave thrown down their tools an
walked out. in a cable received neT
today BY the War Department.
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