The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-03-02
MINERS OBDURATE;;
BRITAIN IN GLOOM
Men Refuse TO Discuss Details
of Minimum Wage
Demand.
WELSH RIOT: TROOPS READY
All Conferences or Until Next Week
French Collicry Hands Threaten
Sympathetic Strike.
WELSH RIOT: TROOPS READY

forts all day yesterday TO get the miner'
and the remainder Of the coal mins
owners to modify their position Premier
1 Asquith abandoned his efforts for peace
until next week. when the effort will bt
renewed. II the Government then find,
II impossible to effect an agreement IL
will resort to drastic measures. The
frst step will probably be the introduction
in Parliament Of a bill legalizing the mini
mum wage OF mine workers. II that il
Ineffective In reopening the mines the
Ministry is prepared to 60 further.
1t has been made plain that the Govern
ment intends that the coal supply shall
not cease and there is no reason to believe
that il will hesitate to take the most radi-
cal measures in order to bring about this
end even to taking over the mines.
The strike was inaugursted without
any disorder. Over a million miners are
idle Manufacturers who are dependent
upon coal for running their establish
ments are serving notice on their en-
ployees Of their intentio Of closing their
factories. The railways are curtailing
the train service. The Transport Work
es Union has decided to refuse to handle
coal for warships that has been imported
One Of the first results Of the strike
noted is that a big Italian gas company
has placed orders in the United States
for the immediate delivery at Genoa Of
100. 900 tons of coal. This is the first time
| this company has ever bought coal out
side of Great Britain. Indications are
coming from many points that much coal
will be purchased in the United States.
Dill II
have settled down to enjoy at least
weeks holiday There is every indica-
ion that work will not be resumed al
the collieries sooner than that, even il
there should be a set lement in the mean
ime
The executive Of the miners will not
meet again before the evening of Tuesday.
March S. and the negot ations with the
Government are not likely o be resumed
before March o. We are not in hurry.
said Mr.. Harvey. Laborite NJ. p. for
Northeast Derbyshire. to-day. We do
not mean TO conduct this like the railway
strike all rush and hurry. and then end
in a compromise
This accurately sums up the universal
attitude of the miners. They are con-
vinced that If they ait tight they will
obtain the minimum rate schedule they
have demanded. They feel themselves
masters Of the situation. Mr.. Smillie.
the vice-president OF the Miners Fedora
ton. puts il this way: The Government
asks us 10 justify the schedule. weiare
quite willing. but we cannot negotiate
with a view 10 reducing il Premier
Asquith appeals to us for IA reasonable
Ias I'D f,- -.
ticular rates. We reply that the schedule
is reasonable one and that We are pre-
pared TO prove its reasonableness
In short. the miners no" efYectually
blocks the way to a settlement The
mine owners scan no longer he regarded
as an obstacle in the way of an agreement
The Government has already the &C.
quieecence Of IS per cent Of them to the
minimum wage demand and is prepared
to coerce the remainder
That the Government is pessimistic in
regard to the outlook is obvious from the
tone Of a speech made to- night by Winston
Churchill. the First Lord OF the Admiralty
There is at present. he said. mo break
In the dark clouds covering the horizon.
A. the conflict proceeds il must bring
far greater injuries to tine public than to
either disputant II will also bring
miseries to the poor which are not yet
fairly realized"
The Great Central Railway seized coal
in transit on its lines to-day. claiming
that it was empowered under the law to
do so on condition that it paid the con-
signees the value Of the commodity.
The latter are indignant over the action
OF the railway company, which has caused
considerable anxiety. AZ 1t is feared other
railroads will take similar action
According to figures given out at the
Home Office this evening there are .04s. 4O7
miners now on strike. More factories
served notices on their employees to-day
that they would shortly be compelled to
shut down owing to the lack Of coal, and
several Of the big railroads expected 10
be forced to suspend operations. at least
partially. Service was curtailed to-day
on all the steamship lines out of Liverpool.
No vessels left the docks except the
passenger liners, which were compelled
to make their regular contract sa Il ngs.
Prime Minister Asquith in statement
in the House OF Commons this evening
said that the coal owners in practically
all England and north Wales had accepted
the minimum wage proposals Of the
Government In south Wales and SCOT
land the owners had declined the propo-
sition. The miners also have rejected
II, because they were unwilling to submit
the rates for a minimum wage to any form
OF revision. In these. circumstances it
was felt by the Government that no useful
purpose would be served at the present
moment by continuing the conferences.
The Premier promised to make further
statement to the House on Monday
Premier Asquith invited the miners
executive committee to-day to confer with
the coal owners. The men declined,
saying they had nothing 10 discuss.
They said they'hsd placed their schedule
OF minimum rates Oh the table and they
would maintain that position until other
wise instructed by the miners.
The Miners Federation resumed its
conferences this morning. One OF the
members said he believed that the nego-
tiations with the owners would be success
ful in the course OF next week The con-
ference adjourned after de legating to
the executive committee power to con-
tinue negotiations with the owners and
to summon the conference whenever
necessary
The miners delegates returned to
night to- their districts. They will submit
the situation to their constituenta at weak