The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1912-03-28

coal owners, after a prolonged meet
ing this afternoon, resolved to accept
the minimum wage bill. This means
That all the mines will be opened to
the men as soon as they desire to
return to work.
London, March 27.-At a full meet
ing of the Miners Federation today
1t was decided to take an immediate
ballot among the men to determine
whether they desire to accept the
governments minimum wage bill and
return to work.
The governments minimum wage
bill, the object of which was to put
stop to the disastrous coal miners
strike, will be the law of the land
within twenty-fCur hours. Thus far,
however, the end of the strike and
of The distress and suffering it is
causing to million miners and over
two million other workers and their
families and dependents throughout
the country is not in sight.
The mine owners also conferred,
but the result of their decisions has
not been made public.
Delegates Return to Men.
The miners delegates will return
ITO thei1 respective districts at the
earliest moment, so that no time shall
be lost in carrying the result of the
ballot, whatever it may be, into eff
feet.
The text of the ballot says:
Are you in favor of resuming work
pending the settlement of the mini
mum rates of wages in the various
grades by the district boards to be
appointed under the coal mines min
imum wage act?"
: The more moderate members tried
to get the federation to insert a rec
-ommendation on the ballot, but it
was decided to leave the men a free
hand.
There appears at the present mo-
ment little likelihood of an imme-
diate settlement, and the question
now being discussed is, what action
the government will take un1er the
minimum wage bill.
The cabinet hopes that the miners
will seize the excuse afforded by the
enactment of the minimum wage bill
for returning to work. Even if this
hope should be realized it would be
necessary to take measures to relieve
the great distress, and it is under
stood that the government already
has decided on aa effective method of
carrying this out. The protection OF
the miners who resume work, also
must be provided for and this, it is
thought, would necessitate the call
ing out of the army reserves.
Program of Government.
1t also is likely that the govern
ment will establish a national wage
bill with an independent chairman to
consider and determine on proposals
for the introduction of the minimum
daily rates of $1.25 for men and so
cents for boys, on the understanding
that these two points settled all the
miners will return to work while ne
gotiations are proceeding for fixing
minimum rates for other grades OF
workmen.
Already troops are in a state of
preparedness in Wales, and at any ,
moment their services may be rel
quired to protect the miners at the
Brynkinalle colliery, who have been
working for several days, and an at
tempt to interfere with whom was
made last night. Early this morning
the miners connected with the col
lieries of the surrounding districts |
began to march in a body toward
Brynkinalle and they were quickly |
followed by a force of police re-
serves.
Trouble also is feared in Scotland,
where many men have returned to
the ,,its and others are anxious to fol- |
low their example.
The depletion of the funds of the
miners union also is having consid- !
cradle effect on the miners?