New-York tribune., 1912-03-05
SETTLEMENT FAR OFF
IN BRITISH COAL TRADE
Keir Hardie Warns Men To Be
Prepared to Remain Out
for Six Weeks.
PREMIER ASQUlTH HOPEFUL
uead of Government Urges Re.
sponsibility Resting on All
M. P.'s to Refrain
from Comment.

1ondon. March At is quite impos-
,,ble TO hazard a guess as TO the BILE
dyration of the coal strike. James Keir
uordie. the Independent Labor member
!, Parliament expresses the opinion
that the strike will end in triumph
for the miners within ten days, but
that the men must be prepared TO re-
main on strike for six weeks.
Premier Asqmths statement in the
House of Commons to-day gave no new
Information and was only interesting a
showing that the government had not
lost hope Of bringing the disputants to-
gether.
Time is VITAL" he said. "to bring the
two points Of view approximately to-
eether and cannot help believing that
time will break the deadlock.
The two points Of view referred to by
Mr.. Asquith were those outlined in MS
speech 10 the miners delegates on Feb-
ruary %. IN which he pointed out that
the government had recognized the
principle Of the minimum wage de-
nanded by the underground workers
and that a majority of the coal owners
had assented TO the proposal.
The Premiers statement was largely
made up Of repetitlons of that speech.
He declared that the British govern
ment was still strongly of the opinion
that the best way TO fix a minimum
wage scale was for the government to
set up machinery for ascertaining the
,ocessary facts, but the miners still re-
|,sed 10 recede from their own schedule
Premier AS uith terminated by ap-
healing to the House Of Commons TO
recognize the terrible responsibility rest
ing upon every member to refrain from
comment ar the present time. Mr.. AS
ouith made one particularly interesting
statement in which he denied he had
said. as had been asserted in speech
Of one of the miners leaders. that the
government regar d the granting Of d
minimum wage in the coal trade as the
first step 10 the attainment Of a mini
mum wage for all industries
Cabinet Celebrating Scheme.
1t is understood that the government
IS busy working out the rates of mini
mum wages which could be fairly ap-
piled to the various districts, so as to be
ready with a detailed scheme when re-
quired.
The Labor party is still urging the
ministers to introduce a minimum wage
ho Of no
adjusted afterward.
No disorder has been reported in any
direction, but every hour brings fresh
evidence of the universal tie-up and in
convenience to national life caused by
the strike.
A report was received from Derbyshire
tonight Of movement on the part Of the
miners in the Midland counties 70 bring
about an amicable arrangement with the
mine owners. Such a partial settlement
is hardly probable, but if it really came
about it would do much toward effect
Ing a general settlement.
Factories Closing Down.
Besides the miners, considerably more
than a million of whom have ceased
work. II is now estimated that there are
upward OF 100000 workers in other in
dustrles idle owing to the strike. and
this number is being added to hourly, as
factory after factory is closing down.
The crews OF coal carrying vessels
lying in the cOaling ports are now being
discharged as the ships are unable to
get cargo. and the railroad employees are
suffering in a similar way because OF
the curtaiIment by the various cOmpan-
les of their train services. One short
railroad line in Yorkshire has discon-
tinued working entirely
In isolated instances the striking min
ors have refused permission to men 10
enter the mines In order to feed the
ponies which have been left below, or to
keep the workings clear. Generally
however, the utmost good feeling pre-
walls between the men and the owners.
Bochum. Germany, March "A miners
strike which was totally unexpected and
which had not ben ordered by the Miners
Union. broke out in three mines here to-
Gay, the men leaving work because. as they
assert, unjustiied deductions had been
made from their wages.
The incident is regarded as a grave one.
since It is feared that it may precipitate n
general strike Of miners on the question OF
wages, which the leaders Of the Miners
Union and the mine owners are just now
endeavoring 10 prevent in order to take
advantage Of the British coal strike.
The executive committee of the National
Miners Federation has issued proclama-
tion censuring the strikers for committing
breach of discipline by leaving work
without the consent Of the union. The
proclamation orders the men TO resume
work, but there is great apprehension that
the situation will get beyond control.