Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-11
WORLD STRIKE NEAR
Only Settlement of Coal Row
in U. S. Can Prevent 1t.
SITUATION ALARMS TRADE
Operators and Miners Confer in
New York Wednesday.
BRITISH BREACH STILL WIDE
Traffic Halts. Mills Close and Food
Prices Rise-Strikes on in
France and Germany.

NEW YORK. March IA worldwide
strike or coal miners is regarded by the
coal trade as more than a likelihood ~
the present negotiations now In progress
between the anthracite and bituminous
workers and their employers in this coun-
try do not result in a settlement OF work
ing conditions
With more than million coal miuers
on strike in Great Britain and lJOOu
miners In Germany voting to quit work to
force higher wages. a severe coal short
age IN Europe is faced. The anthracite
coal operators are drafting their reply to
the hard coal workers here for presenta-
ton 10 the miners Wednesday,, while next
week at Cleveland the bituminous operat-
ors and their employees will confer for the
purpose OF trying to bring about an ad-
justment Of conditions in the soft coal
fields.
Exporting to European Ports.
Meanwhile coal is being loaded on the
Atlantic seaboard for South American
and European ports usually supplied by
English firms
The reply which the committee of an
thracite coal operators proposed to draft
today refusing the demands for ~ per
cent increase in wages. recognition OF the
union and certain conditions of labor Is
expected to give in detail the reasons for
the refusal of the operators to meet the
demands. The operators plan this after
noon to draft the reply to the miners, but
the statement is made that until the re-
ply is formally made to the men its con-
tents would not be made public
Demand May Be Modified.
At the joint conference of operators
and miners here Wednesday the reply
will be made. The answer Of the oper-
ators. 1t is believed. will be OF such char
acter that will lead to a submission Of
modified demands on the part OF the men
and a series Of further conferences look
Ing toward an adjustment.
Meanwhile consumers are heavy pur.
ums are being paid on coaol for the privi-
lege OF stocking up 1t Is stated that q
| months supply of small steam Sizes Of
anthracite is above the ground at differ
ent points, and that from now until the
end of the month. when the present work
ing agreement with the miners expires.
the railroads expect to mine a heavy
tonnage.
No Peace in Sight in Britain.
LONDON. March 1.-THE British coal
strike, which began on March 1. when
nearly 100000 employed in the colliezies
Of England. Scotland and Wales laid
down their tools at given signal. shows
little sign of settlement.
Besides the miners, another million
workers. men and women employed In
factories and mills In all parts OF Great
Britain. have been thrown out of en-
ployment because Of the impossibility Of
obtaining fuel to run the machinery.
Prices of provisions and all the neces-
saries OF life have gone up to such an
extent that extreme distress exists among
the poorer classes.
Railroads have had to restrict their
train services, river steamers have had
to cease running. the gas and electric
supply works have been compelled to
restrict their delivery of illuminants.
the mail services have been retarded
and many ocean steamers have had to
be laid up in harbor.
Minimum Wage Bill Proposed.
The government has been trying to
| bring the miners and the coal owners
together, but has not yet succeeded,
| and 1t is thought probable that as a
final measure a minimum wage pill
for miners will have to be introduced
in the house Of commons. Many Of the
mine owners have expressed their
| sympathy with the principle Of fixed
minimum wage. but others decline even
to consider the idea.
For the rapidly dwlndling stocks of coal
on hand in North Wales an advance in
price of from 10 to 100 per cent has been
demanded today, and this fact has necessi-
ia ted the closing OF practically every fac
tory and quarry in that part of the coun-
try. In other portions of the United
Kingdom conditions are almost as bad.
Two Paper Mills Shut Down.
The shipments of coal from the ports
Of South Wales last week amounted only
to $4,000 tons. compared with the usual
total of 10000 tons per week.
Two of the largest papers mills in the
midland counties ceased work today and
all their employees were discharged. From
every other point throughout the coun-
try reports are reaching London that
work is being stopped.
The pressure of traffic the street
cars and omnibuses in London as a re-
suit OF the restriction of the suburban
train service has become great that
the authorities have given permission TO
people to stand up In the vehicles the
rule against which is in normal times
rigidy enforced. infraction of it being
verely punished.