New-York tribune., 1912-03-17

minimum wage bill. because II would be
a guarantee that the agreements entered
into in order TO get the men back 10
work would not be violated
The strike leaders have been anxious
to avoid any approach to compulsory
arbitration and have consen. ed TO dis
| cuss schedules and minor DO nts rather
than expose the unions to suits for dam
ages for illegal strikes. The necessity
for safeguards in the interest Of the coal
owners, when miners were ret Giving full
satisfaction by the grant Of the mini
mum wage has rendered sgotiations
exceedingly difficult.
Mr.. Asquith has persevered because
there was no alternative to his proposals.
and he has commanded public respect
and gratitude for the patience, dexterity
and persuasive power with which he has
acted as peacemaker. His bill for the
settlement Of the strike by the establish
ment Of minimum wage and of COM
pulsory arbitration in the mining indus
try is not yet drafted, but the principles
were discussed and agreed upon In to-
days Cabinet council.
The Miners Federation claims a right
of veto If the text of the measure does
not satisfy the strike leaders, and the
Labor members threaten to oppose the
compulsory clauses. These menaces, of
course, will be futile If the two main
parties unite in enacting the measure
with the least possible delay, at crisis
like the present, when patriotic action is
indispensable.
There are no precedents, since Paria
ment has never before attempted to set
tie outright a wage dispute in an indus
try of the first magnitude. Apparently
ii will be necessary TO exclude the min
ing industry from the operation of the
trade dispute and the conciliation acts.
This will be easier than the introduction
clauses for the seizure of trade union
funds and interference with strike pay
1t will be an emergency measure, with
public opinion behind it, and it will be
applied tentatively because there Is no
time for a settlement with adequate
safeguards, and also because the trade
unions. which are paying out S1.45O, 900
weekly, cannot endure the exhausting
drain on their resources.
Since compulsory arbitration will not
be introduced for all industries, the act
will be nothing more than a temporary
truce for enabling the kingdom to re-
sumo its suspended activities and the
trade unions TO replenish their depleted
resources for another desperate conflict
Scottish "BackIees" Attacked.
While the strike thus far has been re-
markable for an absence of all violence.
there are indications that another week
Of enforced idleness is likely to lead to
serious outbreaks, especially in the
Lanarkshire district, where after the
news of the breaking down of the nego-
tiatiCns was published many non-union-
ist miners returned to the pits They
were attacked to-day by a great crowd
of strikers. The police made many ar
rests.
At the Armstrong, Whitworth e. Co
shipbuilding works, Newcastle on Tyne,
notification has been given that II the
strike lasts another week twenty thou
sand employees will be suspended
This morning the Great Western Rail-
way Company shut down its construc-
tiOn works at Swindon. throwing out OF
employment ten thousand skilled me-
chanics. The London e. North Western
Railway has given notice that after
Monday further large number Of cars
will cease running. while many other
railroad lines and factories have been
compelled to give their men notice TO
leave. Some Of the lines announce a
total abolition Of Sunday service.
The prolongation of the strike will
also seriously affect the nations over
sea food supply. A cable dispatch re-
ceived from Buenos Ayres by a large
firm of ship owners at Liverpool states
that il will be impossible TO obtain
bunker coal for steamers at any River
Plate port after the end Of March
Arthur Balfour has returned to West
minister in time for taking part in the
naval debates next week. Mr.. Church
ills memorandum. while satisfactory to
the blue sea patriots, is resented by Lit
tie Englanders and what is called pro
gtamme Radicals" II is considered pro-
vocative in Germany and has nullifed
the good effects of Lord Haldane's visit
-S--
GERMAN MINE OWNERS WIN