Evening star., 1919-10-03
.Lt]DYBeE0RGEF|R|u|z
! IN RAILWAY STRIKE
Insists Men Must Resume
Work Before Negotiations
l. Are Reopened.
Statement IS PUT FORTH
BY the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
LONDON. October 3.-Negotiations
between the government and labor
representatives other than railway
men were resumed today in an effort
to bring the authorities and the rail-
way representatives together for a
settlement Of the railroad strike.
Crowds thronged Downing street
this morning in expectation OF a re-
sumption of the conference between
the transport workers representatives
and other trade unionists with Pre-
mier Lloyd George in the endeavor to
mediate in the strike situation. The
crowds were orderly, but the, police
nevertheless caused them to quit
Downing street and move into White
hall.
At an early hour a conference took
place on the government side, in witch
the premier, George N. Barnes, minis
ter without portfolio; Sir Robert
Horne, the minister of labor, and Sir
Eric Geddes, the minister of trans
port. participated. At that time no
hour had b. en- fixed for the renewal
of the mediation effort, but shortly
after noon it was learned that depu-
tation of the transport men and asso-
ciated unions had gone to confer with
the premier and the ministers.
Unanimous Against Government.
Earlier in the day ]. H. Thomas.
the railway union secretary, an
utation which took part in the Down.
ing street conference yesterday were
unanimous in support Of the National
Union of Railwaymen in refusing the
governments offer regarding a set
tlement. The government had in
sisted that hn Hxy
the railway strikers before the ne
gotiations could be reopened, but 1t
appeared that the labor leaders OBJ
1ected both to this proposition and
i, to the % Carrying & cut Of the govern
Of the men for the last week they
worked before the strike.
Instructions to the miners organi-
xation as to their attitude toward
the srike were issued by Robert
miners federations were advised
against precipitate action in the pres
ent juncture, but the miners were
ordered not to undertake the duties
Of striking railroad men.
Premier Lloyd George insists the
men must resume work before nego-
tiations can be reopened. Many tele-
grams were received at headquarters
OF the national union from provincial
branches urging that the prenier's
organisation said that the govern
ments order Withholding the mems
pay for the last week they worked
had precluded resumption.
Responsibility for Withholding the
mems wages 10 assumed by the gov
ernment in q statement issued from
Downing street It reads as follows:
Governments Statement.
'"The members of the National
Union of Railwaymen broke their
contracts and stopped work without
notice in complete disregard of the1
eject their action would have ON the
citizens in their charge: They in
htcted damage on innumerable peo-
pie. left food upon which the public
depended for subsistence to go. to
waste. put vast numbers to great ex-
Ds1'e Ds1 by ls.y,ns tnsFss9ended with.
losses upon many By preventing them
from reaching destinations. The
damages to which they are liable in
law are vastly greater than the
amount now being withheld
an early resumption of work
occurs different considerations may
arise: In the meantime the country
10 still subject to unexampfed injury
oy the railwaymeffs action and. in
these circumstances. the government
would not be justified In handing
over to the strikers a sum which
would be used for prolonsing strug-
gle undertaken without any consid-
Grafton for the welfare of the pub
lie and which IL endangerinr the
whole life Of the nation"
Newspapers which strongly sun
port the government claim the latter
ID winning and urge no surrender. The
same claim is made by strike leaders.
Urges Miners to Act.
An executive Of one of the Scottish
mlners associations said yesterday:
The time has come for ,nfnars +o
railwaymen."
Several newspapers comment adj
ver3ely on the decision to withhold the
Eayment OF the last weeks pay of the
men. men II is admitted the governments