Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-09-22
England Facing
Nation Wide Coal
Strike on Monday

London, Sept. 21.-(By The ASSo-
ciated Press)-Failing an eleventh
hour development. virtually every coal
mine in the United Kingdom will be
idle next Monday, meeting of the
delegates from all districts having
this afternoon accepted the report of
the executive committee of the FEEDER
alton to the effect that nothing had
been achieved by the negotiations to
prevent a strike. The delegates, who
numbered nearly two hundred, also
endorsed the proposals which the ex-
ecutive made to Sir Robert S. Horne.
president of the Board of Trade.
The next move, therefore, appears
to be with the Cabinet which met to-
day to receive Sir Roberts report on
his conferences with the miners com
mittee. 1t is considered possible that
the cabinet may reverse the decision
~ the president of the board of trade
that the question of an increase of
two shillings demanded by the miners,
on which the negotiations broke down
must be referred to an independent
tribunal. AS the minister had fire.
quently consulted with his colleagues
during the conferences however, it is
generally believed that they agree
with him.
1t is unlikely that the miners will
give way on their demand for an i'm
mediate increase of two shillings, for
from what can be gathered from the
meeting of the miners delegates to-
day. they were not too pleased at the
action of the executive in dropping
their demand for reduction in the
price of domestic coal. 1t is true that
q few delegates were opposed to goine
to the length of striking, in view of
public feeling against it, and there
was considerable minority which
voted against the strike. But the ma
iority favored forcing their demand
by this means.
A coal strike would in a very short
time paralyze the industries of the
country. but possibly this; would en-
sue even before the factories were out
of fuel, as the transport workers, who
with the miners and railway men
form the triple alliance the most
powerful trade-unionist organization
III tHe country dl II liittlihS eIiuoi Seu
! the action of the miners Executives
| and instructed their executives 10
recommend any action II deemed
| necessary.
The National Union of Railway Men
| also met, but no statement was is
| sued There will be a meeting of
| the Triple Alliance itself tomorrow
| TO consider the situation.
Even without the miners strike the
! industrial situation is serious. I'm
employment has largely Increased in
the past month. due 70 many of the
wooden and cotton mills ard boot fac
tories working part time and the cut
ting down of the stats at ship yards;
andengineering and automobile works
| as result of the falling off Of orders
| and the feeling among employers in
other Industries that owing TO the
decreased output they are unable To
pay the present rate of wages.
The cotton industry also is threat
, ened with lockout, the Master Spin
| ners' Association having today decid-
ed to call a meeting to consider the
question of taking united action I'M
less the strike of the old ham-spin-
ners which began yesterday was set
| tied. This means that the employers
will be prepared to lock cut all the
spinners in the country