The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-15
BRITISH MINERS
VOTE TO STRIKE
Workers 154 to p Reject
Leaders Plea for Further
Negotiations.
PREMIER Is NOTIFIED
All Plants Are Expected to
Shut Down Tomorrow
Night.
PREMIER IS NOTIFIED

Special Gable Despatch TO TIE NEW YORK
HEIALp.
COPYRIGHT, 1920, By THE New YoaK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, Oct. II.
1t seems practically certain tonight
that all British coal mines will close
down on Saturday, when 500, 900 miners
lay down their tools. Bob" Smillie,
miners leader. and his lieutenants
We're unable to lay the ghost of un-
rest they had raised. Although they
fought valiantly, they obtained only
twenty-seven votes in favor of further
negotiations to try to effect a settle
ment Of the controversy, against 154
for a strike, in the conference of dele
gates here to-day.
The conference followed the an
nouncement of the result of the
miners ballot to decide upon accept
ance or rejection of the basic line of
production offered by the owners be-
yond which an increase or wages
would be granted. The voting re-
suited:
For acceptance. 1914
Against acceptance, 6S5.09s.
Majority against acceptance, 453,670.
Following the conference the miners
representatives notified Premier Lloyd
George by letter of their action.
Takes Up Challenge.
The Premier was quick to reply. and
! he got in his answer to-night--an an
swer in which he took up the challenge
Ivy the miners. 1t contained no further
hint of the possibility of compromise,
end observers see in It the lines upon
which the Premier will seek, in this
epochal battle. to head the forces of
order against radical labor.
I'm facing the trials which the de-
cision by your conference to-day has i'm
posed our people and country no doubt
will be fortified in their determination
20 endure them by the fact that the
proposals (for a settlement) which have
been made by their elected Government
have received the support OF the most
responsible minds within your fedora
tion." the Premier said in his letter.
Upon our part we have explored and
are still ready to explore. every avenue
that might lead to a peaceful solution
Of this difficulty. and 1 can only express
profound regret that the proposals. all of
which must be regarded as supremely
reasonable, to-day received final rejec-
ton at the hands of your conference"
Some Are sanGuin.
Despite the fears openly expressed
here that the strike will mean a catas-
trophe for the entire imperial CONNER
cial structure. which is just emerging
successfully from the strain of recon-
struction. there Is. no doubt, huge
opinion which holds that the country
cannot be held up at the point OF a
gun again and again. and that the bat
tie might as well be fought out now.
Other labor besides tho miners are
dead against the strike, In view OF the
depressing reports OF growing unemploy-
ment in the Midlands and the Black
country. But this labor influence is ex-
erted only through the Triple Alliance
(the unions OF the railroad men, the
transport workers and the miners)
and through the Trades Union Congress
over the miners and these organizations
have shown they are powerless to act In
the face OF the way the miners them
selves have taken the bit In their teeth.
The miners believe they have been out
jockeyed OF one demand after another
and many of them are. therefore. ready
to strike in a holiday spirit.
The closure of the mines with all that
means in the way OF cutting Off Great
Britain's most valuable single contribu-
tion In the scale of international trade |
which already Is heavily swinging
against her is shown in exchange. and II |
comes Just before the reassembling OF
Parliament here next Tuesday.
Generally speaking. industry in Great |
Britain is we'll entrenched for the fight |