New-York tribune., 1920-10-25
Government, 1t Is Report
ed, Will Grant Demand
for Raise if Men Pledge
Increase i'm Production
Union Heads Confer
With the Cabinet
Lloyd George Takes Full
Charge of Negotiations,
Silencing All Opposition
b. Arthur S. Draper

From The Tribunes European Bureau
copyright. 1920, New York Tribune Inc.)
LONDON, Oct. PA settlement of
tho miners strike is expected this
week. Considerable progress was made
to-day at conference at the Premier's
residence in Downing Street between
representatives of tho miners and
Lloyd George and several members of
his Cabinet.
The government yielded at the con-
ference, it is understood tonight, and
made what amounts practically to
capitulation to the demands of the
miners for an increase in wages of
shllings day. The miners, how
ever, would be placed on their honor
under the new proposal made to them
by Lloyd George. to Increase the pro-
duction of coal
anxious to avoid any further disloca-
ton of national Industries and they
recognize the fact that they have no
support outside of the ranks of labor,
while even there the distress incident
to long strike would weaken the will
of the workers. Under the best con-
ditions there must necessarily be wide
spread unemployment.
Union Heads Favor Settlement
If settlement Of the coal strike,
therefore, rested solely with the dele
gates who met Lloyd George to-day
there is no question that it would be
reached quickly but among the miners
there is a considerable number of ex
tremists. The influence of Robert
Smllie and Frank Hodges, representa-
tives of the miners, is so great, how
ever, that many believe that their ad-
vice will be accepted.
Lloyd George has taken full charge
of the governments negotiations, and
at to-day's conference it was apparent
that those ministers who up to this
time have opposed any sort of COM
promise with the miners have been
forced to step aside.
The results of the conference were
communicated Immediately after its
close to the miners executive.
Would Avoid Rail Walk-Out
The settlement of the miners strike
would automatically dispose cf the
threatened sympathetic walk~out by
railwaymen and transport workers.
There are all signs tonight of a
marked improvement in the industri al
situation. The tension which has pre-
vaded the country seems broken. There
has been a tendency all along TO regard
the miners walk-out and its attendant
circumstances as something more scri-
Gus than any ordinary strike. The press
without exception has spoken in grave
tones. Hundreds Of churches have Of
fered special prayers for industrial
peace and the country has come
through a crisis with double force of
police on duty in London's main thor
oughfares.
A series of conferences will be held
this week 1T which the governments s
stand will be the chief subject for dis
cussion The most important of these
meetings is the gathering of rcpresen-
tatives of all labor unions next Wednes-
day, when the general policy of labor
will be considered.
In some quarters emphasis is placed
upon the political end of the miners
strike, but little has happened ap-
parently to- justify the statement that
it has been based on anything but eco
nomic questions. However, it is agreed
that prolongation of the strike would
lead to political events OF profound
Importance.
Cannot Control the Output