Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-23
PREMIER WEIGHING
FACTS AND THEORY
Of MINE SITUATION
Lloyd George Waging Battle
Within Self to Reach
Proper Course.


LONDON, October ,3.-The
railwaymen have postponed their
proposed strike in sympathy with
the miners temporarily, at the
request of the miners executive,
it was announced this evening.
The miners have accepted an
invitation from Premier Lloyd
George for further discussions.
BY EDWARD PRICE BELL.
By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News
Copyright. 1920.
LONDON, October 22.-Inside in
formation reveals that Premier Lloyd
George is waging a battle with him
self over the coal miners strike and
it's threatened extension Lloyd
George the fighting man resents the
action of the miners, railway men
and transport workers in trying to
get their way by force, rather than by
argument.
Lloyd George the student of politi-
cal and industrial tendencies per-
ceives the advisability of attaching
less Importance to abstract principles
than to concrete realities.
Triple Alliance IntoIerabIe.
From the standpoint of theory he
finds the triple alliance intolerable.
From the standpoint of conditions. he
fears that there may be so much right
on the miners side that opposition to
their demands is doomed to failure.
One of the prime minister's advis-
ers. who may be assumed to reflect
the mind of the head of the govern
ment, said today:
However, strongly we feel that the
unions are taking an inadmissable
line, we are convinced that they will
win if they are right. Justice seems
to us to be the only thing that will
save our present form of government.
We are doing our utmost to find out
what is just and do it. There is no
doubt that justice to the working peo-
pie has not been universal in the past.
Workers. Iden May BE Inflated.
Perhaps the workers now have an
inflated and impossible idea of their
proper share in the fruits of indus
try but they are examining the facts
Officially and arguing closely.
Moreover. we must consider par
ticularly just now not only what the
facts are, but what the working mil
lions think they are. / do not mean
that we must yield to injustice; this
would spell bankruptcy and revolu-
ton. mean that great patience and
sympathy Is needed In dealing with
men and women who have suffered
much and who fancy themselves
| wronged. Nothing is surer in our
opinion than that the vast bulk of
Britishers want no ff1bre than is real
ly theirs by right"
Peace Forces Dominant.
Peace forces are still dominant, al
though the action of the railway men
and transport workers in suddenly
demanding the immediate resumption
of negotiations looking to settle
ment of the coal miners strike on
penalty of a wide extension of the
strike has complicated the situation
and made settlement far less easy
than it would have been otherwise.
j. H. Thomas. NJ. p. general secre-
tary of the National Union of Rail
way Men. said to the writer today:
Personally, l am opposed to the
railwaymen's ultimatum, though my
official position required that l pre-
sent it to the prime minister. j hope
George is showing restraint. / do
not think he will do anything out of
pique or because of an exaggerated
notion of the sacrosanct nature of
the governments prestige" Indigna-
tion prevailed in the lobby of the
precipitate and menacing behavior of
the railway men and transport work
erS. However, the majority support
ed the peace-makers in the cabinet.
urged them to persevere in their eff.
forts to find just settlement. ignor-
ing the fact that a pistol had been
aimed abruptly at the nations head
Wish to Break Impaxse.
I've simply wish to break the i'm.
passe," said one of the railway nen'i
leaders who voted for the ultimatum
Something must be done. We believe
that the demand of the miners is more
than reasonable. and we believe that
to realize the facts. The two shillings
(48 cents) they ask is more than en-
ceeded by the latest advances in the
cost Of living
kilograms indicating that the view OF
the workers generally is that because
the coal strike is throwing hundreds of
thousands of men and women out OF
work there might as well be a general
strike to force settlement. 1t is the
realization of this sentiment that is
holding the peacemakers on both sides
steadily to their purpose.
Tension Slightly Relaxed.
Tension over the miners strike and
the threatened walkout of railroad work.
ers seemed slightly relaxed this morn
ing Leaders of the National Union Of
Railwaymen and the Miners Federation
were ready for their conference as ia
the situation and there appeared to bs
indications the former would not call
strike until after the trades union con-
ference next Wednesday. The virtual
ultimatum presented the government On
Thursday by the railwaymen called upon
it to begin negotiations with the miners
today.
Informal conferences between gov
ernment officials and miners represent
atives are going on, but those engaged
in them are reticent as to subjects dis
ments since efforts to find a road to
peace were begun. but the public has
not given up hope that some way of ad-
justing the views of the parties may be
the result of the conversations between
them. This feeling of optimism is con-
sidered as responsible for the decision
of the house of commons to defer until
Monday consideration of a measure Civ
ing the government wide powers to
meet any grave situation that might de-
velop.
Will secure Volunteers.
Government agencies have perfect
ed machinery for carrying on the
operation of railways with volunteers
should the railwaymen strike. Mem
bers of the Transport Workers Union,
especially the drivers of trans and
buses. are said to be loath to strike
at present.
Provision would be made in the
governments emergency bill for the
issue of proclamations whenever ac-
ton by any body OF persons threat
ems to interfere with the supply and
distribution of food. water. fuel or