Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-22
ENGLAND AWAITS
Government MOVE
IN MINERS STRIKE
Lloyd George and Cabinet
Seek Channel to Effect
Settlement.

Settlement.
LONDON. October 22.-British labor
and the country as whole waited
anxiously today for the government
next move in the deadlock over the
coal miners strike. following the
strike ultimatum delivered by the
raiIwaymen yesterday and an almost
equally pointed threat from the trans
port workers
The miners conference of South
Wales today asked the National
Miners Federation to call a national
conference to consider the wlthdrawai
of all la Dor from the coal mines Inc
mines are being kept IN order os spe-
ciaIly ASST gned forces and their WITH
drawal would render the pits useless
for a resumption of work
The representatives of the Nation
al Union of Railwaymen were in ses-
sion, and it was understood they ex-
ipected a reply from the premier 10
the communication they sent him
yesterday giving him to understan
the railwayInen would quit work Sunday
: at midnight unless by Saturday the
strike was settled or negotiations
which would effect settlement had
been begun.
Meanwhile. the government and
some of the miners leaders were ex-
ploring the ground in an effort to
find some basis for an adjustment.
This afternoon it was announced
that the parliamentary committee OF
the Trades Union Congress had called
a conference for Wednesday next OF
the executives of the affiliated unions
to consider methods of helping the
miners in their efforts to settle the
strike.
Meeting Is Sought.
The conference of the National
Union of Railwaymen. it also was an
nounced. decided today to invite the
miners executive to meet the railway
conferees tomorrow afternoon The
miners executive has been sum-
moned to London and will meet to-
morrow to consider the railway
unions invitation and the general
situation.
while these activities on the part
of! the labor side were being de-
vefoped. Premier Lloyd George and
the members of the cabinet were con-
sulting informally. but earnestly.
during the morning with view 10
finding a channel for settlement
Opinion generally expressed in gov
ernment circles was that a definite
opportunity for negotiations would
be found before any serious develop
ment arose from the threats of the
railroad men and transport workers.
Contents Not Yet Dfvulged.
In the house Of commons this after
noon Edward Shortt, the home secre-
tary. gave notice of the presentation
of bill to make exceptional provision
for the. protection of the community
in cases Of emergency. The contents
of the bill have not yet been diyulged.
but the announcement fSefnterpreted by
the press as meaning that the meas
ure is intended to bear upon the strike
situation.
At a meeting Of the executives of
the Associated Society of Locomotive
Enginemen and Firemen today. it was
decided to defer decision on the ques-
tion of sympathetic action with the
miners until Monday. The society is
; an important and wealthy section of
the railwaymen. distinct from the Ma
! tional Union of Railwaymen. and it's
decision is considered important.
The calling of the meeting of the
miners executives tomorrow was gen.
orally believed to presage possible
reopening of negotiations with the
government. 1t is understood the
meeting was called on representations
of the members of the house of COM
mons representing the miners.
First Meeting Since Strike.
This is the first meeting of the ex-
ecutives since the strike, and it had
been stated repeatedly that the ex-
ecutives would not meet unless ap-
preached by the government or until
there were fresh proposals for consd-
Grafton.
This afternoon Frank Hodges in
person denied the report that the
British miners had appealed to the
Miners internationally for assistance.
With regard to the bill of which
Home Secretary Shortt gave notice, it
was said this afternoon the measure
was mainly revival of the wartime
emergency regulation for period of
emergency, and that it was to be
rushed forward Immediately.
Members of the cabinet held a long
meeting last night. but the decisions
reached were not made public. 1t
was learned however, that one mat
ter discussed was an appeal to the
country for a mandate to settle the
miners strike. Indications of po-
ItiCal as we'll as an industrial crisis,
were found in the situation. it was
declared. and ii appeared that labor
had Joined issue with the government
in a struggle which might become
historic.
In informal conversations with men
prominent in the councils of labor,
the premier has given no hint of
weakening or receding from his posi-
tion that pledges for increased coal
production and reference of the min
ers' demands 10 an independent tri-
precedent 10 an increase in wages for
the men. 1t was believed the threat
of tie railway and transport men
served not TO drive the premier from
his position. but to make it more diff
icult- for him to enter into uegotia-
tions with the coal diggers.
Serious economic conditions are al.
ready becoming evident in some local
tiles result of the miners strike
and there is a widening circle of idle
ness that causes concern. Drastic re-
. strIctiop of railroad and shipping
schedules has already been ordered
and many industrial plants have been
forced 20 close because of lack of fuel.
II was stated this morning at the
office of Frank Hodges of the miners
union that nothing was known there
regarding any appeal for assistance
to the international organiza ton of
the miners. No efforts had been made
to approach Americans in connection
with the miners strike. he added.
German Miners Watch strike.
BERLIN, October 22,-Leaders of
striking British miners have applied
to the Miners 1nternationale for as
sistance, according to the Vorwaerts.
The newspaper adds that German
miners are watching the British strik e
with intense interest and have sent d
message to the British coal diggers
wishing them speedy success.
We are watching with deep feel
ing, says manifesto of the miners
your struggle against the whole
force of employers and the British
state, struggle in which everybody
who lives by exploiting others opposes
the miners, and the world of the op-
pressed and wretched with them. The
miners have a fight ahead. and their
enemies armed to the teeth. will do
.S.f to hra Il +,