The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-10-22
.FEARSOF GENERALSTR|KE
ACTIONOF THE RAILWORK-
Frs rs AWAITED
Great Britain Felt To Be Enter
ING the Critical Stage OF
Dispute
IA.,oc,ated Press Dispatch.l

expected and grave turn tnis sIte'-
excited and gave turn this after,
transport workers announced tnat
they would strike In sympathy
Win the miners uniess nesotla-
,tions between the government ano
the miners were reopened TINS
week.
II was reported there was a divi-
sion OF opinion among the Ma
tionaI Union of Railway men oeie-
gates this morning. not so muon on
the issue Of supporting me MIN
ers, to which there 10 little oPPos
whether action should be defer
red a few days In hope that some
development might occur. $500
A section Of the delegates uroeo
,s.trIke on Saturday and PROPOSE
zion 70 that effect was before the
conferences this afternoon put
there was q counterproposai 70
wait until next week.
prassurs is being exerted by the
,rade union congress and the pariia-
mentary commission of the LABOR
men TO force the government to waive
ali nrior considerations anu cali ls
own and the miners representatives
fogether Immediately. The govern,
ment is standing Arm on the ground
that any increase in wages must nave
references to increased IToductlon ous
Is willing to open the negotiations u
the mines recognize this.
The Press Association TINS even.
ing says it understands the oissIlc.
delegates of the miners have been
summoned TO conference In London.
uItlmatun Was Issued.
The railway mems delegates Is
sued what was virtually an ultimatum
10 the government That all menu ers
cease work Sunday at midnight I'M
less the strike was settled or nego-
tatious TO effect q settlement begun
by the government. j. II. Ihomas,
general secretary OF the Nationai
Union of Railways announced ne mao
decided to ito instruct the generai
secretary TO intimate to Premier Lloyd
George TIT unless the miners claims
are granted by Sunday, I'VE shall be
compelled TO take the necessary steps
10 instruct all our members In Eng
hand, Scotland and Wales TO cease
work"
In addition a telegram is being dis.
patched to all members to be prepared
10 cease work at midnight OF Sunday
next unless they hear to the contrary.
The transport workers delegates is
same line as that of the railway men.
Conferences Are Held.
London, October 21.-Decision on
the question of whether the national
union of railway and transport work
ers' union would join in the strike or
the miners, which began last Satur-
day, was expected at meetings OF the
two organizations here today. Con-
fetences of executive officers OF the
hn1d
the situation was reviewed, but moth
ing definite was done, 1t being decid-
ed to wait another day before taking
sides in the industrial dispute,
Several of the railway men and
transport workers called strike, q
critical phaze of the dispute between
labor and the government would i'm,
mediately ensue, 1t Is said and the
ministry of labor has been exerting
its utmost efforts to prevent such a
tep. Sentiment in the railwaymen's
course to be pursued by the organfZa-
ION, one wing opposing the calling of
strike, and the other favoring a
.alkout Leaders of the transport
workers union were in conference late
esterday with the trades union com :
nittee, but nothing was learned as the
rend of meeting.
Situation 10 Dangerous.
Proposals for a compromise agree
ment, which might permit the miners
T., return to work and defer final ad-
tment of their grievances, have
cen brought forward, but they have
not been submitted to leaders Of the
federation, SO far as known. There
are indications the owners of mines
may be called in by Premier Lloyd
George to take up the subject OF in
creasing the production OF pits, land
heads OF the miners federation may
be asked to be present. Extremists In
the federation are urging that the
men, lett in thesmines to operate the
pumps and keep the digging free from
water, be Withdrawn, but this step Is
strongly opposed by Hbbert Smillie,
and other executives OF the organiza-
ton.
At the conclusion the session held
by the execution committee OF the ma
tional union of the railway. J.. H.
Thomas, the general secretary, an
nounced that railway men were con-
sideringf the question OF sympathetic
action with the miners. Mr.. Thomas
declared the Industrial situation
might develop into a dangerous one
mediately TO bring the two sides to-
gether. 4o
The belief was expressed in labor
circles during the forenoon that the
government would make some move
within few hours to call o. fresh
conference of miners and coal owners
to examine the adjustment plan ad-
vised in the house of commons yes
terday by William Brace, labor mem
Der Of parliament and president Of
the South WalesN Miners federation.
The labor unions, others than the
miners, it was declared the house OF
commons are against an extension of
the strike, IL there is the slightest
change of negotiations being reop.
ened
No change was reported in the sit
uation in South Wales, where the at
titude of the miners is still deter
mined one. The only trouble chron-
cled was another small disturbance
n the Ton y pandyi area last evening.
At Seghill, in Northumberland, men
women and children raided a colliery
idfng and took one hundred tons Or
Gal for their personal use.
Shut OF Coal Supply.
Madrid, October za.--Dsiciaf mott
hcation has been sent to the Spanish
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