Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-13

London, April Il. (By The Associ-
ated Press)-The conference of the
mine owners, the mine workers ane
government officials today failed tc
reach Il settlement in the miners
strike, the miners refusing to accept
the prime minister's proposals for a
national settlement of wages without
a national pool of prifits which Mr..
Lloyd George declared impracticable.
The transport workers and rail-
waymen however, suspended their
strike notices, which would have ex-
pired at midnight tonight. Thus the
day, which opened with almost GER
tainty that the transport facilities of
tie country would be idle tomorrow,
ended with brighter hopes, despite
the fact that the executive commit
tee of the transport workers in send
ing out notice of the suspension of
the strike, asserted:
1.-THE situation is still critical"
The only government proposal
which the miners would consider was
one in which the government offered,
after the wage question had been set
tied, to give temporary assistance to
mitigate the rapid reduction of wa
49, hr,l Ct cd a
times with heated arguments.
The premier met the owners and
wnnnrs in separate conferences. then
jointly. But none of the arguments
of the premier or the owners could
move the miners; they stuck firmly
to their demand for national pool
of profits and a national settlement
of wages, declaring through their
spokesman, Frank Hodges, that the
workmen for the first time are going
TO have a share of the total prosper
ity in trade"
The premier after a two-hours' ses-
the joint session, said he know of
nothing that would justify the gov
eminent in changing the convictions
expressed in its proposals. He insist
ed that national pool of profits
would Lead to government control to
which parliament would not agree.
He also entered strong protest
against any substituting of wages or
profits Of industry out Of the general
taxes of the country, on the same
grounds.
Mr.. Hodges retorted that the min
ers only asked for temporary assist
ance and that their permanent
scheme was free from government
control.
Evan Williams, president Of the
mining association, said the owners
would only enter pooling by compul-
sion, which meant legislation fol-
lowed by control
Herbert Smith, the fighting dele
gate OF the miners federation then
announced the miners final decision;
N'"N LAG pIopOodiS VI 4hl' hioyo
George were. with the exception Of
the one relating to temporary assist
ance, unacceptable and if that was
the government and owners had to Of
Ter, there was no hope of a settle
Ment
1T may be that you have in your
minds that it will be possible to
Starve us into submission" he ex-
GAINED, eff you do, it won't bring
Peace to the coal fields''
He declared that the miners did
not intend to have their wages cut
oy any method which the owners
cared to bring about and that they
we're not out for Naturalization, as
mat would have to come through the
ballot box.
The miners will study the propo-
sais' he concluded but there cam
hot be settlement on these terms"
Mr. Lloyd George made a final ap-
peal saying that the government
ana the owners were prepared to
examine the question of wages but