The Washington herald., 1921-04-10
Government and Triple
Alliance Chiefs Hold
Conference.
EARLY SETTLEMENT
NOW SEEMS CERTAIN
Both Rail and Transport
Men Demand Ballot
Before Striking.
special Cable TO TIE Warrington Herald
and Chicago Tnbuss.)
by JOHN STEELE.

tonight's conference between the
government and the triple alliance.
early settlement OF the coal miners
strike and. consequently. avertinE
Of the threatened industrial cstas-
trophe seemed certain.
Ii was oficialIy announced after
the conference that government Of
tween the striking miners execu-
tives and the mine owners repre-
sentatives at 10 o'clock Monday
morning, at which the contending
factions will attempt to settle All
difhculties.
! No conditions preliminary d 90
negotiations were interposed ~
either side and the governm<nt
will sttend as an interested bal
neutral party.
/ strike Heads Order No vIolenr<. =
/ Shortly before midnight the
miners federation telegraphed Or
ders TO all its branches instrucftnr
all members TO abstain from anr
the safety of the mines or uzks
necessary the use OF force ~ rae
government.
Harry Gosling, leader % the
transport workers. privateiy IA !
formed a prominent British ship
owner tonight that both siacs ~
the controversy were blufinR ana
that there would be no strike !
either Of the transport workers or ,
the railway men.
Reports from all the military de-
'pots throughout England Indicate
that scenes IKE those which were
witnessed in the FIRST days of the
war are being re-enaCted. From
all directions reservists are flock
ing 60 the colors in response to the
Kings proclamation. They are be
: ing outfitted with uniforms. arms
and other equipment and then are
despatched to Join various units.
The military authorities also re-
port there has been a satisfactory
response to the call for volunteers
for a special defense force. which
the radicals already have Christened
white Gnards."
Armories Arc Crowded.
The plan of defense providessfor
: twenty-four bsttalions in London
and all the armOries are crowded
today with young men, mostly OF
the middle class, who are anxious
: TO enroll. The conditions Of enlist
ment call for ninety N-day service at
ordinary army pay. Former service
men and territorisls are given th@
! preference. -
Both sides have been sober5d ~
the gravity ,of the crisis. ard ll.Is
] II -
men and transport workers met EI<+
, mier Lloyd George stelo poHaIha
! street for a two-hour c5nfcrtnc4
, The proceedings were kept tecreL
. bat It Is declared the prcmicr Asdg-
Gested the possibility OF settle
? ment on the basis OF a national
? wage. II this Is 50, Il means that
great concession has been made to
tho miners. for Il was the owners
, demands for the adoption OF a re-
gionSl wage system that caused the
strike in the first place.
Transport Men Against strike.
on the labor side there is grave
apprehension Of defeat IL the strug-
! gle is continued. railroad leader
said this morning that he did not
believe that over so per cent OF his
i men would obey the strike order.
pose a strike and all classes Of
! workingmen are likewise opposed
to the policy OF allowing the mines
q to be flooded. Even among the min
e ers there have been several break
e aways Of men who oppose the de-
e struction Of their means OF liveli-
hood.
4 Cabinet Meeting Called.
e After meeting the labor men. the
l premier called a cabinet meeting al
n which Lord Stamfordham, the
e Kings private secretary, was proe-
[ ent. 1t is reported the King Is
d greatly concerned and sent an ur-
$ gent message insisting on the me-
cessity of avoiding bloodshed.
II is understood that at the
: Downing street meeting today the
premier asked the railway men snd
\ transport workers TO use their in
fuence with the miners to prevent
violence against the men sent by
the government to man the mine
pumps. The conference agreed 70
do all in their power in this direc-
ton.
The authorities sent $50 naval
stokers from Portsmouth to South
wales today for pumping service.
The members OF the Merchant
Sailors Union decided 20 take q
ballot OF the members before obey
ing any strike order from the triple
alliance, and demands are pouring
in on the leaders OF the railway
men Tor ballots TO be taken before
the sympathetie strike Is put into
effect.
III Rail Men Demand Bsflot.
The railwsymen at Liverpool.
Glasgow and Edinburgh informed
their leaders that they will refuse
TO strike unless a ballot Of the whole
membership Ia taken, and they ex-
pressed the opinion that u is too
much to be expected to help the
miners, thus imperiling their own
II wages.
The main contention OF British
miners Is for naturalization Of the
mines and standard wages In an
mines. regardless of their prcdue-
tivity. The government refuses. a.
to subsidiEe the mines would re-
Y quire f1.ooo.o3e. "