The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-16
MINERS DESERTED
 RY..J5Rg:s 0RT AMI T 1nAl[WAY WORKERS
Everything Now Depends on Extent to Which Hodges Will Be Able to Maintain
 His Authority
By Associated Press

London, April 15.-A tense day, more replete in surprises than any previous day during the extraordinary industrial struggle which is in prog ress, closed tonight with an air of quietude.
 Everywhere there was visible intense relief on the part of the public over the knowledge that the contemplated strike of the railway and transport workers had been called off, and there was renewed hope expressed that out of the conflict between the striking miners and the rall- way men and transport workers a situa- tion would be brought about which would lead to industrial peace.
 The situation tonight was that the strike of the miners continued and that every rything depended not as before on the amount of support the miners could get from other industries but on the extent to which Frank Hodges, general secre- tary of the miners federation, would be able to maintain his authority over the rank and file of the miners
 THREATENS TO RESIGN
 It is said that MT. Houges actually threatened today to resign, but that the miners federation refused to listen te him, at least until national conference of delegates of the federation has been called to discuss the whole question. The date of this conference will be fixed to- morrow morning. Afterwards an officla statement on the situation will be issued
 The breaking away from the triple al of rail port workers on the miners rejection oi the moderate course recommended by MT Hodges with a view to securing a tenn porary adjustment of the wage dispute seems to have brought matters to | crisis, where it was imperative to make decision one way or another. MT Hodges, it is declared. was severely crit icized by his colleagues for having made what was termed a peace offer to mem bers of the House of Commons Thurs day evening without authority. He il said to have immediately rendered hi resignation.
 STILL ON JOB l When asked today concerning the sit uation, MT Hodges said:
 i T have not resigned. If had, shouls not be issuing official. statements now. 1 When the question was pressed If h had offered to resign, MT. Hodges de clined to answer.
 Although the general situation is con sidered to have greatly improved by tn failure of the railway men and the trans i port workers to carry out their projecte' l strike tonight the government has no | relaxed it's measures, military or other wise The recruiting of the defense fore continues actively.
 l The mine owners issued another state ment tonight, repeating their previousi stated opinion that the wages of tn lower paid men ought to be adjusted, an' declaring they still were ready to mee 1 the miners in conference.
 l Strange scenes were witnessed in tn government offices, city houses and othe places today. Throughout the mornin hundreds of temporary beds were bein | delivered to accommodate members Q 1 the government staff who would hay l been unable to reach their distant home l in the event of railway strike. Bag gage-laden people also were to be see l hurrying into and out of London, pro ceeding to their homes while trains wer still available.
 l The executive body of the Electrlca l Trades union and the secretary of tn Railway Clerks association called off tn | strikes of their organization upon an l nouncement of the decision of the rall | way men and transport workers not | l strike