Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-15
s pitt In
Ranks Of
Alliance
Frank Hodges Declares Min
ers Will Remain Out; Re-
fusal To Continue Negotii-
ations Cause For Other
Unions Withdrawing From
Agreement To Strike To-
night; Heated Argument.
Throughout Day Reported.

London. April 15-(By tho
Associated Press)-An unexpect-
cd and sensational split in the
ranks of the powerful triple al
lance of labor this afternoon
completely changed the complex
ion of the blaclkcst industrial
crisis Great Britain had ever
faced and avcrted the projected
strike Of railway men and trans I,
port workers in symrnttly with
the striking miners, SGT for 10
O'Clock tonight.
Events developed with such
sudden and startling changes a.
to leave the public In q maze.
simultaneously with the an
nouncement in the house OF COM
mons by Premier Lloyd GeorKo
that the miners had declined to
accept his Invitation to reopen
negotiations with the mine own
ers on the terms advanced Last
evening by Frank Hodges, the
miners secretary, came the an
nOunccmcnt that the railway men
and the transport workers had
cancelled" the strike. called for
tonight. = =,
Call Conference.
The calling of a conference of rep
resentatives of the miners from all
the coal fields, at a date to be fixed
tomorrow. was decided upon by the
executive of the miners federation
this evening.
1t took this action after hearing
the decision of the railway men and
transport workers to cancel their
sympathetic strike.
Frank Hodges, the miners' ssre-
tary, when questioned regarding this
decision. said it meant that the min
ers strike would continue.
III l had resigned Gas he was re-
ported to have donel, should not be
giving you this report" he added
Heated Argunnent
lit appeared that, the conferences
throughout the day among the MEM
bers Of the alliance had developed .
heated controversy revolving about
the Hodges proposal. The miners
condemned these with the assertion
that Secretary Hodges had conceded
too much in offering to discuss the
question of wages without raising i'm
mediately the controversial issue of
a national pool. while the railroad
men and the transport workers de-
clared the proposition was reasonable
and that the miners would renew ne
gotiations.
George Moore, acting general Sec
retary of the AmalEamated Society
VI AOCOAIOllto CuSItcCTS anu FIRE
men, said the decision to call or the
railway men and transport workers
strike was reached because the other
unions in the triple alliance co1sid-
cred the SHnerS were wrong in refus-
ing to resume negotiations ON the
lines indicated by Secretary Hodges
London. April 15.-Persistent ru-
mors that Frank Hodges, secretary Of
the miners union, had resigned were
current here shortly afternoon. 1t
was said he had relinQuished his Of
flee because Of opposition to his state
ment before members of the house OF
commons last night, in which he IA
vored a temporary adjustment OF
wages. Other officials of the union
declined to deny or confirm these re-
ports.
In his letter inviting the miners to
a conference with the mine owners.
Prime Minister Lloyd George said the
general impression received from Mr..
Hodges statement was that the min
ers were now prepared to discuss
with the owners on the question of
wages without raising the controver-
sial issue of the national pool Of
wages, provided arrangements of a,
temporary character were made with :
out prejudice to further discussion Of
the proposal for national pool when
further settlement comes to be
dealt with"