New-York tribune., 1921-04-17
Miners Bitterly Criticize
Transport Unions for
Their Refusal to Back
the Naturalization Plan
Shortage in Fuel
Is Growing Acute
Next Move of Coal Men
TO Be Determined at
Conference on Friday
From The Tr:bane's Earopsan Bureau

Copyright 1921. New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, April 16.-The striking
miners sre disheartened by the deser-
ton Of their partners in the Triple
All;ance-the railway men and trans
uort workers-from the general strike
movement. Details of the family row
that arose in the leadership of the
alliance, brought out to-day, reveal
that the ranks Of that organization
have been badly split and that the
whole organized labor movement has
suffered grave blow. The miners in
the coal fields are bitter over what
tney term their betrayal" by the rail
and transport men.
The country still faces a critical in
dustrial problem, despite the cancella-
ton Of the general strike. The miners
are still out, and there is little hope
held now for settlement of their
grievances before next Friday, April
q. On that date the executive of the
union will meet representatives of the
organization from all parts of the
country. The immobility of Premier
Lloyd George and his absolute refusal
to consider the miners demands for a
nstional pool of profits, foreshadow the
discussion of settlement terms at the
forthcoming conference. The miners
must decide whether they will support
their leaders in continued insistence
upon national pool. The members of
the executive committee of the Miners
Federation returned to-day to their re-
spective districts to discuss the situa-
ton with the local organizations.
Fuel Shrinks With Mines Idle
The government is emphasizing its
desire for a speedy settlement. The
fuel shortage is serious and the coun-
try must run on coal rations for at
least another waek. Meanwhile the
pits remain idle while the miners talk
peace, and in many areas the flooding
ci the mines is still threatening.
The leaders of the Triple Alliance
had been aware of a growing disap-
yroval among the rank and file of the
mons of the general strike wien they
nled it off yesterday. When word was
flashed out over the country that the
strike notices had been recalled the
workers in most places went on with
their labors. In Aberdare, South Wales
more than 200 railroad workers quit
not having understood the cancellation
order. At the Wigan station of the
London Northwestern Railroad a large
crowd collected at the station and tried
10 force the railwaymen to strike in
iympathy with the miners The crowd
vas dispersed by the police in a baton
charge
Military measures planned by the
government to care for any emergency
ere not being abandoned as long as
the miners strike continues. More re-
duetions in railroad train schedules
Rave been ordered to go into effect
Monday, and gas and electric lighting
are being further curtailed. Queues
form daily at the coal yards where
families get their weekly coal rations,
frequently wheeling it away in baby
carriages
Sabotage is reported at the Ayre-
shire mines and the big Ramford Col
nery in South Staffordshire has been
definitely abandoned because it was
hooded. The police dispersed two hum
dred miners this morning who were
trying to remove the safety men at
the Charlcstown colliery at Norman
town. Ten thousand miners and school
children are being fed daily in Aber-
dare.
Miners Held Too Obstinate
The explanation of the action Of the
railwaymen and transport workers in
changing their minds and withdrawing
tnelr support of the miners strike as
gwen to-day was that they disapproved
q the obstinacy of the miners leaders.
hoDert Williams, secretary of the
transport workers federation, said the
cancellation was due to the fact that
ao reasonable hope remained of spon-
'aneous, united action"
LONDON. April 16 (By The Asso-
elated Press) ).-One of the most i'm
p;o1lant 20 results of the narrowly averted
wvs-up OF transport in the United
saig ntihgsom was the perfection of the
,;laneer ,y;lanteer organizations, which last
.s s,sns were ready to take over the
Ms.ssnsportation ~ of foodstuffs and the
ys.s waer essential services for the
ssslon's 45,o00,000 people had the rail
''smen and transport workers gone
Continued on page three)
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