The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-15
COAL MINERS HOWEVER,
REFUSE NEGOTIATIONS
AND RENEW DEMANDS
Men Insist on National
Wage Board and Pool
ing of All Profits.

London, April la-(Associat-
ed Press.)-An unexpected and
sensational split In The ranks
Of the powerful "triple alliance
Of labor this afternoon CON.
pletely changed the complexion
Of the blaekest Industrial cri.
sis Great Britain had ever faced
and averted the projected strike
Of railway men and transport.
workers In sympathy with the
striking miners, set for ~
O'Clock tonight. Events devel.
Oped with such sudden and
startling changes rs to leave
the public In q maze. Simul.
taneOusly with the announce.
ment In the house Of COMMONS
by Prime Minister Lloyd George
that the miners had declined To
accept his invitation TO reopen
negotiations with the mine
owners on the terms advanced
last evening by Frank Hodges,
the miners secretary, came the
announcement that the rail.
way men and the transport
workers had "canceled' the
strike called for tonight.
Blame Hodges.
The reason for this action by the
railway and transport unions.
which with the miners union make
up the triple alliance, was quick
ly developed. 1t appeared that the
conferences throughout the day
among the members Of the alliance
had developed a heated controversy
devolving about Hodges proposals
The miners condemned these with
the assertion that Secretary Hodges
had conceded too much In offering
to discuss the question OF wages
without raising Immediately the
controversial issue OF a national
pool, while the railroad men and
the transport workers declared the
proposition was reasonable and
that the miners should renew the
negotiations.
The miners remained obdurate
and the open breach resulted.
Coal Strike Still On.
London, April 15.-(By the As.
sociated Press.) - Mr.. Lloyd
George. the prime minister, an
nounced in the house of commons
fhip afforppo pfhat tho ypiporc :, od
refused to reopen negotiations for
settlement of their strike on the
basis that had been suggested.
The prime minister read a lette1
from the Miners Federation stating
that the only condition on which Q
temporary settlement could bt
reached was one which must fol.
low concession OF the two princi-
pies of a national wages board and
a national pool.
The calling of a conference oi
representatives OF the miners from
all the coal fields, at a date to be
fixed tomorrow, was decided upon
by the executive Of the Miners Fed.
Grafton this afternoon. 1t took this
action after hearing the decision oi
the railway men and transport
workers to cancel their sympathetic
strike.
Frank Hodges, the miners secre-
tary. when questioned regarding
this decision, said it meant that the
miners strike would continue.
"If l had resigned (as he was re.
ported to have done), l should moi
be giving you this report" ht
added.
Think Miners Wrong.
London, April 15-(United Press,
lit was stated that the cancella
tion OF the general strike order wa
due to the fact that leaders OF tn
triple alliance believed the miner
were wrong in refusing to reopel
negotiations for settlement Of thei
strike.
Colliery owners assured the gov
ernment in a conference with Lloy
George that they will do all possl
BILE to reach a sediment.
Their spokesmen declared th
industry was almost bankrupt as
result Of government coptrol durin
the war. The declared, howeve
that they would shave their prom
to the narrowest possible margl
in order Ia get a new start