The Washington herald., 1921-04-15
Miners and Owners Agree
To Confer Today AS
Hope Nearly Fades.
-PREMIER'S LATEST
PLAN is REJECTED
Workers Refuse to Sub
nit Issue in General
Election.
(special Cabls to The Washington Herald
and United Press.)
By A. 4. JOHNSON.

LONDON. April IA dramatic
change in the British Industrial
crisis occurred at midnight, when
Frank Hodges, representing the
miners. announced in an address to
zoo members of Parliament that he
had offered to discuss wages with
the owners and the government i'm
mediately.
simultaneously d statement was
issued by the owners declaring their
Willingness to forego their profits
temporarily. Premier Lloyd George
was Informed of these decisions and
negotiations are to be re-opened
Fridsy morning.
George HurIs Challenge.
On the even of industrial Arma-
GeddOr. Lloyd George hurled a chal-
Ienge to the triple alliance to go
before the country with the labor
issue In a general election. Labor
declined to accept the challenge,
and will proceed to fulfill it's threat
to make the issue a test of force
instead OF q test of sentiment, pend
ing the outcome of tomOrrow's
conference
Labor untsns are rushing to the
side of the miners. One by one the
great and mall organizations are
falling in line, and If the struggle
is launched Friday night according
TO schedule, Gteat Britain will see
an Industrial war which. in the
point of numbers engaged. has no
precedent in history.
Huge Numbers Give support.
\ million and a half general la
borers on Thursday decided to back
up the triple alliance. This brings
the total number of threatened
strikers to 5.500.000.
At the same time the premier de-
cIared his Willingness to call a
General election to settle the prin-
ciple of naturalization of industry:
He seized the opportunity for a dra-
matte appeal Ito the public OF the
United Kingdom to support the gov
ernment in the impending crisis.
And with this plea he coupled a de-
mand to the workers themselves to
disobey their leaders, demand
which. il it were complied with.
would split wide open the ranks of
organized labor.
Premier Urges Patriotism.
The premier made his plea on the
basis of national interest and pa
triotism. declaring that the strike
and the principle on which II rs
fought would mean ruin OF the
country's Industries and its eco
nomic life.
Labor dare not accept the chal-
Ienge of a general election at TINS
time. Under conditions as they ex-
fst today, with the middle classes
directly opposed to the workers
there would be but one outcome
Inevitable defeat
ON the other hand. Lloyd George
by virtue of long and studied propa-
ganda. has fully impressed the pub
lie with the necessity of smashing
the principle of naturalization of
industry and readjustment of eco
nornic conditions.
Proposition Was safe.
He was, therefore. safe in throw
ing before the labor leaders the
ISea of going to the nation" with
the problem.
As the situation stood Thursday
night, there were no lnolcatlons Oh
recession on the part either OF
ovners. miners, or government. All
sides are resorting - an intensive
propaganda to arouse public SYM
pathy.
wide publication has been given
to the appeal of four Welsh SOL
diers who. writing from France,
told the Prince of Wales: We are
former fighters. appealing to you
not for a country flt for heroes to
reside in. but for decent wages for a
fair days work"
The prince has not replied.
Conferences between members of
the government and the triple al
lance during the day bore no fruit,
and the public was firmly convinced
that nothing can intervene to save
the country from the threatened
Industrial catastrophe.