Evening star., 1921-04-16
DEFEAT Of LABOR
MENACES UNITY Of
BRITISH WORKERS
Death Warrant of triple Al
lance" Declared Sealed
by Strike Moves.
MINERS ALSO FACING
INTERNAL DISSENSiON
General Situation Regarded Sen-
Gus as Stoppage of Coal Continues.
King Loans Fuel.
Ry the Associated Press.

Ky the Associated Press
LONDON. April I6.-Labor forces of
the United Kingdom are today ap-
parently broken into sections as a
result of the refusal of the Ma
tional Union of Railway Men and
the National Federation OF Trans
port Workers yesterday to continue
! their support of the strike called by
the Miners Federation of Great Brit
ain, on April /. Opinion prevails in
some quarters that the action of the
railroad workers and the transport
men means the death warrant of the
triple alliance" This view is not held
universally, but, without doubt. the
split which developed yesterday will
have serious effect upon the rank
| and file of labor.
Heavy Defeat for Labor.
Yesterday was the heaviest defeat
that has befallen labor within the
memory Of man. begins the Laborite
! breakaway of the railroad men and
transport workers. 1T is no use try
ing TO minimize it. The workers have
not stood together, and they have
reaped the reward
The newspaper declares that Frank
ganiZation. made a tactical mistake
by altering the old formula of the
union during his address before mem
bers of the house Of commons on
Thursday night The union had held
it would not negotiate until assured
OF the establishment of a national
wage board. even il such a body
would not begin operations imme-
diately. But Mr. Dodges changed the
formula by declaring the union would
negotiate Immediately, postponing
the question of a national board. As
sertion is made that in so doing he
went beyond his powers.
The old machinery has failed" the
Herald concludes. I'VE must start
afresh and get machine that will
work and develop a new spirit. This
rs not the end; it is the beginning"
Miners Action Doubtful.
Whether the miners federation, in
in some quarters, remains to be seen.
Mr. Hodges position has become deli
cate. but it is known he has the sup
port of strong minority. The hands
of the present executives of the or
ganiZation are tied, but the new con.
ference of delegates, which has boen
called may consent to modify it's in
structions SO that negotiations may
proceed.
The London Times gives a graphic
account of what happened at the
fateful meeting Of the triple alli-
ance" yesterday.
The proceedings developed" says
an eyewitness quoted by the Times,
Into the biggest circus ever seen.
Extremists of all sections tried hard
to keep the battle flag unfurled. and
G. T. Cramp. president Of the Rail-
waymen's Union. led in the attempt
to secure postponcment instead Of
cancellation of the strike. Recrimina-
tions were mutual, and, while the
transport workers were particularly
accused of not desiring fully to sup
port the miners they retorted by
referring to the weakened action
which led to the matter OF canceling
the strike order being raised at this
juncture at all. 1t was argued that
the miners should have accepted
Prime Minister Lloyd Georges pro-
posal and stood by the offer made
by Mr.. Hodges Their refusal showed
their attitude was not actuated by
the wage dispute. but was a kind
of direct action for securing some
kind of naturalization. When it
became evident the break was COM
ing. the anger of the miners was
unbounded."
Atmosphere "Electrfcal."
According to other accounts the at
mosphere was electrical. and bitter
u.
Shouts of Traitor" and other similar
epi;hets were heard by reporters out
side the hall where the meeting was
held.
Replying to the communication from
Mr.. Cranp and j. II. Thomas, notify
ing him that the railroad men and
transport workers had withdrawn
their support from the miners, Prime
Minister Lloyd George wrote:
Lloyd Georges Statement,
Il am gratified to learn your
unions do not purpose to resort to
an insensate method of attempting TO
compel the handing down Of judE-
Lying the country's industries and
bringing suffering to millions Of iu-
nocent people while the government
was urging a saner method Of nego-
tiatiop."
Characteristic Of ecitosd comment
on the situation is an editorial pub.
lishcd in the Morning Post
The bluff was called and it failed"
the newspaper declares These pow
erful trades unions must be taught
that il is not their business to gov
ern the country"
In the meantime the stoppage of
coal mining continues. and it il
pointed out in various quarters that
the situation is still serious. An-
nouncement is made on behalf Of the
-
solution will not be relaxed.
King George has loaned from his
castle cellars twenty tons of coal to
Windsor coal merchants for distribu-
ton among residents until the sup
ply is again normal. Reports from
provincial centers mention the be-
w:iderment and bitter disappointment
felt in the extremist. sections of the
miners, railroad men and transport
workers at the failure of the triple
alliance" strike.
Reason for Calling on Strike.
At the close of a two-hour con-
ference Of the triple alliance execu-
tiyes at Unity House this morning
Robert williams. secretary of the
Transport worksrs Federation, issued
r statesDsnt In which be declared the
rsffwAymoa and the transport work.
ers had been compelled to cancAl
their proposed strike in sympathy
with Dc miner4. because mo reason
able hope remained Of securing the
enontxneous and united action Of the
three bodies, which was SO essential
To eivc the Miners Federation the
assistance ehey sought"
A partial sympathetic strike would
have been Intellectual. the statement
points out. Up to Thursday night, il
there was every hope Of
"a tremendous display of Oorking
CLASP solidarity" but circumstances
destroyed the frm ground on which
the strike call vas based.
The triple alliance conference added
NJ. ssas2sneofounc'y regretted
the charged sftS S0Hea, q
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