The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-09
fire AND
BOMB AS
WEAPONS
Campaign of Destruction by
British Strikers Spreads
Rapidly.
RAIL union IS
SPLIT IN RANKS
''Big Three" Unable to Make
British Strike General.
r.. r. Workers Object to YiO-
lence by Miners.
LAST APPEAL FAILURE
Lloyd George Unable to Change
Strike Orders.
Labor Leaders Refuse to NegO-
tiate With Premier.
MANY VOLUNTEERS ENLIST
English Citizens Flock in An
Labor Leaders Refuse to NegO-
tiate With Premier.
MANY VOLUNTEERS ENLIST
English Citizens Flock in An.
swer to Call.
Government Air Station De
trOyed by Inflamed Mob.

London, April (1 p. m.)-A spe-
cial session of the British cabinet was
called this afternoon, following failure
of the conference between Premier
Lloyd George and labor leaders to
reach an agreement for averting the
general strike called for Tuesday.
When the ministry went into ses-
sion. it was understood that the latest
refusal of the laborites to make con-
cessions was the principal subject un-
der discussion
The triple alliance leaders, who
were visibly pessimistic when they left
at once to labor headquarters, where
they resumed their conferences with
other labor representatives.
one phase of the situation was re-
garded as distinctly valuable. That
was the unexpectedly large response
of reservists and volunteers.
Steps have already been taken for
rations are being made to 'reinstitute
rationing on a wartime basis.
J. H. Thomas. secretary of the Rail-
way Workers union, was openly urg-
ing the striking miners to abandon
their policy of permitting the mines
to be CODED. Frank Hodges and
Herbert Smith. however, continued
adamant in this regard.
Scores of factories. steel mills and
other industries have begun to go
upon short time schedules or close
down entirely. because of the coal
shortage.
Lloyd George and other cabinet
members have decided to forego their
usual weekend vacation and remain
in London.
Much Violence Reported.
Widespread violence was reported
today in connection with the miners
strike.
An airdrome at Newcastle was dis
mantled and equipment destroyed.
Telegraph poles and wires were felled
near Shields.
Extensive incendiarism occurred last
night in Northumberland. Hay stacks
used for feeding pit ponies in the Bed
lington colliery were burned and num-
erous stacks of wheat. barley and oats
were destroyed in other districts
Sporadic outbreaks of looting oc-
CURED in some parts of the strike area.
Recruiting Is Rushed.
Recruiting of volunteers workers
and safety units" was energeticallv
begun by the government today and
other plans were perfected to meet
the threat of a widespread industrial
tieup next Tuesday. involving directly
approximately two million workers.
Meanwhile. however. reports from
various parts of England, Scotland
and Wales indicate that triple alliance
executive board may have more to
do than the mere issuance of its
strike decree in order to bring about
railway men and the transport work
ers, who, with the miners, make UP
the alliance.
Railroad Men Not Solid.
From the Glasgow, Liverpool, Car
diff, Edinburgh and several other i'm
portant locals of the national union
rank and file are challenging the
right of the railway mems national
executive body to call a strike without
balloting by the men. Some of these
local bodies declare the miners re-
sistance to the wage cuts is justifiable,
but they do not consider that they
have anything to thank the miners for.
and. therefore. should not be stam-
peded into sympathetic waikout.
The general purport of these mes
sages from important centers was that
the railway men and transport work
erS do not present a solid front on
the strike issue This. it was COM
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