Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-04-15
EarIy Settlement Seen When
Miners and Owners Reopen
Negotiations.
PIT SAFETY ASSURED
Lloyd George Intimates Government
Would Consider Wage Board Pro-
vided Strikers Would Permit
Naval Bumpers to Work.

London-The general strike called
by the Triple Alliance, following a
strike of coal miners, virtually was
called off when the miners agreed to
reopen negotiations with colliery own
ers
The reopening of negotiations was
assured when the miners abandoned
their policy of Withdrawing safety
workers, permitting mine properties
to be ruined by flooding.
Announcement of the decision 10
yield the point was made by }. H.
Thomas, head of the railway fedora
ton. after an entire day of conferences
between governments representatives
and heads of the Triple Alliance.
As a result Of the conference be-
tween the government and the Triple
Alliance early settlement of the coal
miners strike and consequently avert
ing the threatened industrial cata-
strophe seemed certain.
It was officially announced after the
conference that the government will
attend a meeting between the striking
miners executives and the mine own
ers representatives at which the con-
tending factions will attempt to settle
all differences.
No conditions preliminary to the
negotiations were interposed by either
side and the government will attend as
an interested but neutral party.
Both Sides Held BIuffing.
Harry Costing, leader of the trans
port workers, privately informed a pro-
minent British shipowner that both
sides in the controversy were bluffing
and that there would have been no
strike either Of the transport workers
or the railway men.
Railway men and transport warkers
had declared a sympathetic strike, eff
fective Tuesday midnight, if negotia-
tiOns for settlement of the coal strike
were not reOpened before that time.
The miners, despite arguments by
leaders of the two other groups in the
Triple Alliance, have stood firm
against negotiations based on an agree
ment that pumping of the mines be the
first matter considered.
During the day it was reported that
Premier Lloyd George had intimated
that the government would consider
the matter of appointing a national
wage board for the mining industry,
If the miners would permit naval
bumpers to drain the mines without in
reference.
Miners Allies Oppose Stand.
An early morning conference with
the alliance leaders was unsatisfactory
and the men left Downing st. plainly
showing they had no hope of quick
settlement They had another confer
ence at the premier's residence during
the afternoon.
The miners found their allies oppos-
ing their stand Railway men and
transport workers both believed the
destruction of property was too violent
for them to support. The leaders also
received warning from local unions
that the men objected to being ordered
out on a sympathetic strike without
referendum vote.
The miners were Obstinate however,
and it required hours of argument to
induce them to offer the concession
which permitted a reopening of nego
tiatiOns.
One of the last acts before the agree
ment was reached was to issue an ap
peal to American workmen to refuse
TO coal British ships.