New-York tribune., 1921-04-04
Rail1nen Favor
Joining British
Miners Strike
Transport Workers Also
Hold Meetings Prior to
Conference This Week.
When Vote Will Be Taken
Quiet Reigns at the Pits
Emergency Coal Rationing
i'm r Effect; Government
Remains Out of Dispute
From The Tribune's European Bureau

l..
LONDON, April 3.-Sentiment favor
ing nation wide strike of railwavmen
and transport workers in support of
the miners protest against wage cuts
prevailed at preliminary conferences of
those two unions held here to-day. A
largely attended meeting of the Liver
pool branch of the National Union of
Rallwaymen voted in favor Of a strike.
Leaders of both organizntions-whi
are partners with the miners union
in labor's triple allance-met behind
closed doors to discuss the attitude to
be adopted when the national confer
onccs meet Tuesday and Wednesday.
A walkout of all branches of the
triple alliance would increase the num-
Der OF strikers to five million men.
Although the government has an
nounced policy of interference
it is probable that all possible pressure
will be brought to bear to limit the
scope of the strike as much as possible.
Emergency Rationing Ordered
Emergency rationing orders for 1921
were issued to-day b. the Board of
race. domestic premises are permit
ted to purchase not more than 100
pounds week. Industries and bust
ness houses are restricted to so per
cent of their normal consumption. Local
authorities have some discretion in ad-
Justlng this restriction in the interes
or the public. In cases where factories
cannot operate properly under the re-
lrlctlons, normal consumption may con-
tlnue TOR two weeks more, provided thu
such industries in that time do not
use more thar half the supply thev now
have on hand. After that thew must
get special permit
The supply of coal for the production
of gas and electricity will be regulated
IN the interests of economy. Display
electrical advertisements are prohib-
tied. Movements Of coal by sea are to
be checked, whether intended for home
or export consumption.
The third day of the miners strike
brought no break in the deadlock. Re-
ports from the pits indicate that all is
quiet, with q few more pump men and
engine men absent from their posts
since last night. 1t seems, however.
that the safety of the most important
mines from the danger of flooding is
now definitely assured, so that with the
exception of damage that has been
done to small and older workings. the
issue has become clear cut on the Oues-
tlon of wages.
Tells of Wage Cuts
Frank Hodges, secretary of the
miners union, quoting figures in de-
fense of the action of the workers in
walking out, asserts that the proposed
local wage arrangements would in
many cases cut the pay of miners be-
low the amount necessary to maintain
the standard of living. According to
these statistics, if the proposed scale
should go into effect in place of the
government control and subsidy that
has just expired, the average cut in
wages would amount to $3.75 weekly.
Hodges says that the average paw in
the mines Of South Wales IS from SIS
to $22 week, and that under the new
scale it would run from 50 to $40.
In Cumberland, the miners spokes
man asserts, wages that now run from
SIT to $50 would be reduced under the
new scale to from SO to $14.
On the other hand, there is no doubt
tha. ~ome individual miners earn a.
much as $4,000 year. The owners
have not yet contested the assertions
of the strike leaders, but stick to
their original contention that it, is
not possible TO continue to pay the
miners on the present scale, because
the mines as a whole are being oper-
ated at a loss. The owners also point
out that in some of the richer districts
wages will actually be raised by the
proposed new scale
Little Talk of Compromise
So far there has been curious dearth
Of compromise suggestions, a flood
O. which filled the first days Of the last
coal strike. The general feeling seems
to be that an impasse has been reached
Continued on page .eventsen)
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