The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-13
Lloyd George Issues Appeal
for Volunteers to Assist in
Fight Against Strikers.
BIC LABOR WAR
IN ENGL And is
CERTAIN NOW
Railway and Transport Work.
ers Join With Miners.
Friday Four Million Union
Men Will Be Idle.
DEMANDS ARE REJECTED
naturalization of Mines and
Pooled Profits Issue.
Failure of Miners Farley Forces
Other Workers Out.
PREMIER IS FACING DEFEAT
Continues His Attempts to Set
tie Wage Disputes.
Government Estimates Only
Hall Will Obey Orders.
Naturalization of Mines and
Pooled Profits Issue.
Failure of Miners Farley Forces
Other Workers Out.
PREMIER IS FACING DEFEAT
Continues His Attempts to Set
tie Wage Disputes.
Government Estimates Only
Hall Will Obey Orders.

London, April 13.-Facing indus
trial death. Great Britain today made
herculean efforts to meet a general
strike called for Friday night by the
triple alliance.
Driven by the implacable miners de-
manding naturalization of industry,
railroad and transport workers pre-
pared to aid them in stopping all
business and the circulation of neces-
saries of life.
Premier Lloyd George, for the first
time seriously threatened with defeat,
renewed his effort to avert disaster
and bring about a settlement of wage
disputes.
Deny Disaffections.
Officers of the triple alliance re-
men had already gone to the aid of
the miners in many instances. They
denied that any large portion of their
following objected to the strike call
without a referendum.
The prime minister, confident that
the miners did not wish to be concil-
iatory. issued orders for the Fastening
of preparations to combat the expected
strike. More soldiers and sailors were
recruited and more volunteer work
man assigned to jobs to be deserted
by union men.
The choice between government and
union service was difficult for workers
who had seen service in the army. In
general, however, they decided for the
government.
The premier announced that union
men who do not want to strike will be
protected by armed forces if necessary
He declared that their positions will
ipnna r6i in ho
ment. The sole hope in the present
situation was the fact that the triple
alliance gave a warning of forty-eight
hours before the strike becomes ef-
fective.
Government officials declared their
belief that not more than fifty per
cent of the railway and transport
workers will obey the strike order.
The three railway and transport
workers who postponed a strike called
for last night, were driven to the
action when miners refused to consider
anything less than naturalization of
the mining industry.
Notice of the strike vote was given
shortly after II a. m. today when
executives of the triple alliance went
into secret session.
Miner Parley Fails.
Negotiations with the miners broke
down yesterday when miners leaders
flatly rejected the offers of Premier
Lloyd George. Lloyd George offered
to create a national wage board, but
refused to consider pooling of mine
profits. He suggested that the nego-
tiations with colliery owners be based
on the proportion of losses in the in
dustry to be borne by labor.
The attitude of the miners led to
the general belief here that they did
not desire a settlement of their dis
pute but were bent on attempting to
force a system of naturalization on
the mining industry.
Railway men and transport workers
were told that they would suffer wage
cuts next summer if they do not sup
port the miners now.
Following their rejection of govern
ment proposals last night, the miners
attempted to persuade their allies to
go thru with the strike originally set
for midnight Tuesday. The railway
and transport workers refused to is
sue the strike call because, they said,
tify all workers in the country within
the few hours left them.
Workers Against Strike.
The attitude of the rank and file
of the triple alliance was hard to de-
termine. While in Scotland and South
Wales there were many meetings
calling for support of the miners. exc
cutives here received many messages
urging them not to call a strike.
Neither government nor workers
permitted the negotiations to inter
fere with plans for meeting the
emergency. The workers prepared tc