The Washington herald., 1921-04-16
Workers Outmaneuvred
In Government Par
leys Over Strike.
R. R. AND TRANSPORT
WALK OUT NOW OFF
Miner Chief Yields Fore
most Demand for
Wages Pool.

LONDON, April Is. - Hopelessly
outmanoevered on the eve of its
greatest battle. labor has lost its
first national fight with the govern
ment even before the first real gun
was fired.
By forcing Frank Hodges. leader
Of the miners. to yield their fore
more demand for a wage pool. Pre-
mier Lloyd George completely out
generated the triple alliance. fore
ing a split which Is likely perma-
nentIy to smash the alliance.
Strike Is Called on.
After the most spectacular con-
f,ict within the inner ranks of labor
recorded in it's history, J. 4. Thomas
and Harry Gosling have called on
the railroad men and transport
mems strike six hours before the
notices were to become effective
Thus the government won a blood
less victory over the protagonists
OF the general strike.
LLOYD Georges tactics during the
past hectic twenty-four hours were
characterized by his usual strategy
In effect the premier succeeded In
doing what he usually does in :
crisis - play one side against the
other. The action of the triple alli-
ance is proof of his success.
Miners Holding Out.
The miners are still stubbornly
holding out against any meeting
with the owners until their demand
for national pooling of prohts ana
a national wage board has been
met. Lloyd George is inclined TO
concede the latter point, but is
firmly against the proposal to pool
profits.
The next move is up to the min
ers. They may determine to carry
on the strike and continue the de-
.structive tactics which have char-
acterized their action in the more
radical localities. On the other
hand, depressed by the desertion OF
the raiIwavmen and transport work
ers. they NAV enter into wage dis
Cussions with the owners. as had
hren promised by Frank Hodges.
their secretary. in parliament
Tbursday night, and in the mean
time send the pump and mainten-
ance men back TO work until a set
tlement is reached.
Today was a day filled with anxi-
etv on all sides. The declaration OF
Hodges which twelve hours before
rad heartened the workers for
peace heartened the entire nation
during the morning. Later, now
ever. when news of the reputation
Of Hodges's promise to meet the
owners was made public the deep
eat gloom settled over the House
of Commons, Board of Trade, ana
other public departments concerned
in effecting an agreement.
split Is welcomed.
This was followed however'by the
felcome decision of the trigle al
lance announced by ]. H. Thomas,
the conservative labor leader, who
declared that the raffway men ana
transport workers could not sup
norte the miners in their refusal to
negotiate.
crowds surrounding the House of
Parliament and the newspaper
buildings in Fleet street. waited all
morning for some decision. At noon
they had despaired of any decision
which would stave of the industrial
war. At o'clock with but SIX
hours more before the direct ac-
tion" which would have thrown all
British industry into turmoil they
received the news with cheers Of
relief.
Formal notification that the triple
alliance had called off its strike was
signed by Thomas on the part Of the
railway men and Crump of the
TRANSPORT workers. No reasons were
stated for the action.
In. reply however Lloyd George
said: 4 s--
do not propose to resort to the in
Isensate method Of attempting to
compel q Judgment on the question
of wages by paralyzing the coun-
tSv's industries and bringing suffer-
ing upon millions OF innocent people
while the government is urging a
saner method Of negotiatio between
the miners and the mine owners
over the disputed wages"
Miners Are silent.
Conservative labor leaders tonight
generally condemned the miners for
their refusal to negotiate, declaring
that the radicals in the miners fed
GRAFTON sought to force the issue
because they do not want Industrial
peace.
General Secretary walkden of the
railway clerks organization said:
I'VE were loyal to the miners, but
their refusal to negotiate necessi-
tated our following the leading Of
the triple alliance" -
"we consider the miners wrong in
refusing to negotiate along the lines
Of Hodges offer, and to accept a
temporary settlement with MONTH
ly revision. pending the signing Of
parp,anenf arreementsr