The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-16
SPLIT
IS DECLARED
BIG DEFEAT
Forces Break into Sections
After Refusal of Railway
men and Transport Workers
To Go on Sympathy Strike.
SEE ALLIANCE DEATH
(Rv Associated Pre~s)

(Ry Assoc lated Pre~s)
LONDON, April 16-Labor forces
of the United Kingdom are today ap-
parently broken into sections as a
result of the refusal Of the National
Union of Railway men and the Ma
tional Federation of Transport work
ers yesterday to continue their sup
port Of the strike called by the Miners
federation Of Great Britain on April !.
Opinion prevails in some quarters
that the action of the railroad workers
and the transport men means tie
death warrant of the Triple alliance"
This view is not held universally but.
without doubt, the split which devel
oped yesterday will have a serious
effect upon the rank and file of labor.
yesterday was the heaviest defeat
that has befallen labor within the
memory of man." begins the laborite
Herald's comment on the sensational
break away Of the abroad men and
transport workers. "It is no use try
ing to minimize it. The workers have
not stood together and they have
reaped the reward"
Declare Mistake.
The newspaper declares that Frank
Hodges, secretary of the Miners or
ganization. made a tactical mistake by
altering the old formula of the union
during his address before members of
the house of commons on Thursday
night The union had held it would
, not negotiate until assured of the es-
tablishment of national wage board,
even if such body would not begin
operations Immediately but Mr. Had
ges changed the formula by declaring
the union would negotiate immediate
ly, postponing the question of a ma
| tional board. Assertion is made that
in so doing he went beyond his powers.
"The old machinery has failed" the
Herald concludes. 1--WE must start
afresh and get a machine that will
work, and develop a new spirit. This
! is not the end: it is the beginning"
| Whether the miners federation, in
its turn, will split up. as predicted in
some quarters, remains to be seen
Mr.. Hodges position has become deli
cate. but it is known he has the sup
port Of a strong minority. The hands
| Of the present executives of the or
ganization are tied, but the new con-
ference Of delegates which has been
called may consent to modify its in
| structions SO that negotiations may
| proceed
Graphic Account
| The London Times gives a graphic
account of what happened at the fate
! full meeting Of the triple alliance"
| yesterday.
"The proceedings developed" says
an eyewitness quoted by the Times,
into the biggest circus ever SEEN
! Extremists Of all sections tried hard
to keep the battle flag unfurled. and
c. T. Cramp, president of the railwa y
mems union, led in the attempt to Sc
cure postponement instead Of cancel
lation of the strike. Recr1minations
| were mutual, and while the transport
| workers were particularly accused Of
not desiring fully to suspect the min
ers, they retorted by referring to the
weakened action which led TO the
matter of cancella ton of the strike
order being raised at this junction at
all. 1t was argued that the miners
should have accepted Prime Minister
Lloyd Georges proposal and stood by
the offer made by Mr.. Hodges. Their
refusal showed their attitude was not
actuated by the wage dispute, but was
kind of direct action for securing
some kind of naturalization When
it became evident the break was COM
ing. the anger of the miners was un-
bounded"
According to other accounts. the at
mosphere was electrical. and bitter
personalities were hurled to and fro.
Shouts of "tra itor" and other similar
epithets were heard by reporters out
side the hall where the meeting was
held
| Replying to the communication
from Mr.. Cramp and J. H. Thomas
CONTINUED on Page Twelve)