Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-14
ASKS REASON
Continued from PAGE One)


becomes operative are the only hope
full signs.
After the receipt of the announce
ment of the triple alliance" that it's
members would be called from their
work Friday night. Premier Lloyd
George sent the following reply to
the alliance:
Dear Mr.. Thomas General sec
rotary of the railway union) and Mr..
Williams (secretary of the Trans
port Workers Federation):
Il am in receipt of your letter. The
decision you report is a grave one.
You threaten Friday night to dislo-
cate the whole transport services Of
this country so essential to the life Of
tho nation.
II should like to know the grounds
on which you are determined to in
f1ict such a serious blow on your fell
low conutrymen.
yours faithfully,
(Signed) Lloyd George"
The triple alliance sat until late
hour tonight and it was decided to
send a reply to the premier'S letter
Thursday morning. when the deliber-
atoms of the Triple Alliance are re-
sumed.
A manifesto issued by the miners
federation tonight seems to render
negotiations hopeless, apart from
such yielding on the side of the gov
eminent as the miners themselves
say they can hardly expect. The
government yesterday met the min
ers half way by agreeing to give such
financial assistance as would be
necessary to start the regulation of
wages on a national basis. The min
ers however, insisted on acceptance
also of the pooling of profits. which
the government throughout has de-
clared to be impossible.
This irreconciable attitude is de-
priving the miners of any support in
the press, and apparently is tending
to ALLEVIATE the sympathy of a large
section of the public. who had been
impressed during the dispute with
the justice of the miners claims for
greater consideration than the own
ers had given in recent wage offers.
The government proposal was that
wages should be fixed on a national
basis and that committees in each
district composed equally of owners
and miners should consider excep-
tional cases requiring assistance from
the state. Many owners criticized
the government for going too far in
this respect
While the miners are thus losing
the support OF the general public or
ganized labor is steadily CONSOLIDATE
irg on the side of the miners. The
amalgamated society OF locomotive
men and firemen, whose attitude pre-
viously had been doubtful, decided
today to strike with the triple al
lance The executive committee of
the railway clerks association, also
recommended joining the strike.
The electrical workers of London,
but not of the whole kingdom,
threaten to strike.
There is still some question as to
whether a strike of all the members
of the Triple Alliance is possible FRI
day According to the constitutions
of the respective sections, the rail-
way men may be called upon to
strike without ballot. but the trans
port workers are required to take a
ballot before a strike is called.
4 manifesto issued late tonight by
the Triple Alliance, in which this
body emphatically support the min
ers claims, contends that such reduc-
tons in the miners earnings mo
trade union in the past ever ac-
copied land declares that, If ac-
cepted, ''it would be a disgrace to
trade unionism OF the world"
The premier's letter to the triple
alliance was sent by special messen-
ger after a full meeting OF. the cabi-
net tonight and after the formal
council, Lord Birkenhead, Sir Rob-
ert s. Horne, Sir Eric Geddes re-
manned long in consultation with the
prime minister.
Mr.. Hodges, SECRETARY of the min
ers union, tonight denied that the
miners would refuse to enter into
further negotiations.
The federation" he added. sfs
always willing to negotiate, and. I'm
tact. negotiations must resume some
time"
Offers Of American coal were re-
eeved at Belfast today Of $13 per
son delivered, which is about the
pface OF the best Yorkshire coal.
Omers Of French coal at So shillinrs
pE tan delivered werA a lo<, d.s;r,..a