New-York tribune., 1921-04-16

CA the 6ltuaVlon VIII De lSSueu.
The mine owners issued anothc,
statement tonight repeating their pre-
viously stated opinion that the wages
of the lower paid men Ought to be ad-
lusted and declaring they still were
ready to meet the miners in confer
encc.
Miuers' Support Dwindling
That the miners support is rapidly
falling away from them was shown by
the fact that the executive body ot the
Electrical Trades Union and the secre-
tary of the Railway Clerks Associa
tion called off the strikes OF thelr or
carnations upon announcement OF the
decision of the railwaymen and trans
port workers not to strike.
A ballot taken by the Seamcn's and
Firemen's Union on the question
whether the union should call strike
in sympathy with the miners resulted
IN a majority of fifty-sevcn against a
ssrike. The total poll was 10000.
Not since the days preceding the
declaration Of war has the House OF
Commons witnessed more dramatic
fluctuations of hope and fear than were
experienced to-day in connection with
the threatened industrial crisis.
Hopes High in Commons
Last evening everything looked
black, but after it became apparent
that the mine owners were prepared to
consider a revision of their original
position, and after the striking state
aent OF Mr.. Hodges last night that ne
was prepared to discuss the question OF
wages, leaving the question of a ma
tional pool for future settlement, hopes
rose, and they were still high when
the Commons met at noon to-day.
On the assembling of the House
rumors were current that Mr.. Hodges
had been thrown over by the miners
executive. and also that he had re-
signed. Then the news came that the
miners had refused to meet the owners
and were insisting os their original
demands. This news became known
when the Prime Minister made the
statement that the miners had refused
MS invitation to meet the owners. but
the terms of the letter of refusal drew
cries OF indignation, and the fact that
the letter was signed by Mr.. Hodges
created a murmur of astonishment. No
newspaper reporters were present at
last evenings gathering, but it was
said there was not the slightest doubt
Of the impression left in the minds of
the members OF the Commons by Mr..
Hodges, who made his statement in
answer to specific question by a
member
Government Firm Against Pool
Mr. Lloyd George in the House read
letter from the Miners Federation
saying that the only condition on which
temporary settlement could be
reached was one which must follow
concession of the two principles of a
national wage board and a national
pool.
The Premier said that upon the ques-
tion of national settlement of wages
The governpent already had expressed
a favorable opinion, but on the question
OF q national pool, it regarded such a
pool as injurious to the whole coun-
sry because it involved the reestab-
lishment of control. The government
declined to accept this. he said.
1t was vitally important if the strug-
gle was to continue, declared Mr. Lloyd
George, that it should be thoroughly
by every Spne that it WAS not
Il struggle in order to support any scale
OF figures put forward by the owners.
The government, he said. was not COM
nitted to the support of any scale of
wages advocated by the mine owners,
and the government was perfectly open.
When the Triple Alliance reassem-
oled this morning it soon became evil
dent that the offer of Mr.. Hodges had
not the solid support of the rest of
the miners executive body. At the
same time tAs fnsi tgtiion OF the sPrime
Minister to the miners executive to
meet the owners around what was
hoped might prove to be peace table
fC.
j. Fl. Thomas, general secretary of
the Railwaymen's Union, and other
leaders, pressed the miners
to accept Mr.. Lloyd Georges offer.
The argument continued until we'll
after IL o'clock. the time set by the
Prime Minister for the miners to meet
the owners.
Meanwhile, under pressure of the
conflicting judgments of the executive
officials of the miners and those Of
their partners in the Triple Alliance,
.he miners withdrew and went to their
headquarters to take private counsel.
They had not been in conference more
than half an hourwhen unexpectedly a
transport workers executive bodies
arrived.
Then final appeal was made by Mr.
Thomas and the others, who considered
that Mr.. Hodges's offer to the Com.
rnons ought to be used as the basis
Of new attempts toward settlement
ana that Mr.. Lloyd Georges invitation
should be accepted. This last try, how
ever, was futile. In fact, the majorit.
Of the miners executive officials were
obdurate in their stand for pooling ant
national wage concessions.
The executive officials of the rail
waymen and the transport workers re
turned to the headquarters of the Ma
tlonal Union of Railwaymen and await
ed the Prime Minister'S announcement
Of his receipt of the miners negatiy
reply before announcing their decision
regarding official sympathetic strikes
This decision was reached only after
debate, which developed into an acri
monious wrangle, the high words O
which could be heard by the newspa