Evening star., 1921-04-15
SENSATIONAL SPLIT
IN TRIPLE ALLIANCE
ENDSLABOR CRISIS
British Railway and Trans
port Workers Call Off Walk
Out Due Tonight.
MINERS HOPE TO GO ON
WITHOUT THEIR HELP

Will Call Representatives From
All Coal Fields to De-
eide Action.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, April 15.-The calling
of a conference of representatives
of the miners from all the coal fields
at a date to be fixed tomorrow was
decided upon by the executive OF
the miners federation this evening.
It took this action after hearing the
decision of the. railway men and
transport workers to cancel their
sympathetic strike.
Frank Hodges, the miners secre-
tary, when questioned regarding
this decision, said it meant that the
miners strike would continue.
LONDON, April 15.-An unexpected
and sensational split in the ranks of
the powerful triple alliance of labor
this afternoon completely changed the
complexion of the blackest industrial
crisis Great Britain had ever faced
and averted the projected strike OF
railway men and transport workers In
sympathy with the striking miners
sot for 10 o'clock tonight.
Events developed with such sudden
and startling changes as to leave the
public in a maze.
simultaneously with the announce
ment in the house Of commons by Pre-
mier Lloyd George that the miners had
declined to accept his invitation to
reopen negotiations with the mine
owners on the terms advanced last
secretary, came the announcement
that the railroad men and the trans
port workers had Cancelled the
strike called for tonight.
RaiiroaA Men First to Act.
Announcement that the, railway
mems strike set for 10 o'clock tonight
had been Cancelled was made snortiy
before o'clock thie afternoon BY
ii. Thomas, general secretary OF the
railway mems union
The transport workers strike Also
has been called on. MT. Thomas an
nounced.
strike is Cancelled" he said. =
1t developed that Mr.. Thomas this
morning informed the miners he be-
lieved they should accept the pro-
posals of their general secretary.
Frank Hodges. for a resumption of
the negotiations. and that under the
circumstances the executive of the
railway men would not feel justified
In calling out its men.
The executive of the transport
workers took the same view
Believed Miners wrong.
GeosSe Moore, acting general sec
yetary Of the Amalgamated Society of
said tho decision to call of the rail-
way men and transport workers
strike was reached because the other
unions in the triple alliance consid-
cred the miners were wrong in re-
fusing presume negotiations on the
lines indicated by Secretary Hodges
last evening.
Mr.. Lloyd George. the prime min
lister, announced in the house of COM
mons this afternoon that the miners
had refused to reopen negotiations
for a settlement of their strike on
the basis that had been suggested;
The prime minister read a letter
from the miners federation stating
that the only condition on which q
temporary settlement could be
reached was one which must follow
concession of the two principles of
a national wage board and national
pool
The premier said that upon the Ques-
tfon Of a national settlement Of wages
the government already had expressed
q favorable opinion. but on the ques-
ton Of a national pool 1t regarded
such a pool as injurious to the whole
country. because it involved the re-
establishment of control. The gov
ernment declined to accept this. he
said.
IL was vitality important If the
struggle was to continue. declared
Mr. Lloyd George. that it should De
thoroughly realized by every one that
IL was not a struggle in order to sup
port any scale of figures put forward
by the owners. The government. he
said. was not committed to the sup
port of any scale of wages advocated
ments mind was perfectly open.
Caution BY Lloyd George.
A letter was sent by Prime Minister
Lloyd George today to the local
authorities throughout the country
for their guidance If the strike set
for tonight had been brought about.
The country" he wrote, lis face
to face with a situation which threat
ems not only it's security. but also the
very existence OF ordered government
in our land. The maintenance of the
essential services. without which the
people cannot live. is the first duty
Of the government and of the mu-
nicipal authorities of the country.
such services can only be main
tanned by the voluntary and energetic
efforts OF the country as a whole
To make this effort cannot be re-
garded as taking sides in an indus
trial struggle. 1t is a primary duty
which every citizen owes to himself
to his family and to his country"
Persistent rumors that Franz
Hodges, secretary OF the miners
union. had resigned were curren
here shortly after noon. 1t was sale
he had relinquished his Office becaus,
of opposition to his statement befor,
members Of the house of commons
last night. in which he favored a tenn
porary adjustment OF wages.
Hodges Has Not Resixned.
In his letter inviting the miners I,
a conference with the mine owners
Prime Minister Lloyd George sal,
she general impression received from
M Hodges statement was that tn
miners were now prepared to dis
cuss with the owners the question o
wages without raising the controver
sial issue of the national pool o
4. wages. provided arrangements of
temporary character were made with
sut prejudice to further discussion
rf the proposal for national poo
when further settlement comes 4
fe dealt with"
William Straker. member of tn
miners executive. categorically de
;. MED the report that had been in cir
cuIation that Frank Hodges. secre
stary Of the miners union had re