Evening star., 1921-04-13
Nearly 100000 Will Be
Idle in England in Case
of Strike.
GOVERNMENT TO USE
ITS FULLEST POWERS
Workers Who Stay at Tasks Will
Be Protected-Miners Make Firm
Demands on Other Unions.
br the Associated Press

LONDON. April l3.-Great Britain's
triple alliance of labor" will call
'ts members from their posts at 10
CLOCK Friday night. it was announc-
ed here this morning at IL O'Clock.
rms decision follows the inability of
the National Miners Federation TO
reach an agreement with the mine
owners and the government for the
settlement of the miners strike.
winch began April /.
Inc triple alliance" is made up OF
the National Miners Federation.
having a membership of 500. 900: the
National Union of Railwaymen. with
100000 members. and the National
Federation of Transport Workers.
whlch numbers as its members
large number of unions which have
a membership of close TO 300.o 900 II
mas been estimated that if the AL
lance should call a strike there
would be nearly 4.000 000 persons idle
in England as a result
The decision to strike was reached
unanimously by the transport work
ers and railway men. J. II. Thomas,
general secretary of the Railway
| mems Union. said after this morn
ings meeting
The waikout." he declared. will
take place at 10 o'clock Friday night.
Many other unions have sent appli-
cations TO join the strike, and these
are being considered"
Government Issues Statement,
The government today issued the
Following statement bearing upon
the labor situation:
IN the event OF the threatened
extension of the stoppage of work
! the government wish to make il
! clear that they will use the fullest
! nj fata
workers who remain at work in any
services essential to the life of the
community.
In any settlement which may be
reached the government will give
their support in assuring that the
! position of such workers shall not
be prejudiced as compared with their
position before the stoppage.''
Reafiirmation by the triple alliance
Of its pledge to support the miners
through The announcement that its
! members would cease work Friday
! night. keeps the Industrial sky still
dark Many observers, however.
found reinsurance today in the fact
that The days 10 intervene before the
strike becomes effective leave oppor-
tunities for several available agen-
cies to tender their good Offices in
an effort to bring the opposing fore
es TO the conference table again.
Embnrrns.ed by Uncertainties.
one Of the many uncertainties OF
the situation is whether the three
cornered negotiations. to which the
owners. the miners and the govern
ment have been parties. are really a;
end.
The postponement of the triple al
lance sympathetic strike yesterday
created an acute situation within the
labor camp 1t is understood that
the miners. with some show of feel
ing over this seeming Indication OF
weakness. made peremptory demand
upon their partners in the alliance
this morning that they LAY their
cards on the table" and declare III
nally whether they intended to strike.
and. if So when.
Other labor organiZat tions may be-
come involved in the controversy
between the government and the
triple alliance" The Daily Mail de-
ciared today that the executive COM
mittee of the Electrical Trades Union
resolved last night 10 support the
triple alliance" An electricians
strike would paralyze street car traf-
nc and public lighting companies.
Comment by Newspapers.
All London newspapers today
dwelt on the serious injury done the
country by continued uncertainty
over the Industrial situation. The
London Times and the Morning Post
pointed out ii was not the actual
amount of the wages at present in
dispute. but the question of national
control OF the profits of industries
which was at stake. The Morning
Post emphasized the alleged fact that
hidden and subversive forces, were
behind the whole movement" and de-
clared: The miners demands must
be resisted at all costs"
The situation" said the Daily Telc-
graph. "is too confused to permit of
prediction. and members of the triple
alliance themselves probably have
no clear idea as to what must be
done. Ii is a desperate situa-
ton. All citizens should prepare for
the worst"
The Daily Express urged the gov
ernment to open direct negotiations
of acting through an intermediary.
AS heretofore. and speculated on the
course member unions of the al
lance" would pursue.
The London Times and other pa
pers believed the National Union of
Railway Men and the National Fed
Grafton of Transport Workers were
embarrassed" at the obstinacy of
the miners.
The Daily Herald. organ of labor.
said the government had banged
and bolted the door upon all hope of
an honorable settlement" and fierce
iy attacked Mr. Lloyd George for
ftricking the miners into delay, and
definitely casting his lot with the
BOSSES" The newspaper called upon
the triple alliance" to stand pat"