Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1920 — BRITONS VOTE RAIL WALKOUT [ARTICLE]

BRITONS VOTE RAIL WALKOUT

Serve Notice Government Must Settle Mine Trouble by Sunday. THREATEN TO STRIKE THEN Railroad Men’s Delegation Issues What Is Virtually an Ultimatum— Transport Workers Also Vote to Strike in Sympathy. London, <*ci. 22.—Tlie coal strike situation took an “Unexpected and gruve turn when the National Union of Hallway men and the Transport Workers’ federation announced that they would strike in sympathy with the miners unless negotiations between the government and the miners were reopened this week. The railroad men’s delegation issued whnt was virtually an ultimatum to the government that all members would cease work Sunday a' midnight unless the strike was settled or negotiations which would effect a settlement begun by Saturday. Threatens to Tie Up Britain. Secretary Robert Williams, after tlie meeting of the executive body of the transport workers, made the following statement: “Unless something tangible happens between the government, who are responsible for the negotiations on the owners’ side, and the miners’ federation in the next 24 hours the issue will have to be joined between the whole of the working classes and those who support the government in their obduracy to meet the claim which has been proclaimed by both the triple* alliance and tlie trade union congress as Justified by right and In equity, and which has been conceded to the mine workers on the basis of increased cost of living and the need of maintaining the prewar economic status of the mine workers.” Orders Sent to Rail Men. J. H. Thomas, general secretary of the railway men, announced that the delegates of the railway men had decided “to instruct the general secretary to intimate to Premier Lloyd George that unless the miners’ claims are granted or negotiations resumed by Saturday, which will result in a settlement, we shall be compelled to take the necessary steps to instruct all our members in England, Scotland and Wales to cease work. In addition a telegram is being dispatched to all meijihers to be prepared to cease work at midnight of Sunday next unless they hear to the contrary.” The transport workers’ delegates issued a statement along virtually the same lines as that of the railway men.

Urge Government to Act. Pressure also is being exerted by the trade union congress and the parliamentary .committee of the labor niefi to force the government to waive all prior considerations and call its own and the miners’ representatives together immediately. The government is understood to be firm on the ground that any increase in wages must have reference to increased production, but is willing to reopen the negotiations if the miners recognize this principle. The Press association sr.ys it- understands the district delegates of the miners have been summoned to a conference in London.