MINERS' STRIKE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17123, 19 April 1921, Page 7

MINERS' STRIKE.

LABOUR'S "BLACK FRIDAY" FEELING AGAINST TRANSPORTERS. {By O&a—Ptmi Anociation—Copyxifbt) (United Berri?o.! LONDON, April 17. The miners state they have finished with the railwaymen and transport workers, and will never again work with them.

Feeling throughout the country is acute, in some eases the miners threatening the railwaymen with violence. Meanwhile public opinion is reflected in all tho newspapers, excepting the ultra-Conservative, which havo swung round and express a strong belief that tlho miners should get considerably more than the owners are offering. The general conclusion regarding tne strike development is that tho Communist eloment, though exceedingly vocal, represents a very small minority of the British workers, of whom the great majority are law-abiding citizens, Whose voices ore not heard in the deliberations of ther unions, but whoso we.'ght is irresistibly felt at such a crisis as that which has just passed. There were many meetings of miners to-day. . Mr V. Hartehorn characterised Inday as the "Black Friday" in tho history of the British Labour movement. Mr Noah Abblett, a member of the Miners' Executive, addressing a mass meeting at Merthyr, said they had lost the first round of tihe fight, owing to the failure of their leaders in the socalled Unity House.

THURSDAY'S CONFERENCE. GOVERNMENT'S OFFER STILL OPEN. (Australian, and N.u. Cable Association.) LONDON, April 17. The miners' lenders are out of town, conferring with thoir dismayed followers on the coalfields. There is the bitterest feeling among the miners .at being left in the lurch by the railwaymen and transporters, especially as the exchequer is fast emptying and many families are approaching destitution, despite tho shortness of the strike. A snap of snow and frosty weather is increasing the hardships, and many households are faced with a lack of coal, eyen in the mining districts. Many South Staffordshire bakers have coal for only two more days' baking. In view of these circumstances there is a general hope that Ihe extremists will see the folly of prolonging the struggle. Wfaen the delegates return to London on Thursday, it is hoped that they will have authority to take part in a conference on wages with Lhe owners and Government, who emphasise that all offers made are still open.' Mr J. B. Clynes predicts that the miners will put up a bitter struggle, as they regard the owners' proposals as indefensible.

The "Sunday Express" lobbyist states that the Government,is considering new strike legislation, aimed primarily at direct action methods.

The Government proposals for the settlement of the coal dispute are still open. The owners are advertising the offer to their men. ALLIANOE~DENOUNOED. ("Th» Tim««."l LONDON, April 18. Miners, at, stormy meetings in Scotland and Wales, denounced the Triple Alliance leaders, especially Mr Thomas. Sections of the railwaymen are restive. Mass meetings at Carlisle and Cardiff strongly condemned the Alliance's action. Two- thousand men at Cardiff threaten a sectional strike unless the Alliance is immediately re-established. The London Dockers' Union will support the miners and refuse to bunker imported coal.