U.S.A. STRIKE

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 September 1934, Page 7

U.S.A. STRIKE

BOTH SIDES AGGRESSIVE FACTORY GUARDS ARMED [BY GABLM —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] NEW YORK, August 30. Eleventh hour conferences were held to-night at the office of Mr. Lloyd Gavison, the Chairman of the National Labour Relations Board regarding the cotton textile dispute. They failed to make any progress towards . averting the walk-out. The textile industry employers have adamantly refused to accept any of feie union demands. Mr. Francis German is the Chairman of the. Strike Committee. He declared: “There will be no settlement until we obtain concessions.' We are confident of our own strength.” President Roosevelt has shown no disposition to interfere personally in the dispute, placing the burden entirely upon Mr. Gavison. If the strike is prolonged and the Union’s funds are exhausted, the strik- - ers expect to rely qn the Federal Government to supply them with relief. The employers have appeared to be firmly entrenched. ' They are reported to have large surplus stocks of cotton available. Many observers fear violent disorders, as the workers are in a belligerent mood. The employers are reported to have reinforced their factory guards, many of whom are said to be armed with machine guns.' Meanwhile, the strike fever has spread to the' cotton garment industry, where two hundred and fifty thousand workers , have discussed the possibility ■ of a walk-out as the result of the refusal of the employers to comply with President Roosevelt’s order to increase their wages and to reduce the hours of labour. PRESIDENT THREATENED. NEW YORK. August 30. A threat to harm President Roosevelt and kidnap tltree. of his grandchildren was revealed to-day with the arrest of Benjamin Varney,-a former naval aviation mechanic, by Secret Service, operatives, who reclined to reveal any details. From other- sources, it was 'famed that the threat was confined in a letter addressed to Mrs Roosevelt at White House. It demanded a large sum of money, or the President would ,■ be harmed, it also said: “My gang will kidnap the two-months-old ' baby of Elliot Roosevelt and the two children of Mrs Anna. Dall.” The letter did not reveal the nature of the harm to be done to President Roosevelt.