U.S.A. STEEL STRIKE

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 June 1937, Page 8

U.S.A. STEEL STRIKE

TURN FOR THE WORSE [BY CABLE PRESS ASSN. COPYRIGHT.] HARRISBURG (Pennsylvania), Ju'ne 19. The Governor (Mr G. 11. Earle) telegraphed the president of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation requesting the closing of the Johnstown steel plant as a means of preserving peace and avoiding bloodshed. Mr Earle hinted that in the event of a refusal he would declare martial law and close the plant with militia. The Governor’s action was provoked by a telegram from the sheriff of Johnstown asking for permission to declare martial law because of the plan of 40,000 mine workers to march to Johnstown on Sunday .as a demonstration of sympathy with ttje steel strikers. LATER. The Bethlehem Corporation refused to close its plant, whereupon martial law was declared, and, 500 additional State police -were sent to Johnstown with orders to take over the policing of the plant. They have been instructed to suspend all operations and disarm the vigilantes. Subsequently Mr John L. Lewis, leader of the Committee for Industrial Organisation, announced the cancellation of the miners’ projected march to Johnstown. The Federal Mediation Board, which was established yesterday, has invited the heads of the various steel companies and union officials to open a peace conference at Cleveland on Tuesday.

FIERCE FATAL RIOT

(Received June 21, Noon).

NEW YORK, June 20

A Youngstown message states that one picket was killed and at least ten persons were wounded at the gate of the Republic Steel Plant, when part of a crowd of five thousand strike sympathisers fought a three-hour gun battle with a detachment of 360 police. Two women, and four sheriffs’ deputies were among the casualties.

The massed efforts of all the available city and county police, reinforced by other armed with rifles and shot guns, finally brought the fighting ulnder control. The strike leaders thereafter demanded that Governor Daven send the militia to the scene.

A check-up of the riot showed twenty-eight were sent to the hospital, and scores of others were treated at private homes and strike headquarters for minor injuries. Chief of Police Olson ordered the arrest of all the pickets carrying guns and other weapons. Twenty-four were arrested in the first few hours. Olson alleged that the riot was planned in advance. He said the pickets, without provocation, attacked the police with stones and paving bricks, aftei’ which the police used tear gas. He denied that the police fired guns, but the union officials alleged the riot ‘ was precipitated by sheriffs and' deputies firing from a motor car into a group of pickets. The women casualties said that they were wounded by this shooting.

PLANT CLOSED (Recd. June 21, 2.15 p.m.). NEW YORK, June 20. A message from Johnstown states that the Bethlehem Steel Company has agreed to comply with the Governor’s order to close the plant, but issued a. statement saying it is only under protest and duress. Furnaces were immediately banked, and workers began filing out through the lines of State police, who refused to permit any to re-enter.