STRIKE RIOTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21859, 23 July 1934, Page 9

STRIKE RIOTS

AMERICAN CITIES POLICE FIRE ON MOB FIFTY PEOPLE INJURED TROOPS RESTORE ORDER By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 22, 5.5 p.m.) NKW YORK. July 2! M inncapolis awl Seattle were centres of industrial conflict yesterday. The police attempted to escort food lorries through Minneapolis and were attacked by striking lorrymen in another vehicle. The police opened a devastating fire with shotguns and pistols and although they claimed to have aimed over the heads and at the feet of the strikers, 50 were injured and one was reported to have been killed. Strikers reinforcements were rushed up and in spite of the gunfire they repeatedly charged the police lines, using clubs arid stones and inflicting many serious injuries. Finally thousands of National Guard troops were poured into the city and restored order. In Seattle several thousand longshoremen engaged 300 policemen almost all day in a desperate effort to prevent the unloading of ships. They were dispersed with tear and nauseating gas. Mayor Leads Police Charges The Mayor, Mr. Charles Smith, removed the chief of police for alleged inability to control the strikers, and personally led the police in repeated charges. Practically all the combatants, including the Mayor, were more or less seriously gassed.

The police repulsed the strikers, but another attack was threatened. In Portland a tense situation continues. Shippers are making a preliminary move toward opening the port. Four vessels have moved into the docks and the intention is to unload them to-morrow. Pickets are congregating on thß waterfront. Truce Called In Minneapolis The tensity of the situation in Minneapolis was somewhat relaxed ° to-day when a 48 hours' truce was declared following yesterday's riot. Four thousand National Guard troops patrolled the market section of the city. The Governor has threatened to declare martial law on the first sign of violence. The lorry-owners have agreed to suspend deliveries while the Federal Mediation Board makes another effort to negotiate an agreement. Passive Eesistance in .Portland Under a strong police guard to-day the first ship was- loaded in Seattle since May 12. However, as it started to leave the harbour the port collector refused to issue clearance papers, saying that the non-union crew organised was not adequate to handle the vessel. "Union leaders in Portland have devised a new type of industrial warfare, which they call passive resistance. An effort has been made to persuade all working people to boycott business jjnd unfriendly Labour.

Selected workers shirk their duties and otherwise retard business, without actual violence. Some Labour elements, however, doubt the efficacy of this procedure and still demand a general strike to force the evacuation of the troops.