OVER A MILLION ON STRIKE

Southland Times, Issue 23229, 18 June 1937, Page 7

OVER A MILLION ON STRIKE

Violence In United States GROWING ANXIETY AT WASHINGTON BOTH SIDES IN DISPUTES IN UGLY MOOD (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received June 7, 7.35 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 16. With strikes involving an estimated total of 1,300,000 workers in 18 states and violence attending “walk-outs” at steel plants in at least seven states, a feeling of apprehension is mounting in Government circles. Observers compare the situation with sitting on a powder keg. Senator A. H. Vandenberg (Republican) in a statement said: “The real position in the labour conflict is that Federal and State sovereignty is being successfully challenged.”

Other commentators point out a variety of weaknesses in the Wagner Act, the principal one being that only labour can appeal to the courts for enforcement of its terms; this makes the position highly dangerous. It is indicated that the Department of Labour may call a conference of the parties in disputes in the steel area with the hope of at least dispelling some of the ugly mood now gripping both sides; but it is feared that little success would attend this action.

Some quarters feel that only the President (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt) could successfully settle the conflict, but he has given no indication at present of his intentions.

The Governor of Ohio (Mr M. L. Davey) sent a telegram to Mr Roosevelt asking the Federal Government to intervene in the steel strike in an effort for a settlement. Mr Davey declared that the matter was beyond the power of a single state to deal with. Standing in the way of a settlement is the unwillingness of the companies to sign written agreements on wages; although they are willing to accept terms orally they assert that a written agreement would be tantamount to recognition of the Committee for Industrial Organization and would lead ultimately to a “closed shop.” Mr Davey concluded on a note of deep concern at the potential danger to thousands of people from the present situation.

Seventeen ship yards are tied up, oi which five are closed, as a result of the efforts of the Committee for Industrial Organization to organize 15,000 ship-yard workers. Work on 30,000,000 dollars’ worth of contracts has been halted; the strikers demand a “closed shop,” and the owners are determined not to accede. A bomb exploded at the gate of the Bethlehem steel plant at Johnstown (Pennsylvania) while the pickets were assembling to resist a “back to work” march which the Mayor (Mr Shields) had promised to lead after. arming hundreds of vigilantes with pistols and clubs. The bomb caused no damage, or injuries, but increased the . tension which has enveloped the city, each faction alleging that the other was responsible. The police, using tear gas, ejected rioting strikers from five hotels in Kansas City after windows had been smashed during a fight between strikers and non-strikers in which bricks and stones were used. No one was injured. The police fired a single shot as a warning.