LABOUR UNREST

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 July 1934, Page 5

LABOUR UNREST

STRIKES IN AMERICA FIGHT ON PIER. Press Association Electric Telegraph —Copyright NEW YORK, Friday. With the San Francisco general strike over, and every indication of arbitration in the longshoremen’s strike, interest shifted to other strike centres. Portland (Oregon) assumed chief importance. The Governor, Mr Meier, ordered out the National Guard, following a clash between strikers and. special guards whom organised labour officials declared to be “irresponsible persons armed by the city.” The fight centred round Pier Four, resulting in serious injury to several persons and the arrest and disarming of four special guards. The arrests of the guards followed their firing at Senator Wagner’s automobile. A Congressman from the district sent a wireless message to President Roosevelt, recommending that the Federal Government take over Pacific Coast shipping. Two textile union officials and another unionist were wounded in Alabama as rioting broke out anew. The Ohio onion-bed weeders, who are on strike, rioted, and four men were injured. TRAGEDY NARROWLY AVERTED. SAN FRANCISCO, Friday. A tragedy was narrowly averted at Portland last night. Senator Robert Wagner, who was sent specially as President Roosevelt’s mediator,, when cruising along the waterfront in his motor car, unwittingly crossed the guardsmen’s line. . A volley of 11 bullets immediately riddled the car, shattering the glass and sides. Nobody was hurt, but Senator Wagner could hear the bullets whining past his head. The sentry said he heard someone shout “Fire.” He fired, and then every excited soldier in the vicinity followed suit. RIOTERS ROUTED. (Received Saturday, 12.30 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, Friday.. Contending that their position is stronger than ever, the Maritime Unions, through the Joint Strike Committee, announced to-day that the waterfront strike would continue. At Seattle, the police to-day used large quantities of tear gas bombs, routing rioters attempting to intimidate non-union men loading the ships.