STRIKERS CAUSE FURIOUS RIOT IN WALL STREET

Grey River Argus, 1 April 1948, Page 5

STRIKERS CAUSE FURIOUS RIOT IN WALL STREET

Police And Pickets In Battle

(Rec. 9.0) NEW YORK, March 30 A blooay and furious battle Detween pickets and police raged ior litteen minutes in Vvau Street to-aay, alter the pickets had sprawled, on tne wotpath in front of the Stock Exchange building to form a human oarricaae against non-strikers. A fracas started when the striking financial workers ana husky seamen, who are supporting the strike, began their second days’ picketing ol me Stock Exchange. With clubs swinging, the police tried to clear a path to the Exchange doors, but the pickets '—who included several women — flung themselves to the ground. Amid the screams of women, the police tried to drag them to their feet. Fists flew, police batons were wieled, and the pickets and police wrestled on the street.

Riot squads rushed to the scene, ropea on Wall Street and commandeered private telephones for police use After fifteen minutes, the police bundled 35 struggling pickets, some blood-spattered, into biack marias. Ten pickets and two policemen were injured. Three of the injured, including a detective with his scalp so severely gasheij that it needed eleven stitches were sent to hospital. ROARS OF, PICKETS There was a tense hush all day in Wall Street as mounted police pacroiiea in close formation. Roars of. “scab” and “moneybags,” arose from the pickets as non-strikers filed from ma bunding when the Exchange closed, but there was no further violence. The union leaders later issued statements t charging the police with “brutal" astt sadistic conduct.” Mr J. Lewis Hutchings, secretary of the striking United Financial Employees’ Union declared: “If they want blood, they will get blood, audit won’t all be ours.” Mr Emil .Schram, the Stock Exchange President said: "I deeply regret that the riot occurred. The Exchange will take every precaution to meet the situation peaceably.” The strikers want weekly wage increases of nine to fifteen dollars and have rejected the Exchange’s offer of rises of three to five dollars-

Two seamen’s unions are supporting the striking Stock- Exchange workers. The police said that most of those arrested were seamen.

The fighting began as limousines carrying wealthy exchange members to work began to arrive in Wall Street Pickets taunted the brokers. They increased the warmth of their language as more brokers arrived. They then blocked the Stock Exchange building entrance. The Exchange, however, opened on schedule. The riot caused one of the worst traffic jams in Wall Street’s history. Fifteen hundred workers are involved in the strike, the first since the Exchange was founded in 1792, but the market opened as usual, with the brokers confident that normal business could be maintained. Tiie tickers operated regularly, with the trading volume light. Stock Exchange mem-' bers, many of whom had paid 100,000 dollars for their seats, replaced quotation clerks, messengers and other operational staff; The strike which was called without warning, was matched by the Exchange management’s equally secret plan for operation in an emergency.