American Strikes

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 130, 18 June 1937, Page 5

American Strikes

-Press Assn.-

OFFICIAL FEARS OF EXTENSION Conference of Parties May Be Called APPEAL TO PRESIDENT

(By Telegraph-

— Copyrleht.)

(Received 18, 8.45 a.m.) WASHIN GTON, June 17. W'th strikes involving an estimated total of 1,300,000 workers in 18 Stqtes and violence attending walk-outs by the men at steel plants in at least seven States, a feeling of apprehension is monnting in Govenunent circles. Observers compare the situation with s'tting on a powder keg.

Spcator A, Iv» vand^nberg (Grrana Rapids), in a statement, said that the real issue of the labour conflict is that Foderal and State sovereignty is being successfully challenged. Other commentators point out that there is a' vanety of woaknesses in the Wagner Act, the principal one being that only labour cau appeal to the courts for the ent'orcement of its terms. This makes the position higlily dangerous. It has been intimated that the Department of Labour may call a conference of parties in the disputes in the steel area with the hope, at least, oi: dispelling some of the ugly mood that is now gripping both sides, but it is feared that little success would attend this action. Some quarters feel that only President Roosevelt could successfully settle the conflict, but he has given no indication at present of his intentions. A New York message says that 17 shipyards are tied up, of which flve have closed as a result of the efforts of the Committee for Industrial Organisation to organise 15,000 shipyard wc-rkers. Work on 30,000,000 dollars' worth of contracts has been haPed^ Ihe strikers demand a closed shop but the owners are determined not to accode. A message from Columhus, Ohio, says that the Governor, Mr Davey, has telegraphed to President Roosevelt, asking the Federal Government to intervene in the steel strike, in an effort to promote a settlement, He declared that the matter had gone beyond the power of a single State to deal with, Tlie only issue standing in the way c± a settlement is the unwillingriess of tiie companies to sign a written wage agreement, although they are willing ' to accept the terms oraily. The flrms assert that the signing of a written agreement would be tantamount to recognition of the Committee for Industrial Organisation and would lead ultimately to a closed shop. Mr Davey concluded by expressing deep eoncern at the potential danger to thousands of people in the present situation.