AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1922, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

— i AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. BAD LIQUOR IN U.S.A. j NEW YORK, Aug. 23. 'liic National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness lias issued statistics purporting to hliow that in the first half of 1922, wood alcohol caused 130 deaths, ami twenty-two cases ol blindness. More than half the fatalities have occurred in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. There were 103 of 130 denths reported in the first twelve days of 1922, U.S.A; STRIKE CRISIS. NEW YORK, August 23 A conference between the Railway Executives and the strikers representatives has failed over the seniority issue;” Ihe workers refused to accept the Railway Executive’s ultimatum that the loyal employees must lit given a pro! .'fence over strikers in promotion. Ml- Jewell; lor the employers, stated, “This means a fight to a finish.’' The four hundred thousand workers out now are prepared to carry on the strike to the end.

U.S.A. COAL COMMISSION. WASHINGTON, August 23 r jhc U.S.A. House of Representatives has passed Mr Winslow’s Coal Commission Bill, somewhat amended, to harmonise with the Senate’s Bill. The Representatives who are in favour of Labour, attempted to attach to the Bill amendments assuring to Labour some representation on the Commission, but these were defeated. Mr Weeks (for the Ministry) made a statement that no further would the Administration intervene in the railway strike negotiations. it is likely the Government, however, will not permit transportation to break down, and that in any emergency/ the Government will take over the railroads. The Government will also utilise warships, if necessary, to carry mails between the seaport towns. Senator Sterling has introduced a Bill for making it felony to interfere with the movement of railway trains, and providing that if any person is killed as a result of utterferenee the guilty parties wilt be held for imirdef;

MR GOMPERS, VIEW. OTTAWA, August 23. Mr Sam Gompers, President of the r; \ Federation of Labour, addressing ' the Canadian Trade’s Union eonSe, outlined the strike situation m the United States. He declared that the strikers were winning. Ibe torces , f Capital, lie said, were strangely desirous of lowering the standard of hi ing and of destroying the unions.

lT s A AND CANADIAN LABOUR. OTTAWA, August 23 Sneakin- at the Canadian Trades ciS-t, rt Mimlrcal. Mr S. <*>£> (President of the American Labour Federation) pointed out that the • eriean Federation of Labour bad neier undertaken to interfere with the political' ooliev of the Canadian Labour Movement. Tt only desired the union oftlu Canadian United. States labourers. There was no room, he said, for two organisations.

arj FOR GENERAL STRIKE. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, August 24 With railway heads preparmg to fight the strike to a finish, Sioux Citi trades and labour assembly passed a tinn calling on tlw American 1-ederation ~f Labour to order a general strike of all railway employees.

MINERS RESUMING. NEW YORK. Aug. 24 Bituminous mines are in the Senate creating a ftder.l throughout the country.

CONTROL OF RAILWAYS. WASHINGTON, August 83. It is learned that the United States has proposed the Allied Powers should relinquish control of the Chinese East, ern railway upon the Japanese equation of Siberia. Japan has replied.