STRIKE IN AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1922, Page 5

STRIKE IN AMERICA.

PEACE MOVE FAILS. CRAVE CRISIS DEVELOPS. A MILLION MEN OUT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. New York, July 20. With the complete collapse of the peace negotiations in regard to the railway strike the United States is facing the full gravity of the industrial crisis. Approximately a million men are engaged in the strikes. Mr. Hooper, chairman of railroad labor, asserts that the issues that caused the strike had not been lost sight of, and the question of seniority to-day is the chief point of contention. The union officials firmly demand that all rights shall be restored to the shopmen, that being the rock on which the peace efforts have broken down. The railway presidents are equally firm in their insistence that the seniority Hghts of men now working shall be recognised. Three hundred trains in the Eastern States have been cancelled. FIGHT TO A FINISH. POSITION MORE COMPLICATED. NATIONAL COAL SHORTAGE. Received July 21, 10.10 p.m. New York, July 20. The strike situation concerning both the railways and the mines continues to grow more complicated. The Governor of Michigan, replying to President Harding, declared the State was ready to take over the mines and operate them. The Pittsburg coal operators have begun the eviction of striking miners from their homes, which the companies own. Pennsylvania has begun a movement of troops to protect mining operations, whilst three more State Governors have telegraphed President Harding that -they are ready to protect mining operations, bituminous coal-mine operators petitioned the Government to begin an investigation of the Herrin massacre.

The chairman (Mr. Loree), at the conference of eastern railway presidents, representing forty railways, declared that they were ready to fight the strike to a finish. The railroad labor board, however, is continuing fruitless efforts at mediation. A few hundred railway clerks and ma’ntenance way men on the various railroads throughout the country have joined the strike. It is' understood the Government is preparing to use the Shipping Board vessels, amounting to one million tons, to import, coal for seaboard industries. A national shortage of coal this winter is certain. INDUSTRIAL CHAOS. RESULT OF THE STRIKE. Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. Chicago. July 20. The industrial situation due to the ' coal strike is growing critical. Scores . of factories are paying off men and are I threatened with a total shut down. [ In Illinois the coal operators claim it is impossible to open the mines under President Harding’s plan. TAMPERING WITH TRAINS. THREAT TO PASSENGERS’ LIVES. Received July 21, 5.5 p.m. New York. July 20. The local railways claim that the actions of the strikers are endangering ’ the lives of passengers. There have ; been several instances of tampering with the brakes. Strikers at Monongahela, ; Pennsylvania, fired on the guards, wounding four policemen.