STRIKES IN AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1922, Page 5

STRIKES IN AMERICA.

SETTLEMENT EFFORTS. GOVERNMENT’S TASK. EVERY STEP TAKEN. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Aug. 19, 5.5 p.m. Washington, August IS. President Harding, in an address to Congress, outlined the Administration’s efforts to settle the coal and railway strikes. He declared he would use all the power of the Government to maintain transportation and sustain the right of men to work. The Presider. recommended the immediate provision of a temporary national coal agency,' with the needed capital to purchase, sell and distribute coal He suggested the Railway Labor Board should be <•’ en power to enforce its decree against both labor and capital. He did not intend to ask Congress to change the laws at . ’esent, as no hasty action would contribute ' -wards a solution of a critical situation. The President eclared the existing laws were sufficient to end the prevailing disputes, and they would be invoked against all offenders alike. He emphatically disapproved of the apparent mo-e on the part of some classes of industry to destroy labor unions, asserting it was in the public interest to preserve and profit by the good in labor unions. The President bitterly denounced the butchery at Herrin and other outbreaks of violence, declaring that whatever sacrifice was necessary gnvpr t> ment. by law must be sustained. He asked for the speedy enact’ - -mt of a law- giving the Federal Government power to deal with situations like the Herrin massacre, and also a Bill for. the better protection of aliens and the enforcement of their treaty rights.

“My renewal of this oft-made recommendation is impelled by a pitiable sense of Federal impotency to deal with the shocking crime at Herrin, which shamed and horrified the country/’ proceeded the President. “In that butchery human being wrought in madness. It u alleged two aliens were murdered. This act adds to the outraged sense of American justice the humiliation which lies on the Federal Government in its lack of authority to punish an unutterable ''-ime’’

Referring to ue coal situation. President Harding said the simple but significant truth is that except for such coal as comes from districts worked by non-organised miners, the country is at the mercy of the united mine workers. The President requested authority to create a coal commission to investigate the hole industry, with authority to reveal every phase of coal production, sale and ,distribution. This would be necessary if another strike next April were to be avoided.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE COAL SITUATION. ’NO DECISION REACHED. Received Aug. 20. 5.5 p.m. New York, August 18. At Philadelphia a conference of anthracite operators and the strike leaders adjourned without a decision being reached. The conference will resume on Saturday. Received Aug. 20, 5.5 p.m. Washington. August 19. The Indiana mine operators signed at Cleveland an agreement with the owners to produce three million tons uf coal annually. THE RAILWAY STRIKE. COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT. Received Aug. 20, 5.5 p.m. New York. August 18. Following an all day session of the railway executives and the big brotherhood unions, it was indicated that a compromise settlement had been reached. The conference has adjourned till next week, and the brotherhoods will in the meanwhile submit the terms to the shopmen. It is learned that the compromise provides that seniority will be restored to the strikers without affecting the rights of new employees hired for the strikers' places. DYNAMITE ON TRACK. CONFERENCE TO RESUME. New York, August 18. Following the derailment of the Buffalo-Niagara Falla train nine were injured. The railway officials announce that fifty sticks of dynamite were found on the track, and offered 10.000 dollars reward for the arrest of the wreckers. The joint conference of the railway executives and the railway brotherhoods in connection with the shopmen's strike adjourned last night without arriving at a definite conclusion, but both sides were satisfied with the progress made. Seniority rights are still the stumbling block. The conference will be resumed this morning.