MORE STRIKERS

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21584, 21 November 1941, Page 6

MORE STRIKERS

DISPUTES IN AMERICA OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE MANY SHOTS FIRED (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Nov. 21. 3.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 20 Three men were shot but were not seriously wounded in a fresh outburst of violence at the Fayette County coalfields. Non-strikers, when attempting to go to work, clashed with pickets. About 100 shots were fired. Later a fusilade of shots struck a mine superintendent’s car when he drove through the picket lines, but he escaped injury. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 miners have walked out of the commercial collieries in sympathy with the 53,000 strikers from the “captive” mines. The outlook of a settlement is poor. The C. 1.0. Convention at Detroit passed a resolution that the C. 1.0. utilise to the utmost degree the Government mediation facilities and do all in its power to co-operate with the Government and industry to achieve the maximum defence production. The convention appealed to the Government and the industry to recognise that Labour’s participation in the formulation and administration of the nation’s policies is essential in the endeavour to defeat Hitlerism. Powers of Government The defence officials hinted tonight, as reports came in of shootings in the coal strike and spreading sympathy strikes in the commercial collieries that legislation will be submitted promptly for the Government seizure of the closed mines, authorising Federal operation, and forbidding Labour leaders or pickets to interfere with production. The defence spokesman said that 50,000 soldiers are standing by ready to intervene if necessary, but the Government does not want to use tror % os. The Government, however, will not give in. Mr Roosevelt’s Appeal There is no sign that the coalmines strike is near a solution. In fact, the whole of the Pittsburg area may be shut down by the week-end. President Roosevelt sent letters to the steel companies and to Mr John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers, in which he said the closed shop was the only issue in the present coalmines dispute and affected merely five per cent of the workers employed in the “captive” mines (mines owned by the steel trusts). He said work in these mines must commence again. Mr Roosevelt called on all, as patriotic Americans, to accept one or other of the following alternatives: (1) To allow the matter of the closed shop and “captive” mines to remain in status quo for the period of the national emergency. (2) To submit this point to arbitration, agreeing in advance to accept the arbitrator’s decision. The United States Steel Company agreed to accept either of these alternatives, but the United Mine Workers declined to give a definite answer, at least until Saturday. The convention of the Congress of Industrial Organisations cheered a declaration by its president, Mr Phillip Murray, that “nothing must stop the work of organising the unorganised in America —not even a great emergency.” The convention endorsed the stand of its representatives who resigned from the National Defence Mediation Board. The Pennsylvania Railway Company has signed an agreement granting increased wages and additional holiday benefits to its workers. About 45,000 men are concerned.