The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-28
STRIKE THREATENS
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Winnipeg's Labor Troubles
Are Spreading Rapidly
Over Canada.

VANCOUVER, b. c.. May a7.-The gen.
eral strike which has practically tied
up Winnipeg for the last week now
threatens to sweep into British Column
bia, after having spread in twenty
four hours to Calgary and Edmonton.
| Alberta, Regina, Sask and several small
districts in the western districts of
Canada. Last night II was announced
| from Victoria that the trades council
there had decided to call for a general
| strike vote In sympathy with the Winni-
peg strikers. the results to be in by
Sunday night.
Dispatches from Ottawa to-day indi-
| cate the Government views the situa-
ton with considerable alarm. The in.
dustrial unrest In the west was under
| consideration to-day at meeting of the
| Cabinet Council at which Sir Robert
Borden presided. Sir Robert said he
hoped to be able to make a settlement
to the House respecting the situation
either this afternoon or tomorrow morn
ing Reports received by the Council
from Winnipeg showed that a number of
the postal employees have returned to
work. All was quiet in that city, &C.
cording to information received by Ma
Jor-General Newburn, Minister of Militia.
Labor Leaders Apprehensive.
In Vancouver the strike moyement
has been intimated as being possible
by the labor leaders, who said, however,
that they view with apprehension what
might occur II the Government finds
1t necessary to call upon the militia to
enforce its demands in the strike affected
areas. Several unions here, 1t was said,
nave strike votes in preparation for
week but no result has been made
| public. Acting President McConnichy
| OF the Postal Workers Union, declared
| the Vancouver unions did not purpose
TO take any radical action without d.
liberate consideration.
In Edmonton the general strike was
but partially effective Monday, and the
| same was true in Calgary. where Il was
said only 1900 workers answered the
strike call. although 5000 miners in
District No. IS were out. Sixteen hun
! dred votes favored the Edmonton strike.
| leaders announced. and 500 opposed. In
Calgary street railway service appar-
entity has been unaffected and civic en-
ployees have remained at work A large
| number of unions have not yet signifed
| their intended action. A citizens COM
| mittee. similar to the Winnipeg commit
tee. Is in process of formation to coop
crate with the various authorities in
maintenance OF law and order.
Among those who struck at Calgary
were postal clerks, whose refusal to sort
| mail tied UP thousands of remittances
| to relatives OF soldiers in a wide area
| for which this is the central distrib-
uting point An attempt to move these
with the aid of volunteer post Office
workers was to be made to-day.
Moosejaw Ready TO Quit.
Advices from Moosejaw state that
| town Is the latest to threaten to Join
| the general strike. The Trades and La
| Dor Council. by vote of to 2. has
decided to ballot on a sympathetic strike
| to be called on Thursday night IL a set
! Element Is not reached in Winnipeg be-
| fore that time. The local unions are
asked to notify the council of the re-
| suit of the voting within three days.
| and 1t is generally believed that all the
unions. except possibly the typographical
| union. will be in favor of striking. The
Civic Employees Union has voted to obey
| a strike call, and labor leaders say that
| similar action has been taken by the
boilermakers' and machinist's unions at
the Canadian Pacific Railway shops.
In Saskatoon at noon to-day. the labor
unions OF that city voted more than five
to one In favor OF going on a general
strike. Railroad shopmen. Transfers.
plumbers carpenters, bricklayers. plas-
terers, telephone operators and tele-
gra piers decided TO stop work. as we'll
| as some Of the clerks. hotel and res
taurant workers.
In Winnipeg there is no visible change
in the situation. except a further in
| cvease of commercial activities This
IL largely due to a flood of mall re-
leased from the Winnipeg postoffice by
| volunteer clerks. Representatives OF
the city government have begun compil-
| Ing lists OF the city employees on strike
and will begin to replace the strikers
on Thursday as result of the city
councils action last night.