The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-05-29
CANADIAN
INDUSTRY
STAGNANT
Strike Situation Serious With
Business at Standstill in
Number Of Can
adian Cities.
CONFERENCE IS CALLED
Sir Robert Borden Considers Calling
Meeting at Ottawa to Settle
the Tense Con-
CONFERENCE Is CALLED

| UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.J
| OTTAWA, Ont, May 29-Sir Robert
Borden today is understood to be Con-
sidering calling a general conference
a. Ottawa to settle the strikes which
are throttling industrial life in num-
| Der of Canadian cities. ALI parties
directly concerned in the strikes
would be invited to this conference.
Legislation affecting the cost of liv-
/, ing would be one of the matters dis
crssed, it was stated.
| The strikes continued today. In
other cities labor unrest was apparent
according to advices received here
from all parts Of the dominion.
In Toronto the situation was tense.
A general strikes goes into effect
there tomorrow unless Premier Bor-
| cen can bring about settlement
when he meets leaders here today.
The labor men want an eight hour
day Sixty million dollars in riot in
surance has been written by Toronto
firms during the last week. 1t was re-
ported, and the rate has risen from
thirty cents to sixty cents per 500.
In Winnipeg, where the trouble orr
ginated, the government has main
/
attitude to date, threatening dismissal
| of postoffice and railway mail clerks
who walked out in the general strike
The city was still tied up today.
| Labor leaders in Vancouver were
reported striving to put general
strike into effect but postal workers
failed to vote to join
Postal workers at Victoria, B. c..
were reported to have gone on strike
yesterday.
Telegraphers at Winnipeg were
understood to be considering return
| ing to work fearing the absence OF
| full details Of the strike might have
bad effect on their case on observers
outside the city. The slogan Of the
Labor News, the union publication at
Winnipeg is spread the strike"
| A strike OF hydro-electric employees
| in the whole Niagara district was
ayerted by submission to the mems de-
| mands. They asked an eight hour
day, "A hour week, double time on
Sundays and holidays
The Ottawa city council has recog-
nized the hod carriers. builders union
and a wage scale Of 45 cents an hour.
At Hull electric railway employees
won increases OF three cents an hour
and nine hour day. Messages from
Winnipeg reported that citizens had
appealed for legislation to make SYM
pathetic strikes criminal. One hun
dred citizens there volunteered as
crews of garbage wagons and others
came forward to turn refuse at the
dumps.
Much hope was placed today in the
conference here between Premier
Borden and the Toronto delegation.
Arthur Meighen, acting minister OF
i4ustice arrived today from Winnipeg
tc participate. Advices from west had
it. that many trades were out at Moose
Jsw. Prince Albert, Regina and Cal
gary, but the strikes had not become
general.
Edmonton, however, was said to be
almost completely tied up, with cleo
trio light service crippled, street cars
not running and hotels partially
closed.
Decide Sunday Night.
VANCOUVER, B. c., May 20
Union workers in Vancouver will de.
eide Sunday night whether they will
declare a general strike. This de-
cision was announced today by the
trades and labor council. The dele
gates declared such course neces-
sary in view of the governments
action regarding striking postal and
municipal employees, and in It's oppo-
sition to collective bargaining.
In preparation for the ultimatum,
strike vote committee was appoint
ed. It meets tonight to fix the date
on which the local strike will be-