Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-05-17
WINNIPEG QUIET,
CANADA NERVOUS
OVER BIC STRIKE
Ottawa Disturbed Be.
cause of Unrest in
Provinces.

Winnipeg, Man, May 16.-Bitter dead
lock between union labor in Winnipeg
and leading industrial employers who re-
fused to recognize the unions, continued,
today, and, altho it was known that the
general strike which was begun yester-
day morning was receiving the attention
Of federal, provincial and local officials.
there were no signs, tnoIght, of any ap-
pr0ach toward a settlement.
Ihe postal tic up and the walk-out
of employees in several railroad depart
ments brot the situation to the floor Of
the house Of commons. at Ottawa, to-
day. A dispatch received from Ottawa
by the Canadian Press stated that the
following statement was made in the
house, this afternoon, by A. X. Mclean.
minister without portfolio:
The minister of labor has been closely
in touch with the situation at Winnipeg
during the past ten days and he is being
advised from moment to moment. He is
ready a. all times to do anything he
can in the circumstances.
Complete Isolation Coming.
This statement was construed here 10
mean that the government was willing
TO cooperate in any movement TO arbit-
rate the differences which caused the
Winnipeg Building and Metal Trades
union members to strike and which was
by the general walkout, yester-
day, wHseh at present involves more than
sixty unions and 10000 members. Pre-
nicr [. G. Norris and Mayor Charles
Gray. of Winnipeg, who tried TO con
elIate the opposing factions. this week.
failed 70 get the employers and the men
together.
Union telegrafers of Winnipeg voted
here, this evening, to join the general
strike at noon tomorrow. Press, brok-
sr and commercial operators all are af
fected This means that Winnipeg will
De isolated from the rest of the Domin I
on BY telegraf, telefone and mail.
Can Supply Food.
Members of the general strike com .
nittee announced, tonight, that the ac-
ion of the telegrafers brot the total I
lumber of Winnipeg unions on strike or
'eady to walk out when the general /
.ommittee orders. to 50. Several unions I
which voted to join the general move
nent have not been called out as yet.
While union men were holding meet
ngs, this afternoon. and business men
we're gathering at conferences the city
ouncil considered the food situation.
r. b. Russell, head of the mechanics
lnion, who acted as spokesman for a
abor delegation which attended the
ouncil meeting, said that the general
trike committee had approved sugges
ions to permit the distribution of bread
nd milk and the opening of restaurants.
Ie said however. that the union men
ad decided that local newspapers could
ot be published with any union assist
nee for the present at least declaring
hat in the past Winnipeg public opin-
1n has been nodded against our class
One Paper Only Sold.
The only paper sold on Winnipeg
trects, this afternoon. was the Western d
abor News. Publishers of daily news
apers decided, late today, to suspend
ublication temporarily. Editorial staffs
ere kept on duty however. and reports
,om every section of the city indicated
lat no serious disturbances had taken /
lace since the strike began A few I
rguments, today. received attention I
ON the police. but no arrests resulted.
Winnipeg. since yesterday, has had
,lunteer firemen but they have had {
tile to do. Mid summer weather pre-
liled today The only significant local
were by Mayor Gray r
ho said he had telegrafed the Ottawa /
lthorities "that the situation is pre- 6
lrioust and demanded the immediate i
essence of G. p. Robertson, minister {
labor, and by Aldermen Ernest Robin @
Continued on Page Two)