“HANDS OFF” POLICY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 155, 29 March 1937, Page 9

“HANDS OFF” POLICY

Roosevelt and Sit-down Strikes (Received March 29, .12.30 a.m.) New York, .March 28. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says the Administration has re-emphasised its "hands off” policy in the sit-down strike situation, and indicated that it felt no cause for immediate concern. Senator J. T. Robinson, after a conference with President Roosevelt, the Vice-President, Mr. J. N. Garner, the Secretary of Labour. .Miss Frances Perkins, and other leaders, issued a statement explaining the inability of the Federal Government, under the Constitution, to initiate action against the strikers.

The statement concluded: “It is felt that the sit-down strike situation in the general sense is improving.” Miss Perkins deprecated the importance attached to the sit-down movement, which was sporadic and accidental. The possibility of the Federal Government dealing with the situation was something to be very carefully thought out.

A message from Detroit states that the chairman of the board of directors of the Chrysler Motor Corporation. Mr. Walter Chrysler, and the chairman of the Committee for Industrial Organisation. Mr. John L. Lewis, after four days’ negotiations have failed to reach an agreement.

Mr. Lewis is reported to have abandoned his demand for exclusive bargaining rights for the United Automobile Workers of America. The Governor of Michigan. Mr. F. Murphy, has a severe cold, and is on the point of a breakdown as a result of bis unremitting search for a compromise. The United Automobile Workers, in a surprise.-legal manoeuvre, have filed a counter Bill seeking an injunction to compel the Chrysler Corporation to comply with the Wagner Act.