STRIKE MEDIATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 147, 23 June 1937, Page 11

STRIKE MEDIATION

BOARD'S EFFORTS FAIL

APPEAL BY MR. ROOSEVELT

OPENING OF PLANTS CANCELLED

I United Press Association—By Electric Telecraph—Coprright. ■NEW'YORK, June 21. . The Federal Mediation Board's first efforts in connection with the strike situation are considered to have resulted in a complete collapse. The situation was further complicated by the issuing of an injunction by the State Court limiting pickets to 12 men at the two Republic Steel Corporation plants at Warren and Niles. Ohio, and forbidding arming and interference in any manner with the operation of the mills. The strike committee at Youngstown telegraphed President Roosevelt asking him to prevent the reopening of the steel mills "to avoid in time the most horrible thing that may be let loose within the next twenty-four hours. Any attempt to reopen the gates will automatically bring terrific violence and bloodshed." President Roosevelt telegraphed the chairmen of the Republic Corporation Steel and Youngstown Sheet Tube Company, asking them not to open their Youngstown plants. REOPENING CANCELLED. Following President Roosevelt's appeal it was asserted that ft was too late to cancel the reopening and that responsibility for the protection of men reporting for work rested with the State Governor. Shortly before 7 a.m., however, the police and nonunion leaders began notifying the nonstrikers, who were already assembling, that the reopening of the two plants had been cancelled owing to the Governor's intervention. Although the companies had not made an announcement of the sudden change in plans, their representatives admitted that the companies sanctioned the notification. . NO CONTRACT WITH C.1.0. A message from Montreal states that Mr, T..M. Girdler, president of the Republic Steel Corporation, said: "My corporation cannot and will not enter into any contract, oral or written, with the Committee for Industrial Organisation. During the last few years a great deal has been said about the right of collective bargaining and the right to strike. Is there not an equal right, in this country for free American, citizens who want to work to do so unmolested? The right to strike is undeniable, but it is another thing to have plants and employees picketed by men armed with clubs and guns, who, by a show of force, keep the plants from operating." A message from Cleveland, Ohio. says that the Committee for Industrial Organisation has matched Mr. Girdler's attitude by announcing that it will not accept any. settlement less than a written agreement. A message from Columbus, Ohio, reports that the State Governor has ordered troops into the Mahoning Valley. He stipulated that the steel.plants now operating must so continue and that those closed must remain closed.