APPEAL TO PRESIDENT

Evening Star, Issue 22682, 23 June 1937, Page 9

APPEAL TO PRESIDENT

STRIKERS AGAINST REOPENING OF MILLS MENACE OF VIOLENCE AND BLOODSHED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright NEW Y.ORK, Juno 21. Tho Strike Committee of Youngstown telegraphed to President Roosevelt, asking him to prevent the reopening of the mills “ to avoid in time the most horrible thing that may bo let loose within the next 24 hours. Any attempt to reopen the gates will automatically bring terrific violence and bloodshed.” President Roosevelt, states a Washington message, telegraphed to - the heads of the Republic Steel Company at Youngstown asking them not to open the Youngstown factory.

Tho Mediation Board’s first efforts are* considered to have, resulted in complete collapse. The situation has been further complicated by the issuance of an injunction by the State Court, limiting pickets to a dozen men at the two plants of the Republic Steel Company at Warren and Niles (Ohio), and forbidding arming and interference in any manner with the operation of the mills. A message from Columbus (Ohio) says that Governor Davey ordered troops, into tho Mahoning Valley, where they are to arrive at daybreak. He stipulated that the steel plants now operating must so continue and those closed must remain closed. USE OF FORCE DEPLORED. Mr T. M. Girdler, steel ?manufacturer, when interviewed at Montreal, said: “The Republic Steel Company cannot and will not enter into any contract, oral or written, with tho 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 tho Committee for Industrial Organisation matched Mr Girdler’s attitude by announcing that it would not accept any settlement less than a written agreement. In the meantime the first ruling by the Federal Court on a sit-down strike was issued by the Circuit Court at Philadelphia. The ruling declares such a strike illegal, and orders the strikers to vacate the hosiery mill, which was seized on May 6. The seizure has how been declared criminal, and the union has been held to bo a violator of the Sherman Act, on the ground that it restrained interstate commerce. APPEAL TOO LATE COMPANY OFFICIALS’ REPLY. NEW YORK, June 22. The reply given by company officials to President Roosevelt’s appeal asserted that it was too fate to cancel the reopening of- the factories. The responsibility for the protection of the men reporting .for work rested with Governor Dayey. LABOUR ORGANISATIONS SINGLE UNION SUGGESTED. WASHINGTON, June 21. Mr Lewis announced the plans of the C. 1.0. to organise 800,000 Federal Government employees into a single union, called the United Federal Workers of America. The first recruits are 15 dissenting local members of the American Federation* of Government Employees, which is affiliated with the American Federation of Labour, REOPENING CANCELLED NEW YORK, June 22. (Received June 23, at 8 a.m.) Shortly afterwards the police and non-union leaders began notifying nonstrikers, who were already assembling, that the reopening of two plants had been cancelled due to Governor Davey’s intervention. Although the companies had not made any announcement of the sudden change of plans, their representatives admitted that the companies had sanctioned the notification.