RIOT AT DETROIT

Southland Times, Issue 21648, 9 March 1932, Page 5

RIOT AT DETROIT

FOUR PERSONS KILLED FORD FACTORY STORMED BY UNEMPLOYED CLASH WITH POLICE (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright) (Rec. 10.10 p.m.) New York, March 8. The Detroit correspondent of the New York Times states that probably the most serious labour trouble Mr Henry Ford ever encountered occurred to-day. Three thousand unemployed under a Communist supervisor and instigator marched to the main Ford plant at Dearborn, six miles distant, and engaged in a serious riot with the police in which four marchers were killed and at least 50, including about 15 police, injured, many seriously enough to require hospital attention. The marchers' ostensible objective was to present a petition demanding employment which they allege they never had a chance to present. The riot came as a great surprise to the general public inasmuch as Mr Ford recently announced that he would soon employ thousands to carry out a policy of increased production. However, a serious unemployment situation in Detroit coincident with a severe depression in the automobile industry has been in effect for some time, and the recent curtailment of municipal relief produced unrest which was apparently partially responsible for the demonstration. It is reported that plans for the march had been formulated for several weeks and came to a head on Sunday at a Communist rally where William Foster, several times Communist candidate for the presidency, delivered an inflammatory' speech. The march was started within the city and proceeded in orderly fashion until it passed the Dearborn city line where the police attempted to halt. it. A riot ensued. The marchers were at first repulsed by tear gas bombs. However, a strong wind frron blew away' the fumes. The police drew revolvers threateningly, and ordered reinforcements, who were rushed to the scene. The marchers attacked them with bricks, stones, clods and frozen mud, and fought their way to the gates of the Ford plant, although several times checked by deluges of cold water from hoses operated by firemen. At the gates a squad of police reinforcements blocked the way. One fired a revolver and a general melee started, the marchers using clubs and bricks and the police firing revolvers, injuring many in the legs. The demonstrators attempted id commandeer automobiles to remove the in-, jured. They stoned a motorist who refused to lend his car. The riot was quelled after tho arrival of over a hundred Detroit police, also state police. The clearing of the area revealed pavements stained with blood. The streets were littered with broken glass and the wreckage of a bullet riddled automobile. Nearly every window in the plant’s employment building was broken. Mr Charles Svensen, Mr Ford’s general manager, narrowly escaped injury When riding with a company detective in an automobile which was overturned by the mob. The detective was seriously injured. After quiet was restored Mr Ford’s son, Edsel, and other high company officials visited the hospital where the injured marchers were treated and talked with them. The police arrested five alleged instigators.