MR ROOSEVELT’S STRIKE POLICY

Southland Times, Issue 23228, 17 June 1937, Page 5

MR ROOSEVELT’S STRIKE POLICY

CRITICISM OF STEEL COMPANIES PENNSYLVANIAN UNIONS CLASH (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received June 16, 8.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 15. The President (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt), breaking his silence about the steel strike, apparently censured the steel companies which refuse to make written contracts with labour The President declined to say whether their refusal violated the Wagner Act, but he agreed with the strikers’ basic contention that the companies should sign agreements with their employees.

Mr Roosevelt did not indicate whether Federal action was contemplated in the strike. He said that everyone was hopeful that the situation would be straightened out. At Ambridge (Pennsylvania) 20 persons were injured in a clash between opposing unions when an effort was made by the National Electric Products Company to reopen its strikebound plant. Fifty members of the American Federation of Labour marching to work were attacked at the gates by 500 pickets (acting for the Committee for Industrial Organization) with clubs, stones and bricks. The police restored peace by means of tear gas bombs.

The Miles-Ohio section of the Pennsylvania railway track leading to the Republic Steel Corporation’s plant at Warren was dynamited. Earlier at the same spot a passenger train knocked a large block of wood from the track.

Asked by the police about various incidents and also the derailing today of a freight car, union members at Warren denied any responsibility.