Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-07
RAYON MILL STRIKE
IN STATE OF SIEGE
Plants Operating Under
Guard as Workers Hold
Firm in EIizabethton.
Rv the Associated Press.

| BY the Associated Press.
ELIzABETHTON, Tenn, May T.
The strike of rayon mill workers here
| lapSed into another endurance test
stage today. Union forces demonstrated
their strength with parades and mass
and American Glanzstof plants pre-
pared their machinery for complete
resumption of operations.
Workers who returned to their jobs
Yesterday reopened the mechanical and
chemical departments and made ready
the machinery in other departments
for other workmen expected to take
up their duties soon.
How many of the $500 workers nor
maIly employed in the plants are ready
to return to their jobs was one of the
questions over which union and nom
union leaders were at wide variance.
Heads of the Loyal Workers of Benz
berg" non-union organization, said
200 workers were in the plant yesterday
and that So per cent of the strikers
we're ready to return to work. Union
leaders denied the statement and staged
a parade in a driving rain to make
the denial emphatic.
Peaceful Resistance Planned.
"a peaceful resistance" has been
announced as the policy OF the work.
ers' union, but State, county and city
officers were taking every precautionary
measure to guard against disorders.
Mounted guards patrolled the streets
and prohibited lettering. Machine guns
were placed on roofs of the plants and
National Guardsmen with fixed bay
onets guarded all entrances to the
property.
DR.. Arthur Mothwurf. president of
the rayon companies, said all the work.
ers he needed were available but that
several weeks would be required to re-
sumo normal operations.
Two arrests were made yesterday
when the union forces soughts to in
fuence workers from returning to the
plants.
William Kelley. vice president OF the
United Textile Workers, expressed the
opinion that mot more than two
dozen" men had reported for work yes
terday morning. while no official figures
were available from the plants.
Registration Of applicants for en-
ployment went forward at both Eliza
bethton and Johnson City as other
strikers paraded past the plants as a
show Of union strength.
$500 Idle in Strike.
Plant officials announced that forces
would be augmented gradually as
other departments were opened. APP
proximately $500 were made idle by
the strike, the second to be called with
in a space of three weeks. Union lead
ers said it's purpose was "to do away
with black lists they claimed the plants
were enforcing against union members.
The companies, however. denied the
workers had any grievance. Settlement
of the first strike. confined to the CLAM
stoff plant, resulted in an increase in
wage that brought the scale up to
that in effect at the Bemberg plant.
Yesterday passed without any serious
disorders. Two guards engaged in a
fist fight. but it caused only a brief
furry. Early In the afternoon two men
were arrested. One. officers said, re-
fused to obey the order to move on"
but he was released few minutes later
The other was charged with ''picketing"
and soliciting" and was released under
$25 bond. provided by the union.
Five companies Of National Guards
men. serving as State police, assisted in
guarding the plants.