Imperial Valley press., 1930-02-13
MUCH TALK BUT
NO TROUBLE AT
LETTUCE SHEDS
Company Officials Warn
Against Believing Wild
RumOrs Prevailing

Reported conditions of strike ac-
tioitics among lettuce wor k ers
throughout the valley have received
considerable notoriety the past few
davs. An investigation in several
vcll-informcd quarters would seem
70 indicate that in FL Centre ut least
lie bark is worse than the bite.
/, is true that Il call to strike has
been issued and tina: dissatisfaction
has been encouraged due to the ac-
tlvitics Of agents of the Agricul-
trral Workers :hGus1riai League, Il
Les Angeles oranization which has
been circulating literature among the
rrnch workers in ti.~ Galley for some
time past.
The pamphlet issued by this or
ganization, which is supported in its
stand by the Trade Union City
League, is rather open in its de-
mand and leans somewhat to the
side of radicalism and the use of
force, calling itself militant or
ganization with the avowed purpose
Of sashing the contract labor sys-
tenn and abolishing piece work.
Twelve demands are made asking
among other things for a raise IN
wages with eight hours labor and
letter working conditions for the
workers. 1t aims 10 dnite all agri-
cultural workers in Imperial Val
icv, Americans, MeXicans and FliI,1
ulnos in the movement.
Investigation has brought out the
fact that the department of the let
tucc industry mostly affected is
that of the packers. They first de-
nanded the raise in pay and ear
ried their project through even when
;he other workers N the sheds knew
nothing Of the contemplated strike.
As noted in a recent issue of The
Press, most of the local packing
sheds met the demands of the pack.
ers and activities here have not
leen seriously hampered. Repre-
scntatives of several packing con
Germs here state that they are not
worried about the outcome of the
threatened strike and are confident
shat matters will work themselves
out satisfactorily before much dam
q" is done.
According To ropor.- ':om Braw-
ley, the plants Of the Gerard com
nanv. the Handy and also the Rich
mond -Samuels companies were still
.unnine last night. y general meet
ing Of the strikers was held last
light Of which nothing definite
could be learned. 4 report was also
circulated that men were beng nm
l"rted from Los !.ngeles to do the
work refused by the strikers.
sheriff c. l.. Gillett with Depu-
ties Sharpe and Elliott went to
Brawley yesterday in answer to a
call that strikers were ganging on
the sheds and that assistance was
i,eded. Information obtained at that
office this morning was to the ef-
feet that while the call was made,
pn disturbances were found in Braw-
lev after their arrival. The officers
rtmained in that city most of the
dny and returned in the evening.
They state that while radicals are
working in that section, they found
no disturbances and were even told
that the workers would in all proba-
lility be back on their Jobs today.
Reports from Holtville, another
effected section, tell of sheds ope'
rating ON half shift and the possi-
bi!ity that all might be forced to
close before night. When questioned
as to threatened violence on the
Part of the strikers The Press was
told that none had been observed
least were extremely quiet and we'll
and that the men for the present at
behaved.
Many wild rdmors have been let
l1ose in FL Centre during the day
regarding the situation, which when
traced to their source, were found
to be greatly exaggerated, As one
executive of leading packing house
so tersely expressed the situation:
there is a possibility of great harm
being done il people lose their heads
and start circulating rumors ana
false tales which are without solid
foundation.