The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-21
Roosevelt WithAid
Of A.F.Of |. Heads
Seeks Stop Strike
Continued from, Page y

L
into the labor controversy in
order that the country may be adj
Nsed of its merits . . for the rea-
sons stated in my communication of
February IA, I believe that condi-
tons are not yet ripe for a wise
settlement Of these issues, and that
the active prosecution of the con-
troversy at the present time would
have a most disturbing and unfor-
tunate influence"
Roosevelt advised the railroad
conferees that II shall be glad to
extend to you the services Of the
federal coordinator Of transporta-
ton to help in composing your pres
ent difference, if that be desired. 3"
He projected the investigation of the
merits" Of the dispute into the
vague future despite his own admis-
sion in the same curt notice that
since I addressed my previous COM
munication to you however, the fact
has been developed that some of the
railroad employees are now receiv-
ing compensation for their work at
rates which are below minimums
which have been established in the
N.R.A. codes, if not actually below
a subsistence basis"
AS if part of a prearranged plan
to spread the anti-strike program Of
the administration, the 81 railway
/ labor executives association con-
tinued to ignore the rising rank and
file strike. sentiment against the
railroad magnates' campaign to
rivet coolie living standard on the
railway workers. When asked by
the Daily Worker to comment on
the strike sentiment among the rail-
way workers, w. A. Endle, personal
secretary of A. F Whitney, president
of the labor executives, declared, cit
depends on developments. 1 couldn't
say"
The Railway Executives Associa-
ton, in their counter proposal to the
owners offer to continue the present
10 per cent wage deduction agree
ment for ten months beyond its
present expiration date. June 30,
1884, instead of another 5 per cent
wage cut, this morning called for a
restoration of basic rates on July /,
1884. The granting of this proposal
would mean 20 per cent increase
over present wage rates.
Last falls administration practice
of Withholding federal relief from
strikers will be resumed with the
beginning Of the spring strike wave
according to the answers given to
reporters questions by both federal
relief and CsW.A. Administrator
Harry L, Hopkins and Secretary of
Labor Frances Perkins.
Asked yesterday, what is your
policy as to strikes?" Hopkins re-
piled: "A person on strike should
be given relief on the basis of need
1t is not our business to determine
the merits of the strike. Until the
Department of Labor of the Ma
tional Labor Board advises us that
strike is unwarranted or unjust.
our relief officials will give relief. "
A correspondent asked him about
the expected auto strike. He an
swered, "I do not know that there
is going to be a strike but I am not
going to cross that bridge now"
Miss Perkins parroted Hopkins
when the latter's reference to the
Labor Department was cited to her
II agree with Mr.. Hopkins I won't
cross that bridge until I come to
it," she said. However, there is no
doubt what the administration cab
met officers and Roosevelt lieuten-
ants will do when they come to that
bridge" Hopkins office today in
formed the Daily Worker that the
only strike period during which his
Office gave federal relief was in the
case Of the Pennsylvania coal strike
| last August. And in that case, the
Hopkins official added, it was with
drawn when the bituminous board
can employer outfit declared the
strike 'unwarranted."
Following is the text of the Roose-
Roosevelt to Collins: I'm the
public interest, I am constrained to
request you to withhold strike &C
ton called for this afternoon until
I can have conference in Washing
| ton in an effort to reconcile exist
ing differences. I suggest Thurs
day. viii you advise me immedi-
ately?"
Collins answer TO Roosevelt:
"Youf important telegram re-
ceived. Power to act rests with
officers conference which con-
venes at five O'Clock at Pontiac,
Michigan. Rest assured that we
will urge them to meet situation
in spirit you ask. Will notify
you Immediately of action of Of
ficers conference"
william Green, President of the
American Federation Of Labor, sent
the following telegram today to
William Collins, representative of
the American Federation Of Labor,
Detroit, Michigan, urging postpone
ment of the strike of the automo-
bile workers, as requested by the
President:
1.-THE president of the United
States has requested that the strike
called by automobile workers for
Wednesday morning be postponed.
In making this request the President
states that he is asking represen-
tativey of the automobile manu-
! facturers and REPRESENTATIVES of the