Evening star., 1934-09-16
COMMUNIST PERIL
N|PS STRIKE CALL
IN VIRGINIA MILLS
State Escapes WaIkouts
Generally and Silk Plant
Reopens.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, September 49,
The proposed textile strike at the
Danville cotton mills was called of
this week before q general walkout
materialized.
The strike was called, but union
authorities In calling it OF asserted
the danger Of Communist activity was
too great in the area, which is the
center of the textile industry In Vir-
ginia.
Meanwhile local authorities In
Pittsylvania County, surrounding Dan
vile, became anxious over the situa-
tion In the face Of reports that flying
squadrons" of North Carolina strikers
were coming into the area and re-
quested the aid of State police.
The Governor dispatched Motor
Vehicle Director John @. Rhodes and
a squadron Of 10 State patrolmen to
the county, and later added Is more
officers, but the flying squadrons'
did not arrive.
The Governor action brought some
criticism from spokesmen for the labor
unions.
Reports No Strikes.
State Labor Commissioner John
Hopkins Hall, jr., Wednesday reported
there was no strike effective in Vir-
ginia, except q strike of taxicab driv-
ers in Richmond, and these men, he
said, were not members Of q union.
No other textile mills were affected
by the general strike.
During the week the management
and representative of the Federal
Labor Board announced that the
knitting department of the strike
closed Tubize Chatillon artificial silk
plant would be reopened as soon as
the machinery could be put In condi-
ton to operate.
The plant was closed by strike
June 29. The reopening of the knit
ting department did not affect other
departments of the mill, which are to
remain closed. The total pay roll of
the mill when it was closed numbered
approximately 1900 employees. The
reopened department will employ be-
tween 800 and 400 workmen. The
announcement said an amicable set
tlement had been made.
Maj. Kent Convicted.
A Botetourt County jury convicted
Mai. Robert C. Kent, jr., on a charge
of kidnapping Mrs. Mary ]. Hastings,
operator OF a mountain resort hotel,
whose body was found near Strouds-
burg, Pa. He was sentenced to Is
years in the State penitentiary on
the kidnapping charge. A murder Inc
dictment also was against Maj. Kent
but he was not tried on that charge
Counsel for Robert Mais announced
an appeal to the State Supreme
Court from the verdict of a jury Of
the Richmond Hastings Court con-
Hcting Mais Of participation in the
gang holdup and murder of a Federal
Reserve bank truck driver. Mais was
sentenced to die in the electric chair
November /.
The State Supreme Court set the
Virginia milk case as the last one on
its docket for the term at Staunton
which began during the week. The
case is designed to test the constitu-
tionality of the new Virginia milk act
controlling production and distribu-
ton of milk within the State.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Rich
mond reported gain of approximate
1y 10 per cent in department store
sales in the fifth district for the
month Of August, 1884, as compared
with the sales for the same month
last year.
Admiral Visits Governor.
Before the feet left Hampton Roads
for the Pacific Coast Admiral Reeves
visited Gov. Peery at the executive
mansion, returning the call made by
Lieut.. Gov. James H. Price, who vis-
tied the admiral as q personal repre-
sentative Of the Governor.