Evening star., 1934-06-10
Convention of Workers at
Pittsburgh to Decide
General Strike.
SUMMONS IS EXPLAINED
BY JOHNSON AND TIGHE
Acceptance of Plan for Board and
Seven-Point Program De-
clared Motives.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The scene of the next major moves
to prevent the threatened steel strike
yesterday was shifted to the conven-
ton Of steel workers to be held in
Pittsburgh next Thursday, a step that
probably will decide whether a general
strike is called.
Two explanations for calling the
convention were given, one by Hugh
S. Johnson, the recovery administra-
tor and chief peace negotiator in the
controversy, and the other by Mike
F. Tighe. international president Of
the Amalgamated Association Of Iron.
Steel and Tin Workers
johnson said the purpose of the
meeting was to decide whether the
workers would accept the plan for a
three-man, neutral adjudication board
for labor disputes in the industry.
Tighe told reporters the express
purpose was to consider and make
final arrangements" for carrying out
a seven-point program. drafted at an
April convention of the amalgamated
and primarily concerned with the de-
mand for union recognition. Also in
cluded in the program were questions
OF hours and wages.
Spang Is "Disgusted."
Their explanations of the conven-
ton were made after a prolonged
meeting between the workers and
johnson.
OF those emerging from the con-
ference, William J. Spang of the So
called Rank and File Committee. said
he was disguised" and proposed to
60 home.
Two hours later, virtually the last
of the workers delegation had packed
their bags and left the Capitol for
their steel town homes.
Before they left, however, they
fired last shot In the form of an
open letter to President Roosevelt.
which said that IF the Government
will not help us, then we must use
the only means left to U.s."
The letter was signed by Is presi-
dents of local lodges or district or
ganizations. including Spang and Earl
]. Forbeck Of McKeesport, one of the
leaders of the rank and file group.
I'VE understand you have left for
a week end cruise on the Sequoia, -
the letter to Mr.. Roosevelt said.
Proposal Is Assailed.
1--WE wish we could join you, but
we must return to our lodges to re-
port that all We got out of your Ma
tional Recovery Administration and
section IA (the labor provision Of the
recovery actI was an offer to tighten
the company union chains that bind
workers in the steel industry.
The proposal by the Iron and
Steel Institute and Gen. johnson is
an insult TO every worker in this
country. Millions of us repoSed con-
fidence in you and your administra-
ton. despite the doubts that have
plagued us as a result of N r. A. s
refusal to enforce the very plain words
OF section IA, guaranteeing us the
right to organize and to bargain COL
lectively with our employees.
I'VE have lost the faith which We
held in your administration. which
promised justice and a new deal to
the Nations workers.
Mr.. President, the least you can
do is to throw the Iron and Steel
Institutes brazen company union
proposition into the waste basket.
And if you really mean to abide by
your own recovery law, the least you
can do is to summon the steel manu-
facturers to Washington for genuine
collective bargaining conference with
the steel workers.
Gen. johnson has discredited him
self forever in the eyes of the work.
erS of this country.
johnson Poll-Parroting.
Gas if to add insult to injury, he
followed up the vicious Steel Insti-
tute company union plan by a radio
address in which he called us Com
munists because we want the 30-hour
week.
Gen. johnson denounced us for
asking for what he calls the closed
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