Evening star., 1934-09-09
"ChaIIengeS" Employers to
Accept 0ffer-TotaI
Closing Demanded.
TEST OF STRENGTH DUE
IN OPENING TOMORROW
Green Discusses Procedure With
Presidents Board-Hosiery
Workers Called Out.

(Copyright, 1884. by the Associated Press.)
Labor abruptly submitted the first
peace proposal of the great textile
strike last night and challenged" the
mill owners to accept it.
With both sides preparing for a
grim and crucial test of strength to-
morrow, Francis j. German, national
strike leader, called for arbitration,
with all mills to be closed during the
negotiations and strikers and en-
ployers bound in advance to abide by
the result.
II come now to the most important
announcement that has been made
since the strike began" he said in a
radio speech. I'VE have demonstrated
that we can stop the wheels Of the
textile industry in wool and worsteds,
cotton and silk.
"Peace Formula" Proposed.
''The mills are closed. We can keep
them closed indefinitely. There is no
doubt about that.
Every conflict ends in peace Peace
must come to the textile industry. We
now propose that peace formula.
I'VE propose that the present preSi-
dental board become a board of arbi-
tration. We propose that arbitration
begin not later than Monday Septem-
ber 10, 1884. We propose that both
sides agree to accept the findings Of
the arbitration.
I'VE propose that meanwhile all
mills in all branches of the industry
remain closed. If the employers, as
employers, through their various as
sociations, agree to arbitration, then
We propose that our members picket
all mills and guard them against
damage.
I'VE propose this now SO that
further murder Of our fellow workers
may be avoided. We challenge man
agement to agree to this orderly pro-
cedufe toward peace"
George A. Sloan, president Of the
Cotton Textile Institute, and other
spokesmen for the industry could not
be reached for their response to the
German proposal Meanwhile it was
generally assumed that labor'E pro-
posal would be unacceptable.
Chary Of Arbitration.
The mill owners, close observers
were convinced, some already chary of
arbitration, would at least insist upon
resuming normal operations through
the weeks that the board might find
necessary for reaching a decision.
However, the German proposal was
regarded as hopeful sign and its
announcement was received with a
disposition to believe that concessions
might follow that would permit ar
bitration with the mills in operation
meanwhile
Means and methods of arbitrating the
dispute were discussed earlier with the
board by william Green, president of
the American Federation of Labor,
but no definite plan Of procedure"
was agreed upon.
German, too, consulted with the
board and it planned to assemble a
mass of facts and figures over the
week end through conferences with
officials of the National Recovery and
Agricultural Adjustment Administra-
tions.
Determined to open a number of
mills tomorrow, employers devoted
the week end to increasing protective
measures. Labor accepted their chal-
lenge by increasing the scope Of the
walkout.
German called out all workers In
the upholstery, drapery, carpet, rug,
pile fabric, plush and velvet plants.
A call for hosiery workers to quit
Wednesday midnight then followed.
1t was preceded by night conferences
between officers of that union and
members of the Strike Committee.
German estimated that IS, 900 en-
ployes in dozen States would be af-
fected by the hosiery call, although
Continued on Page 3, Column a.