Evening star., 1934-06-01
Calls for Proof of Violations
Before Backing Workers
in Strike Threat.
N. R. A. CHIEF DEFENDS
TEXTILE CURTAIL MENT
Holds 30-Hour Week and Pay In.
crease Would Cause Con-
sumer Revolt.
BY the Associated Press.

by tne Associated Press.
Hugh S. Johnson told reporters at
his press conference today he was
making every effort to prevent the
threatened steel and textil. strikes.
but that conferences had not ad-
ranced sufficiently to make specific
plans.
The administrator, commenting on
the steel situation. said if the union
could show any outright refusal by
any company 10 bargain collectively
with duly chosen representatives of
The workers he would back them all
the way"
To invoke the penal and injunctive
provisions for violation of section Ia
collective bargaining" he explained.
however, a proper groundwork must
De laid showing freely chosen repre-
sentation. tender of representation for
bargaining and refusal of such tender,
In my opinion, that groundwork
has not as yet been laid in the steel
controversy"
COnfers With Tishe.
johnson spoke on the basis of three
or four hours conference Yesterday
with Mike F. Tighe, president of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron.
Steel and Tin Workers.
Asked whether reports were correct
that leaders OF the steel industry
would be called in by the White House
for conferences on the situation
johnson merely replied:
Not that / know Of
To suggestions that the plan fol-
lowed in the automobile strike settle
ment could be followed in the steel in
dustry. johnson commented it was
working out beautifully for automo-
blles" and he thought a separate labor
board for the steel industry would
undoubtedly bring solution of this
problem"
Textile Situation Hazy.
He declined to forecast that such
bt ard would be created observing.
We are going to try to settle this If
We can. but 1t doesn't pay to talk
much. as things get out and get twist
ed. causing all kinds of new trouble"
The administrator. who had inter-
rupted conferences with textile leaders
to hold his press conference. said it
was too early yet to have an accurate
analysis of the situation in that in
dustry where a strike has been called
for Monday
He maintained. however. that the
IS per cent curtailment Of production
order recently approved by N. R. A
the declared immediate cause for the
strike call-was entirely justified
The average reduction in cotton
production in Summer is 245 per
cent" he said. the order merely
sought to equalize the situation and
tried to prevent lay-offs of a week.
two weeks or month for any groups
of employees. There is absolutely no
wage cut involved
Fears Consumer Revolt.
To questions as to the union de-
mand for a 30hour week with COR
respondingly increased pay. john
son said:
Why. the industry couldn't stand
that. We would have a consumer re-
volt right away because prices would
go out of sight"
johnson also questioned the ac-
cHracy of claims that the stretch
out system-increasing machine out
put of the individual employe without
compensating pay increase-has been
o. ytpIlHad under the pn6a 10 fad
latest available statistics on man
hours and cotton production to the
contrary.
President Roosevelt earlier had been
reported planning a move next week
to avert the general strike in the steel
industry. One report was that the
President would call steel manufac-
turers to his office to seek concessions.
The President already has made
one pronouncement in support of COL
lective bargaining. He has voiced a
promise to hold properly supervised
elections of worker representatives.
Union leaders contend the companies
have violated the collective bargain
ing provisions of the steel code.
Showdown Near.
With only three days to go before
the threatened cotton showdown.
N. r. A. officials arranged to confer
today with George A. Sloan. head of
the Cotton Textile Institute. and
Thomas F. Mcmahon, president of the
United Textile Workers.
Mcmahon seeks cancellation of
NJ R AS order permitting a 25 per
cent cut in production for ~ weeks.
This action, which union leaders
called equivalent to a 25 per cent
pay cut, precipitated the strike call
Sloan called the strike threat "an
attempt to overthrow by force the
provisions of the cotton textile code"
Meanwhile. militant rank and
file" leaders OF the Amalgamated As
sociation of Iron. Steel and Tin