The Washington times., 1934-03-19
REPRESENTATIVE MCLEOD
CONTINUED from Page y

means of averting the walkout
called for Wednesday by the
American Federation of Labor.
The opening of the meeting at
10 a. m. found the industry and
the federation at swords points.
No Announcement Made
Alfred P. Sloan, president Of
General Motors, left the confer
ence with two other chamber Off
cials shortly before l o'clock for
luncheon. He refused to discuss
the deliberations.
At the luncheon hour, Gen.
Hugh S. johnson, NRA adminis-
traitor who is seeking to mediate
the dispute, had not appeared at
the chambers offices.
In q statement issued at De-
troit, the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce flatly an.
nounced it's refusal to deal with
the federation, while leaders of
the latter organization remained
firm in their determination to go
through with the strike unless the
automobile industry meets its de-
mandS.
Chief among them is that the
American Federation of Labor be
accorded recognition in the motor
industry, where thus far union.
ization has made little headway.
A national issue Of the first i'm
portance, the impending strike
and the negotiations launched to
avoid it we're watched by Gen.
johnson. and by Edward F..
McGrady, Assistant Secretary Of
Labor.
Both Ready To Help
Both were 4cadS to step in at
a moments notice in an effort to
effect a coml romise.
That the automotive industry
apparently LAS nc intention Of
backing down in it's fri stand
against alleged interference" by
the Federation was shown clearly
at the outset of the session.
It's first action was to issue a
new statement repeating and re-
affirming the unequivocal decla-
ration sent out from Detroit on
the eve Of the meeting last night,
in which the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce stated it
"does not intend to recognize
the American Federation Of Labor
as such," and declared that the
fundamental issue at stake is
whether the automobile industry
is to be run by the American
Federation Of Labor"
Farley Was Dual Character
The conference which began to-
day was in effect a dual meeting.
The conferees were the officials
Of the Automobile Chamber Of
Commerce and the executive COM
mittee of the automobile code
authority. Three of the cham
ber's officials-Mr. Sloan, Walter
P. Chrysler, president of the Chrys-
Ter Corporation, and Alvan Mac
Cauley, president of the Packard
Motor Car comprise
the code authority.
The meeting was called to order
in a committee room on the fif-
teenth floor of the chambers
building in midtown New York
by Mr.. Macauley, acting in his
dual capacity as a member Of the
executive committee and president
Of the chamber.
Strict Secrecy Preserved
Not only was the session held
behind closed doors, but imme-
diate and unexpected efforts were
made to discourage newspaper
men assigned to cover the meet
ings.
A prepared statement issued
by the information department"
Of the chamber suggested that
all reporters and photographers
leave their names and tele-
phone numbers. with a promise
that all would be notified in
plenty Of time to receive news
of any breaks" that might oc-
cur.
The suggestion, however. went
unheeded.
The prospects for railroad labor
peace were further dimmed today
when the managers served notice
- IL