The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-11-21
BIG INDUSTRIES
PLAN TO CURB
LABOR, HSAID.
Manufacturers Unite in As
serted "Gentlemen's
Agreement"
EARLY SHOWDOWN In
HOUDE CASE is SEEN
BY ARTHUR F. DEGREVE
United Press Staff Correspondent
opyright, 1884, by u. P.

OPyriShEp 1904 ny ~.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 81. (UP).
Administration officials have re-
ceived confidential advices that
steel, automobile and textile man.
ufacturers have made gentle
mans agreement" to unite in
curbing the growing power of or
ganized labor, the United Press
was informed last night.
The report cast a shadow over
the steady Improvement in bust
ness throughout the nation and
forecasts that the Christmas trade
would reach the highest peak
since 1929. A united front by the
three major industries also pre-
sents real threat to President
Roosevelt's hopes of industrial
peace.
Federal officials are striving
desperately to prevent the unrest
bubbling near the surface in these
industries from flaring into open
strife. Workers in all three are
demanding elections to determine
the strength of their forces for
purposes of collective bargaining.
Steel leaders have notified the
government that they will resist
employee elections, toathe end and
carry their right into court If
necessary. They have indicated
flatly that they would refuse to
surrender their books to a federal
board for the purpose of supervis-
ing an election of their workers.
A representative of the Anal
gamated Iron and Steel Workers,
an American Federation of Labor
union, was in Washington last
night. His mission, it was said,
was to demand that the national
labor relations board call an cleo
ton in the steel industry.
Automobile workers are dissatls-
fled with the reported lack of de-
cisions made by the labor rela-
lions board for that industry.
They have demanded that William
Green, president of the A. F of
L., call for the resignation of DR..
Leo Wolman, head of the board.
Green is expected to discuss this
situation with President Roosevelt
upon his return from Warm
Springs, Ga. Mr.. Roosevelt ap-
pointed the board. -:
Officials privately expressed
fears of a resumption of the ma
tion-wide textile strike. Union
leaders have placed evidence be-
fore the textile labor relations
labor board tending to prove that
more than 200 mills were discrimi-
mating against workers who took
part in the walkout.
Unless this alleged discrimina-
ton ceases and the mill owners
cooperate with the administra-
ton, the unionists threaten to
strike again.
In addition to these specific
cases of potential trouble, there
were other indications that labor
was not satisfied with the admins
tration's policy in forcing business.
and industry to comply with labor
provisions of the NRA codes.
At the NRA it was learned
there are approximately $1,000
complaints by labor on file which
have not been acted upon. This
has been brought to the attention
of Secretary of Labor Frances
Perkins, Francis Biddle, newly-ap-
pointed head of the national labor
relations board and other interest
ed officials.
Green is demanding action. He
has challenged business and indus
try to show their good faith IN
their proposed program of coop
Grafton with the administrators
recovery efforts by openly piedg-
ing observance to labor sections
of the codes and decisions by fed
eral labor agencies.
Biddle promised action, yester-
day. He conferred with depart
ment of justice officials with a
view of obtaining closer co-opera-
ton in the disposition of code vio-
lations involving labor provisions.
81 am confident we will ge this
cooperation" he said. 81 have
reason to expect to which / can
not state at this time"
The board, Biddle said, is anxious
to get a supreme court decision in
the case of the Houde Engineer
ing Corp, of Buffalo, N. Y. The
corporation was ordered by the
board to bargain exclusively with
representatives of the majority of
workers. 1t refused and informed
the government it would fight the
case in the courts if any attempt
was made to enforce the order.
The justice department declined
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