The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-04
HOSIERY EMPLOYEES MAY
JOIN IN TEXTILE STRIKE
Threat Adds to Conditions
Created by Walkout at
Bleaching Firm.
$50 ON PICKET DUTY
FuII-FaShioned Men Told to
Stand BY for SYM
pathy Move.

The threat of a strike by
employees in Indiana's hosiery
mills today was added to the
conditions created by the
United Textile Workers of
America strike as the latter
organization made tight its
picket lines around the Indi-
annapolis Bleaching Company.
With the management and
the workers diSagreeing only
as to the extent it was sue
cessful, both agreed that the ma
tion-wide strike had come to In
dianapolis this morning with the
opening of the workday at the
bleaching company, 900 West Wa
bash street.
Members of the American Fed
Grafton of Full Fashioned Hosiery
Workers we're told Saturday to
stand by ready for a sympathy
strike, The Indianapolis Times
learned this noon. The union is a
minority organization at the Real
Silk mills here, where it participated
in a bitter and prolonged strike this
spring.
1t also has locals in three TT.
Wayne mills.
Sympathy Move Talked
Federation officials could not
state when the sympathy call might
be expected, but said that all In
diana locals, along with locals all
over the United States, had been
informed that they might be called
out in sympathy with the textile
workers.
With from $50 to 200 persons in
the picket lines at the times the
first two shifts were due to report
today, union leaders claimed the
strike was most effective at the
bleaching company.
They estimated that sixty-four
employees reported for work out of
the early shift of approximately 200.
A Times reporter found hat APP /,
proximately 100 reported out Of az
afternoon shift of approximately
$50.
Union Estimate Higher
Charles A. Young, 4348 Broad
way, plant manager for the bleach
ing company, said early in the day
that the strike was approximately
20 per cent effective, and after the
noon shift reported, said there were
mo new developments"
His estimate was considerably be-
low that of Bob Sphinx, strike COM
mittee leadedrd dfodr Fuller local,
No. 2069, U. T. w. A.
The company, only one in In
dianapoIis, and apparently in In
diana, really to feel the strike, is an
affiliate Of the Bemis Brothers Bag
Company, with headquarters in st.
Louis, Mo. Mr.. Young said, how
ever, that it had no connection with
the Bemis Brothers Bag Company
here.
Every Loom Operating
Mr.. Young said every loom in his
plant was operating, but admitted
that his carding, spinning and
bleaching departments we're some
what crippled. Mr.. Sphinx and other
union officials said the walkout was
80 per cent effective in the bleach
ing department.
The plant manager, who indicated
that he was inclined to be SYM
pathetic to the textile workers de-
mands, stated that he felt the
bleachers should not have gone out
since they were not, in fact, textile
workers. Union officials said they
came under the same charter as did
other workers in the plant.
Both Mr. Sphinx, who expressed
his determination to keep Com
munists and other radicals" from
the strike lines, and Mr.. Young
we're sure there would be no vio-
lnece. Mr. Young said no outside,
or "scab," workers would be en-
ployed except possibly in the bleach-
ing department, and there only II
the strike was exceedingly pro-
longed.
Picket Lines Dissolve
Ct have promised every ones job
back unless the striker is proven
guilty of unlawful acts Mr.. Young
declared. Il am in sympathy with
the union idea and do not object
to the employees right to strike
when they feel they have real
grievance"
Mr.. Young indicated that, If it
lay in his power, he would grant
the workers demands, but made 1t
plain that this was impossible.
The picket lines dissolved some
time after the morning workers
had entered the plant, and, except
for a few who remained on duty.
the strikers followed Mr.. Sphinx to
union headquarters, 2l0lz East Ohio
street.
There they we're urged to keep
their lines intact and TO conduct
the strike vigorously and openly.
The workers formed their picket
lines again before the afternoon
shift reported.
Meanwhile, Charles Myers, safety
board chairman, said that the POLICE
would preserve order" as they did
in the Real silk strike" Later Chief
Mike MorriSsey detailed five patrol
men to the plant.
Plans for the strike were perfected
Yesterday noon at a meeting IN
] union headquarters attended By
more than two hundred workers.