The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-06-11
How NJ A. Tries to Halt Steel Strike

I'D Halt NGeoI NCTKG
The S. M. w. I. o. delegates re-
minded officials of its united-front
proposal and warned that it would
carry it through with the real rank
and file of the A A. and the I'M
organized, regardless of the tactics
of the Convention Committee.
Perkins and Pinchot
Then Johnson went to New York
to confer with the Iron and Steel
Institute, while Wagner promised
to get the committee an audience
with President Roosevelt. This de-
mand for an audience with the
President, for a conference on col
lective bargaining with the owners
a publicity stunt at best on the part
of the committee, led them straight
into the network of arbitration and
mediation sellouts.
They were summoned by Secre-
tary Perkins. They found, also, AS
sistant Secretary McGrady, No.
Strikebreaker of the New Deal
And while Miss Perkins asked some
for something specific" Governor
Pinchot of Pennsylvania, con-
veniently called to Washington al
the same time, took two of the
committee out and gave them a
combination of friendly promises to
protect" the workers in case OF
a strike and stern reminders
simple intinidation-that he would
have to enforce the law" and take
steps against "rioting," in case Of
a strike.
johnson meanwhile suggested q
Steel Labor Board similar to the
Auto Labor Board to settle" the
strike threat. The committee, by
this time reinforced by a number
of district leaders, announced they
would not accept-but Johnson
nevertheless blandly carried the
suggestion to the Iron and Steel In
stitute. When the proposal finally
was placed before the A. A. repre-
sentatives, it turned out to be not
any modification OF the labor
board in favor of the men, but ac-
tually a program of arbitration by
board specifically excluding A. A
membership.
The plan also declared, and here
was the joker, that the board might
supervise elections to determine
collective bargaining representa-
tives, but that if question of the
fairness of any election arose il
might determine whether Inter
ference, restraint or coercion was
practiced by any employer or labor
organization so as to affect the re-
suits" and, if so, should order an
other election. This, the men saw
at once, actually rendered any union
organizing activities an excuse for
the company's protesting, delaying
and finally having ruled out bona
fide elections. 1t meant the death
Of the union.
They dared not accept. But mean
while they had been held in Wash
ington, away from the strike prep
arations, for two weeks. The most
notorious strike breaker in the
country was out in the field pre-
pairing. And President Tighe, ir
order to forestall call for imme-
diate strike, in order to further
confuse the workers, presented them
with another delaying tactic-he
and the other international Off
Gals, without having informed the
committee, had called another con-
vention of the A. A. six days later
or two weeks before the strike date
Strikep reparations meanwhile Of
necessity would be less concerted
There is still the probability that
should the convention vote dowr
the arbitration sallout, the Presi-
dent may communicate request
(Which is almost command Thai
the strike be postponed, that rep
resentatives come back to Washing.
ton to negotiate. The Conven.
ton Committee, General johnson
suddenly recalled, tapping his spec.
tacles and grinning, "has no au,
thority to negotiate" ;. the unior
men had been "cruel and indecent
to try to drag the President init
this controversy {. the convention
demands of a 30-hour week and ;
dollar-an-hour wage for common
labor were perfectly impossible,
and, furthermore if the Presiden
appointed the Steel and Iron Insti
tute's Board, it would go into effect
and that would be that. So John.
son informed the press.
AS usual, he knew the weakness
of his opponents. The COMMITTEE
that had called themselves tn
Rank and File" and had poured
so much bombast into publicit,
statements broke I'D without on