The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-23
Industry Has
 Issued Challenge
lContlnued from Page !,

be made effective as soon as the bookkeeping tcchnicalities involved can be ironcd out.
 By to-day's action, the General Motors group placed its workers on Il similar paslS to those In the Ford plants, which are outside or the regular organization.
 Tine move apparently was timed for its psychological effect, upon thousa nds of workers who owe no allegiance to the A. r. of L., but who have been waycring under the pressure of organized labor be- tween joining the national order or signing up with the so-callcd com Dany union.'
 Tho strength of Henry Ford's position, 1t was recognized, has been in appealing to his employees through their pay envelopes. Gen. era1 Motors, in announcing the new rates at the very moment when labor was presenting its claims to tho president, was mani- fcstiy following tho Ford policy in presenting the most powerful and material argument against union- ism that it would be possible to make.
 Prepare For Strike
 Tn some quarters, 1t was felt that the hours reduction was also n step in preparation for q strike, if one is called, and an indication that General Motors will keep it's plants open regardiess of action by the A. Y. of L., on tho theory that their men will not dcscrt the shops if they arc satisfied with wages. Tho Auburn Motor Company Ia in process of changing bookkecp- ing accounts to put n similar wage increase and reduction of hours in- to effect.
 Tho Nash Motors Company in Wisconsin, offered a 3g-hour week and 10 per cent wage increase. t0 It's striking workers several days ago, but the proffer was turned down because 1t was not accom- panied by union recognition. The Seaman Body Corporation, q Nash subsidiary in Milwaukee, is pay ing the new scale to it's few work CTS who are not on strike. Tense Waiting Washington, March 23 -- tU.P.) Government t-superviscd workers elections were held by union lead = CTS to-day to be the key to tempo rary solution of America's aut0mo- bile strike crisis.
 Confusion and tenseness marked approach of show. down in tho strike issue, c0incident with an. n0unccmcnt in Detroit of decreas- cd hours for General Motors work CTS without pay cut. Other com panies may make similar an- nouncemcnts.
 Some union leaders expressed belief that President Roosevelt was | preparing to order elections to give | motor workers q new choice be- tween American Federation of La Dor unions and company unions. There was no confirmation of this from other quarters.
 The White House expressed con. hdencc that the present truco would Dc extended until negotia, tionH are completed.
 Mir N0Osevelts secretaries said he was "standing by" awaiting re. quests from both sides for further meetings.
 Next Move at White House Tho union leaders waited at A. Y. of l.. headquarters and insisted tho next move was up to tho White Hours or Recovery Administrator Hugh $. Johnson.
 "ftg up to the general now" said William Collins, A. r. Of l.. Michigan leader. We arc all good soldiers and we are standing by until he sends for us." { S0pc of the local union leaders who talked with tho president more than four hours yesterday asserted, however. that their f0l- lowers would not wait much long- CT for administration action. 4 spokesman for the mnnufact- urers decnIred that they, too. were awaiting n now move from the ad- ninistration.
 1t was believed likely, however,