Imperial Valley press., 1935-02-22
NO INTENTION I!!:![ IN
: Q.[ GIVING UP
BATTLE HERE
Ranks OF Strikers Declared To
Be Solidly In Favor OF Keep
ing Up Fight
EXTRA POLICE MAINTAINED
Representative Of Growers
Says Radical Elements Plan
ming To Invade Valley
EXTRA POLICE MAINTAINED

I'VE snail not give up. We
mean to win justice for the worker
If this fight goes on for 20 seasons.
It is hard to determine if we have
won this season but this is only the
first round in the fight" G. b.
Lawrence, secretary of the Fruit
and Vegetable Workers union stat
ed this morning.
"After the funerals OF Knight
and Hamaker,' he added, "our
people met at union headquarters
in El Centre. They seemed inspired
with renewed determination TO keep
up the fight.o
"a new program has been adopt
ed. We can't storm sheds. 1t Is
our plan now to interview individ-
ual workers, singly or in groups
where the opportunity is given and
try to show them our side so that
they will join us actively or give
us their sympathetic support by
quitting jobs in unfair Sheds -
"At the same time we hope to
arrange interviews with individual
shippers in our effort to come to
agreement with local shippers as a
group. We want to show them that
the local shippers are the goats for
the chain packers, the big compan-
les with sheds in other localities.
These big companies are glad to
see shipments from Imperial valley.
cut down by the strike, because
cutting down shipments from here
boosts the price for lettuce and the
chain firms benefit through the
better market for their lettuce at
other points,
He said that picketing has been
resumed this morning at local sheds
and elsewhere through the valley.
This will be in the nature OF peace
full contact with individual workers
in a lawful manner.
"There Is no longer a strike but
a lockout G. B. Moore, manag-
ing secretary of the Western Grow
ers Protective association said to-
day when interviewed concerning
the present status of the strike OF
shed workers which started here 10
days ago and resulted In the deaths
of two strikers during disturbance
at the Wahl packing shed last Sun
day afternoon.
Moore said that the sheds here
are now working to full capacity
and that many persons who are
applying for work have been turned
away. He said that a large num-
ber of the strikers have returned to
work in the sheds being forced to
do SO because of financial needs
and families needing their help.
Fears Red Invasion
He added that there is grave
danger that the movement might
take "red" or Communistic turn
rs 1t was reported that IL cars con-
taffing known Communists had
left Los Angeles late yesterday
headed for the valby. He said
that one well known Communist Is
in the valley at present and Is be-
ing closely watched by county Off
GERS with the probability that he
will be picked up for questioning
as to the reason for his presence
Phere.
Moore said that there are about
1000 cars of lettuce still to be ship
ped and that the average daily
shipments are above those Of last
wear at this time in spite of the
strike. He commented on local
workers who we're substituted for
the strikers when the trouble first
started saying that they are getting
into the handling of the work In
excellent manner and for that reas-
on the output of the sheds Is in
creasing daily. =.
Funeral services for Paul Knight
and Elbridge Hamaker, killed dur
ing a disturbance at the Martin
Wahl shed last Sunday afternoon
we're held here yesterday in a most
impressive manner. Religious SER
vices we're held at the Presbyterian
church at 2 clock after which
some 1000 workers and sympathiz-
ers on foot and in automobiles,
headed by a police escort, marched
I'D Sixth to State, over State to
Eighth and then down Main street
to the east side where marchers
entered cars for the ride to the
cemetery.
Following the two hearses flank
ed by the pail bearers came the
families of the two men riding in
automobiles. The long line OF
marchers was led by Joseph Casey,
state A. F.. of L. representative and
-. Continued on page 81