The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-25

said the att1tude or the cOmpanleS had been "unwise."
 Youngstown Sheet & Tube com- pany and Republic immediately re- jected the proposal. Chairman Tom Girdler of Republic, recently re- marked that he had never met Lewis and T hope to God never do."
 Board Makes Statement
 The board said in part
 "Our conferences and discussions with the representatives of both sides, meeting separately, have thus far failed to produce a basis of ad- justment, though the issues have been clarified.
 "The question is no longer whether an oral agreement with the steel union should be put in writing, but whether any agreement at all should be made. All four com- panies have stated that however often they might meet with repre- sentatives of the union and what ever the number of men represented by the union, they would make no agreement with it, orally or in writ ing. All four have denied that they ever made any oral agreement. Three of the four have stated that if an oral agreement were to be made they would not object to putting it in writing. The sole ques- ton therefore is whether an agree ment should be reached.
 "The form of agreement presented to the companies prior to the strike was identical with that signed by most of the other steel companies It provides for no increase in wages or decrease in hours. On the con- trary, wages and hours are to re- main as they are during the life of the agreement, which runs to February 28, 1938
 No Willingness Shown
 "It is clear that the differences could be speedily settled in joint conferences, if there were any will ingness to try to reach an agree ment.
 We appreciate the problems of DuU we IIldL LllC companies in refusing to make any agreement are taking an unwise po- sition. Nothing can be clearer to- day than that management and organized labor, when it really rep resents the wishes of the men, have got to learn how to live together, to reach agreements, and to abide by them when made.
 At the same time the extent of the unions actual membership, and its right to speak for the employees, has not conclusively been demon strated. Under these circumstances we proposed to each company this settlement: The making and sign ing of an agreement with the union, to become effective only if the union wins an election; the calling off of the strike and the return of all men to work; the holding of a secret ballot election in the com- pany's plants by the national labor relations board; the agreement to go into effect if the union wins, and to be torn up if the union loses.
 Companies Reject 1t
 ''The companies rejected this pro- posal. We believe thatt he union would accept it or some variation of it.
 Under these terms of settlement both sides would yield something, but not more than we think they ought to yield The union would have to take it's chances on an elec- ton. If, in the case of any con- pany, a majority rejected the union, the union should have no contract. If, on the other hand, the majority voted for the union, it's contract would stand.
 "The heads of the four companies have not, either during the strike or before it, ever met the union representatives, and have thus far declined to join them in conferences with us. We cannot but believe that the bitterness and suspicion which separate the two sides would be allayed to man-to-man dis cuSSion around the conference table, and that the only hope of settle ment lies in such a meeting.
 Urged Companies
 We now publicly urge the heads of the four companies to accept the terms of settlement which we have proposed, or to work out other terms by mutual agreement in joint conference as speedily as possible. We shall remain in session until we have definitely ascertained whether or not such a joint conference can be arranged"
 To these proposals Youngstown and Republic replied:-
 "The proposal submitted by the mediation board and given out for publication tonight is exactly the same as the one discussed in the meeting today and which were obliged to reject. We are very sorry that all we can do is to reaffirm the position Wn.ch we have main talned from the beginning. We can- not, in justice to our employees, sign contract with the c. I. O."
 Inland Steel and Bethlehem made no statement immediately.
 Davey then instructed the mili- tia officers as follows:-
 "The rights of all citizens must be protected Those who want to return to their employment should enjoy that privilege without being molested. Those who wish to re- main on strike certainly are entitled to do so and to continue any and all lawful processes.
 "As chief executive of Ohio I look to you to see that this order is carried out with fidelity, calmness, impartiality and firmness."