The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-02-24
Ole Day to map out a new line Of


so ~-~s ~ ~-'-g ~O
strategy.
Police Rushed 70 Plant
Elfty.two police automobiles. con-
tanning more than 90 state and local
officers, rolled into tine yard after
midnight to enforce o court eviction
order. The strikers submitting
peacefully, were herded into town
court where Judge Charles Willard,
who Is employed by the boat COM
pany IN It's assembly department,
continued their cases until Friday.
'sThe sit-down Is over but the
strike will continue on the outside, "
declared Philip H. Van Gelder OF
Camden, N. j., organizer for the
Industrial Union Of Marine ana
6hipbuilding Workers Of America,
affiliate Of John L. Lewis commit
tee for industrial organization.
Van Gelder charged that the ar
rests were illegal because warrants
were not served on the strikers In
dividually.
at was q most fragrant and dis
graceful use OF the state police IN
strike-breaking," he said. AL
though no resistance was offered,
the police rushed into the plant
swinging clubs and dragged the
men out"
1888 Sat Down Yesterday
One hundred and sixty-eight
workers sat down yesterday, de-
handing union recognition. But
60 had gone home when the police
arrived this morning.
o. Pomeroy Robinson, plant man
ager, declared that In removing the
strikers, I'VE are making 1t posi-
bic for a majority to return to work"
He said the plant would reopen
today and that all workers not az
fected by the strike would return
to their jobs.
Lawrence Y. Spear, vice president,
said only 100 could be classed az
strikers, but union spokesman con-
tended that the figure was more
than 800 and that others would
Join as necessary to make the strike
effective.
"The fact that the plant was
forced to close yesterday" Van Gel
der said, demonstrates that our
strikers control the yard despite the
company's stubborn refusal TO ad-
init It,"
First Broken by Eviction
Francis x. Mccain, another union
organizer, said the sitdown was the
first in the country TO be broken by
an eviction order based on trespass-
ing charges.
Several hundred persons gathered
at the plant to watch the eviction.
Authorities had expected trouble at
the u. 8. Submarine base, three
miles away, 300 Bluejackets had
been held In readiness to guard a
submarine in the company's yards
which already had been turned over
to the Navy.
y Strikers Sang
While waiting for Justice Willard
. to appear In court, the strikers sang
songs while two Of their colleagues
!. accompanied them on a Iitar and
= mandolin. All except Harry L. Bow
. man, president OF Local No. 6, OF the
! union, were released without bail.
: Because he Is a resident OF Norwich
Z ard Is not under Groton jurisdiction,
! Bowman was asked to post $50.
> Twenty state police were assigned
to augment the regular force OF
) 16 here to watch the picketing ac-
. tiyities when the plant reopens
Z Union leaders said pickets would be
/. instructed to obey the law and re-
. main peaceful.
: Warrants for the arrest OF the
! sit-downers were issued by Prose-
: cutor Harry c. Brogan.
! -Four hundred night shift workers
!. arrived at the plant last night to
: find notice posted on the gates,
|. saying, that the night shift had
(, been eliminated until further no
Z tice. One worker, walking away,
Z said:
Can't Last Six Days
boy, they can hold off for six
!. months. and we can't last six days.
! He presumably referred to the fact
. that the plant Is three months ahead
! on government contracts.
. The boat company Is one OF the
! largest builders OF submarines IN
the United States. It's officials
. figured In the opening Of the senate
! investigation OF the munitions in
|. dustry in 1894, and Senator Gerald
! p. Nye, republican, N. D., chairman
: Of the inquiry, made several efforts
!. to link them 10 deals involving the
! late Basil Zaharoff, Europes arma-
ment mystery man.
Persuade Night Shift
I Labor Organizer Francis X. Nc
! Cam indicated efforts would be re-
l1ewed TO persuade the night shift Il
. return TO work, If the company de-
J cides during the day to reinstatc tbs
night force. cancelled yesterday foI
I an indefinite period.
I Most OF the boys are pretty sleepy
~