The Washington times., 1937-02-20

GERS were determined to avoid
both troops and renewed violence
if possible.
No Sign of Surrender
Though 10 of their number left
for their homes, the remaining
sitdown strikers, who yesterday
repulsed a tear gas attack by 125
officers with a barrage of missiles
and acid, gave nc sign of weaken
ing today.
Max Swiren. company spokeS-
man, declared early today:
I'VE will demand that Sheriff
DoOlittle eject the strikers from
the plant in accordance with the
court order. II he is unable to
execute the order with the men
on hand, we will demand that
he appeal to the governor for
troops"
The strikers continued to defy
the army Of deputies, armed with
guns and baseball bats. They
yelled through broken windows:
"WeIl die before we leave"
Federal mediators Robert Pill.
kington and John O'Connor and
Martin Durkin, director Of the
State Department of Labor, and
his aids, were to attempt to renew
negotiations today, and it was be-
lieved no further attempt to evacu-
ate the Sit-downers would be made
pending the outcome Of their con-
ferences.
Heat, Water Cut Off
Trouble flared outside the plant
early today when taunting crowd
of $50 strike SympathizerS, mostly
young men and girls, joStled and
roughed seven deputies separated
from their fellows, tore their stars
from their coats and seized their
clubs.
Serious trouble was averted when
the GUARDS were ordered to with
draw behind the eight.toot wire
fence surrounding the company
property.
Heat and water in the plant were
shut off, but Dr.. A. E. Budde, Of
the health department Of the
suburban village, said he would
order the water turned on today
because of sanitary conditions.
The danger Of the sitdownerS
contracting pneumonia or lnflu'
enza was revealed today by 10
sitdoWnerS who left the plant
yesterday, either because Of in
juries received in the attack or
illness in their families.
Many Suffer Colds
Many Of the men are suffering
from colds, it was learned, and
with the heat shut off and no
medical attention available it was
feared an epidemic might develop
among the adamant sitdowners.
They refused the services Of .
physician yesterday, crying:
"We'H get along"
The strikers are members Of
Lodge No. 66, Of the Amalgamated
Association Of Iron, Steel and Tin
Workers of North America, an
affiliate Of John L. Lewis Com
mittee for Industrial Organization.
Recognition Of their union as the
bargaining agency is the sole issue
at stake, although Secretary Carl
Swanson said there were other
grievances.
Swanson charged the company
instituted a Speed-up system, that
there were unjustifiable wage diff
ferences, and that labor spies were
hired by the company.
MediatOrs Frustrated
Refusal of company officers to
meet with outsiders" baked all
attempts Of State and Federal
mediators to reach a settlement.
After conferences late last night
Federal Mediator Pilkington de-
Clared early today:
Chances for a settlement ap-
pear to be very remote"
Union Spokesman Fontecchio
said he would welcome the arrival
of troops, declaring:
eff the sheriff continues his
activities, i will appeal to Gov.
ernOr Horner to send National
Guardsmen to save US from the
mob rule of these deputies"
Father Julius GrzezimSki, Of
Holy Rosary Church, sought to aid
peace, declaring:
II fear blOOdshed. For that
reason l am entering the negO-
tiatiOns. These men will not
be gOaded any further. I know
them"