Evening star., 1937-07-02
REPORT IS ISSUED
ON STEEL STRIKES
Miss Perkins Holds to Belief
Farley Eventually Will
I Settle Row.

Administration leaders still held to
the belief today that the steel trouble
would be settled eventually by con-
ference, but there were no develop
ments to give strength to this
optimism.
Making public late yesterday the
report Of the Special Mediation Board
which unsuccessfully sought to end
the fight, Secretary Of Labor Perkins
said: Il think that some time these
people will meet and talk about their
problem, and when they do meet they
will solve this problem"
The board, which prepared its re-
port before the Inland Steel Co. one
OF the four involved adjusted its
difficulties by implication, laid the
deadlock to the refusal Of the COM
panies to negotiate.
Statement OF Board.
1--WE believe that the refusal OF the
four companies to enter into any
agreement with the S. w. o. C. (Steel
Workers Organizing Committee), re-
gardless of the number of employees
whom it actually represents. which
could be demonstrated by secret
ballot election, is not the way to
industrial peace" the board said,
adding:
1--WE cannot but believe that the
bitterness and suspicion which sepa-
rate the two sides would be allayed
by a man-to-man discussion around
the conference table between the
heads of the four companies and the
union representatives, and that the
only present possible hope Of settle
ment lies in such meeting"
At press conference where she
made public the report, Miss Perkins
defended the leadership of John L.
Lewis Committee for Industrial Or
esnization, which Tom Girdler, Re-
public Steel president, repeatedly has
called irresponsible.
Record of Keeping Contracts.
The United Mine Workers and the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers, both
members of the c. l. O., have long
records of keeping their contracts, she
declared.
The Secretary took issue with the
Bethlehem Steel Corps idea OF COL
lective bargaining, as reported by the
Mediation Board, but said her views
on this point were personal" because
1t would go to the National Labor
Relations Board for decision
The Mediation Board, composed OF
Charles P. Taft, I'd, Edward F. Nc
Grady and Lloyd K. Garrison, re-
ported the Bethlehem Corp. took the
view that under the collective borgain-
ing requirement of the Wagner labor
relations act it is obliged only to meet
with representatives of its employees
and to discuss wages, hours and work.
Ing conditions with them.
Attitude Of Bethlehem.
Bethlehem's attitude, the board
continued, was that it later would
post q notice to employees of any
change decided on.
The strikers, on the other hand,
have demanded written agreements.
Miss Perkins declared the phrase
collective bargaining first was used
BY Sidney and Beatrice Webb English
labor writer's, who said it implied a
written agreement as an end
Bethlehem's position, she added is
mot my idea of collective bargaining"
youngstown and Republic are the
ether companies.
Farley Accuses Republic.
Postmaster General Farley also had
something to say about the steel strike
yesterday, informing District Court
that the Republic Steel Corp. is trying
to stir up civil disorders and strife"
and compel the Intervention of Federal
troops
He made this accuse ton in asking
the court to deny the steel company's
plea for an order compelling the Post
Office Department to deliver food
packages to non-striking workers
within the plants.
Criticism Of the Roosevelt admin
istration's policy in the strike came,
from Senator Ellender,
Democrat, Of Louisiana, and Repre-
sentative Otter, Republican, of Penn
sylvania.
Ellender told his colleagues:
Il sincerely believe that the Presi-
dent acted unwisely when he inti-
mated that the contracts between
these parties should have been in
writing, and that these steel companies
should keep their respective plants
closed until the strikes were settled.
Il know that the Presidents appeal
was made in good faith, but his state
ment gave the strikers a hope that |
might have prolonged the strike for
many weeks
Representative Otter demanded in |
the House: Have we come to such |
a point that the President dare not
declare for law and orderon