The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-02-03

zen, General Motors vice president.
The only White House comment
On the conference was that 1T might
have been arranged" by other parties
~ Mr.. Roogevelt's suggestion.
The proposal was submitted 70
Lewis before he left Warrington
late yesterday for Detroit and re-
ccived his quick acceptance. Mean
tine, IN Detroit KnIdsen's agree
lnent 70 meet with Lewis was OBJ
tanned.
The Lewls-Knudsen face-to-face
meeting was Mr.. Rooseyelt's own
proposal, II was understood. It came
after previous efforts for direct ne
rotation, one arranged by Governor
Frank Murphy Of Michigan and one
sought by Secretary Of Labor
Frances Perkins, had broken down.
General Motors corporation an
ilCunced that Knudsen had agreed
70 the meeting yesterday "in ac-
cCgdance with the wish Of the presi-
Ont OF the United States"
Began Quickly
THE meeting Of Lewis and Knud-
I'm began less than two hours after
ne labor leader had arrived In De-
tp0it by train from Washington.
Lewis first had q hasty breakfast
WliiIc confcrring with Homer Mar
N. International president OF the
automobile Workers OF America, and
be unions boar dof strategy. Then
be met Judge Murphy and James
Dewey. federal labor department
Gonciiiator.
Judge Murphy returned 10 hts
once after the conference with
lewis and Dewey and was followed
there ny Lewis within 10 minutes.
Rnudsen was believed TO have been
q the judges Office when Lewis ar
1ived.
4 The corporation disclosed the text
" letter from Knudsen 10 the
governor In which he expressed his
Willingness TO confer with Lewis.
~The request you now make for
n conference LIS stated 10 be in ac-
cord with the wishes OF the presi-
nent OF the United States" knud-
sens letter said.
THE wish Of the president OF the
United States leaves no alternative
except compliance and therefore we
&ccede TO your request for confer
Ef1cc with Mr.. Lewis In the morning
With the veiw 10 formulating q basis
9Cr negotiations
President Did II
= The rival leaders in the industrial
Donfjict which paraiyzed the 81, 800, 50
10000 corporation for "a days were
brought together by direct inter-
Nention OF President Roosevelt, ac-
Eording 70 Judge Murphy.
: Tho president threw his full
prestige behind Governor Murphy
n an attempt 10 sccttle the strike
~ negotiation before an attempt
&ONld be made 10 cVict 900 SIT
down strikers from two Flint plants
OF the Fisher Body corporation, q
General Motors subsidiary. An IN
junction ordering the men out vas
5e3ued yestrcday by Circuit Judge
P.nl v. GadOla, A dcadline Of 3 D,
~. was ret for the evacuation Of
s5hc plants.
Y Judge Murphy revealed that after
preliminary contacts yesterday, a
Dlocting was arranged tentatively.
AZ . Il. m. today Gov. Murphy sent
letters TO both sides.
n A few hours later the governor
.3ecciycd the assurances OF both
I4ides that Lewis and Knudsen would
meet. In agreeing 10 confer with
Lewis, General Motors waived it,
1nsistent demand that the sit-doWn
letrikers quit the two Fisher plants
before any negotiations could be-
gin.
Legal Assurance Given
:. Knudscn stressed, however, that
tbs injunctio Issued against the
ktrikers yesterday gave the corpora
lion the legal assurance IL needed
before proceeding 70 talk with the
Union leader.
: II was Knudgen's first meeting
with Lewis. The General Motors Of
5lcial had met Homer Martin. inter
.3istional president OF the United
Workers, for three min
.iites on Jan. ID. Knudsen strobe
Into the conference room Of the
Deneral Motors building then and
'femaincd only long enough 10 hand
Martin a statement rciterating that
no peace talks could be held until
Ihe union Withdrew the sit-doWn
STRIKERS.
N President ItooseVclts intcryen-
zion, plus Tn court action at Flint
Which gubstantiated General Mo-
tors assertion that the Eit-doWn
setrjkers held the plants illegally.
;3nadt "a new Dasis for peace efforts,
y Lewis came from Washington as-
.ferting that every moral and log
Zeal confederation indicates the
necessity OF conference between
the coptcnding parties"
Z :. was evident he was prepared
-