The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-04
Auto Industry Is
Facing Tough Blolv

least 20 per cent Of Connecticut In
dustry would be affected directly or
indirectly by general strike, throw.
Ing thousands out Of work.
Approximately 700 employees Of the
New Departure Ball Bearing Com
pany, which operates plants al
Bristol and Meriden, were to 20 on
q reduced time schedule today be-
cause there was little work for them.
200 To BE Laid on
About 200 men were expected to
be dropped today ut the Meriden
plant Of the firm, which supplies
General Motors with ball bearings.
Production OF the Bristol plant Of
the company was at q low cbb and
many lay-offs were expected there
when q survey Of unfilled orders Is
made today.
The Billiard Company of Bridge
port, which supplies heavy machin-
cry to the Flint, Mich, plant OF
General Motors. admitted new stop
orders were coming through which
may seriously handicap production.
The Geometrical Tool Company
Of New Haven, also suppliers Of
heavy machinery, announced stop
orders were received.
The Whitney Chain Company OF
Hartford received several cancella-
tions Of orders.
In all, 1t was believed there were
more than 20 major feeder" indus
tries In Connecticut which depend
greatly on orders from the automo-
bile manufacturing firm.
Pickets In Clash
Cleveland, Jan. 4 (U.P.) -
Pickets at the strike closed Fisher
Body Company plant clashed today
with police.
Police Lieutenant Peter Kekik was
knocked down and inauled by O
group OF Is men who sought to pre-
vent Lincoln r. Scale, plant man.
ager from entering the building.
The lighting started when police
tried to clear path for Scales
automobile. Scale charged that
pickets tried to overturn his car
and that they Jumped" Lieutenant
Kekik when he tried to force hia
way through the crowd.
No, one was injured In the melee.
Some pickets later charged that
Lieutenant Kekik and eergean,
Patrick McNeeley had used their
clubs. Official publicity men OF the
automobile union denied this, as did
the officers.
Lieutenant Pushed Away
Lieutenant Kekik said he wai
pushed away from the car. He de-
MED hc/was struck by fists or clubs
Sacafe'g version was that the off,
Ger was knocked down.
II recognized few Of the pick
cts as some Of the regular Fisher
employees" Scale said. but most
were strangers think I know
most Of the Fisher workers by sight
"The latter was not known to me
He asked me where was going and
told me no one was being permitted
TO enter.
This was the first time I've ever
been refused entry 70 the plant"
Four hundred men picketed the
plant this morning. Lieutenant Ke-
XIX was In charge Of q detail Of
eight policemen In the neighbor-
hood.
The plant, Cleyelands larges:
mandatory, was closed December
20, by o spontaneous shutdown.
Gov. Murphy 10 Confer
Detroit, Jan. 4. (Up)--0ov. Frank
Murphy returned to the capital al
Lansing today for O conference with
leaders Of the United Automobile
Workers OF America over the labor
crisis In General Motors plants.
Confined 10 his apartment here
yesterday with q severe cold tho
governor, who assumed ONCE on Jan
1, left Tor the capitol after announc.
ing last night his willingness II
mediate In the General Motors
strike controversy II asked TO-"
Enroute TO Lansing to accept the
state executives offer were Homer
Martin, International president oi
the United Automobile Workers oI
America; Ed Hall, second vice. jresi.
dent Of the union; John Brophy, d.
rector Of the committee for indus
trial organization; Leo Pressman
O. /. o. general counsel; and Larry
Davidow, union attorney.
UP MT. SHASTA ON HORSEBACK