davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-03-09

any other hotel in Washington"
Promptly at 6 pm. yesterday, under
orders from Local 78l, Hotel and
Restaurant Employees Alliance, the
strike began.
There were few diners in the main
dining room and coffee shop at the
time. They finished their dinners
and after they had left the doors were
closed and locked and the lights
turned out, leaving the strikers in
darkness.
In the Willard Corner and the
Round Robin Grill, cocktail rooms,
the walters also stopped work, though
the bartenders, not involved, con-
tinued their duties temporarily. At
about 7 pm the grill was closed and
locked. The Willard Corner continued
serving patrons through the evening,
with the two bartenders on duty and
a captain and three walters sitting 1t
out around the corner from the bar.
After the walters quit in the drink
ing lounges patrons were asked by the
bartenders to carry their owT drinks
from the bar to tables until a union
representative, appearing in the Will
lard Corner. charged that this consti-
tuted violation Of law.
The charge was made by Edward
Rock, a member of the union, who said
he went to the bar and ordered
drink Rock said he asked for a high
ball and the bartender told him to
carry it to a table himself. Other GUS
toners previously had carried their
drinks from the bar to tables, among
them several girls.
Bartender Becomes Waiter.
When Rock was told to carry the
drink he refused. saying it would vio-
late the law. He left the drink or the
bar and walked out. From this time
on the bartender delivered drinks to
the tables himself and later was
joined by a second bartender. who
served as waiter.
In the Round Robin one uniformed
waiter and a bartender were on duty.
The waiter did not sit down. but stood
by the door and refused to serve eight
customers who were in the room. Sev-
eral of them went to the bar and OBJ
tanned drinks which they carried to
tables. The room remained open less
than an hour after the strike began.
The waiter, Paul Siadis, according to
a customer in the grill at the time, was
approached by an unidentified man,
presumably an official Of the hotel.
Are you working?" this man asked
the waiter
mo. sir" Siadis replied.
Then turn in your uniform; you're
fired" bystanders said Siadis was told.
Collect Pre- e-Strike Bills.
In the Willard Corner the capita
and three walters stopped after COL
lecting on bills which had been pre-
sented before the zero hour"
Somerville came into the room
shortly after they struck and engaged
them in animated conversation. After
Somerville left, Andrew Kirk, captain
of the walters, who said he was vet
eran of the World War. with the rank
of captain, said Somerville had fired"
the whole group. Kirk said he and
his men would continue to sit.
Beside Kirk. other men said to have
been discharged were Fred Steinach,
George Hallas and Eugene Meier
Asked for comment, Somerville re-
piled: II have no statement"
The mattresses, in the meantime
Evening star., 1937-03-09
Strikers Get Orders
Detailed Instructions Given ''Sh-Downers' at vii.
lard Hotel, Cautioning Politeness and
No Resistance to Police.

10. All union members shall resist
any unreasonable efforts or methods
on the part of the hotel management,
or other employees of the hotel, to eject
or put out union members from the
premises.
II. However, If the Police Depart
ment, or other agencies Of the law,
such as may be ordered by the court,
come in, all union members should not
resist them, but should leave the prem
/ ises, If such demand Is made upon
them by display of court warrant or
order, and not otherwise.
H. No union member shall engage
in any physical combat or violence
with the management or with other
employees Of the hotel, If such can be
avoided. However, all union members
shall reasonably resist any unreason-
able methods used by the management
or other hotel employees to eject them
or put them out.
13. Pickets should keep moving on
the outside sidewalks
IA. Pickets should not permit q
crowd to gather around any one OF
them.
IS. If any members of the public
want to talk to a picket, he should put
his sign down and talk quietly, or keer
moving slowly and let the member OF
the public move with him while talk
ing.
16. Even if the hotel management
says to all union members. You are
fired" all union members should quiet.
ly remain at their posts and say moth
ing, and there they should continue
to stay.
IT. Union members should sit dowr
all day and night. making relay
changes with each other if necessary.
Evening star., 1937-03-09
Fits SHOOTING
REMAINS PUZZLE
Vague Fingerprints and Pro-
posed Cash Reward Figure
in Mystery.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, March 9.-Vague
fingerprint clues and proposed cash
reward figured today in this city's big
gest crime puzzle-who shot District
Attorney Buron Fits?
The war veteran prosecutor, his left
forearm drilled by bullet. an
nounced from q hospital bed: I'll
probably be out Of here in 10 to II
days"
Chief Deputy District Attorney VIII
liam Simpson moved to have the Los
Angeles supervisors post ''substan-
tial reward"
Fits could give little help in estab-
fishing the identity Of the three or
four men in black sedan" who am
bushed him Sunday night on a sub
urban road.
The prosecutor, who three weeks ago
obtained felony indictments OF nearly
$50 aircraft sit-down strikers at Santa
Monica, said:
1T may have been some one sent
to prison or perhaps some crack
Drained, misguided sympathizer or as
sociate of radical troublemakers who
thought he was advancing the cause
of labor. There have been threats and
intimidations in the last few days over
the strike situation, but never took
them seriously"
Sheriffs deputies theorized the am
bush WAS the work of novice gun
men," poorly armed.
Two unsigned letters-one addressed
to the district attorney. the other tt
Police Chief Charles Dice of Sants
Monica-provided bafiled detectives
with a puzzle.
Evening star., 1937-03-09
.A.F.L. CHALLENGES
CLAIMS OF Lewis
Green Opens Drive to Win
Over Structural Steel
Workers.
BY the Associated Press.

BY tne AsSOClhteo FIess.
William Green's call for q direct
campaign to win over structural steel
workers to the American Federation
Of Labor challenged today the claims
Of John L. Lewis to the employees Of
big steel"
Green announced he would en-
deavor to bring the 100000 men en-
ployed in the fabricating and in
stalling branches into the Structural
Steel Workers, an A. F. Of L. union.
It now has between 10000 and $4,000
members, he said.
Philip Murray, first lieutenant in
the steel section of Lewis Committee
for Industrial Organization, declared
last Summer, on the other hand. he
intended to sign up structu al workers
as well as steel production employees
in the Amalgarated Association Of
Iron, Steel and Tin Workers.
Lewis devoted his own efforts, in
the meantime, to spring campaigns
in the textile and oil industries. He
called in leaders Of is unions today
to discuss the organization program.
The heavy-set c. I. o. chief stayed
away last night from the convention
of labor's Non-Partisan League be-
cause cooks, walters and mattresses
in the Willard Hotel were on q sit
down strike. They belong to an 4,
F. Of L. union.
Lewis meeting place was only five
hlnPkC q rOnforanRo hotUaan
Green and so federation organizers
but the two labor leaders were poles
apart in principle.
Lewis contends all the workers ir
each major industry should belong tc
one union. Green maintains thai
highly skilled workers should belong
| to the union of their craft, no mattel
where they work.
Because Lewis organized the G. I. o
to put his principle into practice. hi
United Mine Workers and nine asso.
ciated unions were suspended from
the A. F. OF L. last Summer.
Lewis announcement of the textile
and oil campaigns brought statement!
from A. F. OF L. craft leaders that
they intended to protect what they de.
clared were their rights in those in
dustries.
The machinists said they had ex.
tensive present and potential member.
ship in both the textile mills and gaso.
line ref1neries. The boilermakers anc
several other craft unions claimed
membership rights in the rehnerie.
and oil fields
Evening star., 1937-03-09

Co. There was no disorder during
the new Flint sit-downs.
There had been no strikes in Chrys-
Ter plants prior to the opening Of the
conference between the corporation
and the union. The first sit-down
was called within two hours after
Chrysler rejected the unions recog-
milton demand.
A conference was started with Hud-
son officials also before there had
been any strikes. The union ac-
cused company executives Of STALL
ing" in the negotiations in explain
ing the sit-downs.
Willing to Bargain.
I'VE have been willing and still are
willing to bargain collectively with
them for their members" B. E. Hutch
inson. Chrysler vice president, said of
the union negotiators. Beyond that
We do not agree to CO. Men who
wish to work in our plants will not
be required to hold a union card to
do So"
He said the u A. w. A., in seeking
exclusive bargaining rights, wanted to
force all our employees to go with
the union or go out of our employ"
Hutchinson alleged that non-union
workers had been subjected to threats.
intimidation and coercion from union
representatives" both in the plants and
at their homes.
Homer Martin, international presi-
dent Of the U. A. w. A.. who frequently
has said that relations with Chrysler
were more satisfactory" than with
any other automobile producer, de-
clared:
This strike and the one at the
Hudson Motor Car Co. are the results
OF managements Stubborn resistance
and unreasonable position concerning
the will of a clear majority of en-
ployes in plants affected. So long as
the company continues to disregard
the law and common procedure which
operates in Government as we'll as in
a corporation, they may expect labor
trouble"
A. H. Doll, president of the Hudson
U. A. w. A. local, has been conferring
with A. E. Barit, &C apany president,
two weeks. He said the union de-
manded recognition as the sole bar
gaining agency. straight seniority,
minimum hourly wages of IS cents
for men and rs cents for women, and
blanket increase Ito make Hudson
wages equal to those in other auto
mobile plants"
A sit-down by IS members of the
Society of Designing Engineers in the
body engineering department of the
Packard Motor Car Co. was short
lived. c. L. Robertson, general man.
ager Of the society, said it was q
demonstration sit-down" and would
be resumed "in some form" if the
company refused to confer on the
strikers demands.
100000 OUT OF JOBS.
Evening star., 1937-03-09

had walked out Of the room into
hallway leading to the kitchen.
A reporter pulled the door open
and photographer got into position
to take a picture through the open
door. of the mattresses as they stood
in the hallway.
A man who refused to give his name
but who was said to be q hotel de-
tective, stepped in front of the camera.
None Of that" he said, and pushed
the door to.
This Is public dining room," the
photographer demonstrated.
That hallway is not" the "detec-
tive" replied. you keep out"
Somerville and the detective" then
asked that everyone but patrons who
were still at the tables and employees
leave and a few minutes later the
doors were closed and locked. The
mattresses then returned to the dining
room and sat down at the tables.
A Star reporter then went to the
main dining room, off Peacock Alley,
and found no patrons at the tables.
Gus" the head waiter, who had not
joined his men In the strike, was at
the door. The reporter asked to be
served
Il am sorry" Gus replied. I'VE can
not serve; the walters are on strike"
Gus Recalls 1912 Strike.
After a short conversation, Gus VOL
unteered: This Is like 1912. We had
a strike then. 1t didn't last long and
1 don't think this one will. I think
we'll be open tomorrow morning."
No convention or organization din
ners were on the schedule for last
night and the tenth floor kitchen and
dining room were idle, it was said.
After the main dining room had
been closed and darkened shortly after
pm, a group of walters could be
seen from the sidewalk on the Four
teenth street side Of the hotel, sitting
at tables close TO the windows, several
OF them apparently asleep in their
chairs.
A number Of union and local Off
Gals mingled with the picketers,
among them John Dreos, president of
Local 781.
| Police on Hand
Several detectives and uniformed
policemen were assigned TO the Willard
by the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment. They mingled with the strikers
and discussed the situation with hotel
employees, but were not called upon for
active duty.
Among those at the hotel during the
evening were Lieut.. Horace Lineberg,
head of the public relations squad and
present commander Of the District De-
partment, American Legion, and De-
tective Sergts. r. J. Barrett, W. B.
Christian and p w. Ambrose.
They were noncommittal as TO the
reasons for their presence.
There were few comments from no.
tel patrons or sidewalk spectators of
opinions on the strike Many Of the
patrons apparently did not realize a
strike was in progress until they left
the hotel and saw the pickets. There
was no crowd on the sidewalk outside
during the evening. though most Of
the paSSersby stopped or slowed down
to read the placards carried by the
picketers.
One man, noticing the line, "Afili-
ated with the A. F. L." on a placard,
remarked to the picketer: You'd be
better off if you affiliated with the
c. I. O."
Evening star., 1937-03-09
HOUSE RECEIVES
v|NSON COAL BILL
Legislation Based on Price
Fixings-Enactment Is
Held Necessary.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Legislation designed to stabilize the
sprawling soft coal industry came
before the House today for the third
time in two years.
The measure, sponsored by Rep
resentative Vinson, Democrat, OF Ken
lucky, closely parallels the original
Guffey act nullified by the Supreme
Court last May and also the sub
stitute Guffey-VinSon bill, which
passed the House last session but died
in a Senate fllibuster.
Like its predecessors, the proposed
legislation is based on price-flxing.
A National Bituminous Coal Commis-
sion of seven S10000-a-year members
would be empowered to prescribe
minimum prices for coal which no
producer could sell without forfeiting
1872 per cent compliance tax"
Enactment Held Necessary.
Enactment was termed necessary by
the Ways and Means Committee to
prevent an immediate reversion of
the industry ito the chaotic conditions
which prompted passage of the 1885
act"
Labor provisions to which the Su-
preme Court objected have been elimi-
mated. Despite this, the United Mine
Workers are supporting the bill
The committee reduced the tax to
be levied on all producers to provide
funds to administer the law from Vim
sons proposal of ll2 per cent to 2
per cent. Informed persons said this
reduction would mean saving OF
about $4,000, 900 to the industry.
Four Amendments in Bill.
A Senate Interstate Commerce Sub
committee, meanwhile, wrote into the
Guffey coal bill four amendments out
of hundreds" which Chairman Nicely
Democrat, of West Virginia, said had
been proposed.
Nicely said he hoped the Subcommlt-
tee would complete consideration Of
possible changes in the regulatory
measure today.
One change approved would make
a purchaser knowingly violating the
code liable to fine of SIS ton. An
other is designed to protect participat-
ing operators from antitrust prose-
cution if the Supreme Court holds the
legislation unconstitutional.
Evening star., 1937-03-09

was passed through a window into the
locked dining room, which is known
as the Crystal room.
Michael Garriga, international rep
resentative Of the Hotel and Restau-
rant Workers Alliance, said this
morning the strike started because Of
the discharge of Miss Norman. She
was let out by the hotel. he added,
because she testified at a Labor Rela-
tions Board hearing on the dismissal
of a waiter.
Verbov, the business agent Of the
local, said the strike involved a de-
mand that the hotel recognize his
union.
Meantime, efforts to settle the strike
we're made by Maj. Berry himself.
He appointed a committee of five to
try to arrange a settlement between
the striking union and the hotel man
agement.
Berry and Lewis differed in their
attitude toward the strikers. Lewis,
head Of the Committee for Industrial
Organization. is at swords point with
he American Federation of Labor,
with which the walters union is af-
filiated.
Berry last night offered to help get
the pickets called of to try to get Lewis
into the meeting at which he was
scheduled to speak.
Berry denounced the strike as "a
fixed-up situation" designed to en-
barrass his organization and its meet
ing But he told the meeting last
night, mostly composed of labor men,
that his organization must fulfill its
contract with the hotel for the use Of
the ball
mo one has any right to claim labor
leadership in America without obeerv-
ing contracts" he said. I'm not go
ing to be stampeded by f1xed-up sit
uation" Representatives of the strik-
ers denied the strike had been called
to embarraSs Berry.
Herman j. Smith, secretary of the
Central Trades and Labor Council,
Rochester, here for the conference said
the league might change its head
quarters if the picketing continued.
Statement of Labor Policy.
The hotel management issued 9
statement on its labor policy.
mo objection will be made to any
employe joining any labor organiza-
| tion," it said. mo discrimination ir
any form will be made against any
employe because of his or her mem.
bership in or affiliation with any labor
organization.
The management holds itself
ready to discuss with the duly con.
stituted representatives of any labol
organization of which its employees are
members any problems concerning
their employment"
L. Gardner Moore, president of the
Washington Hotel Association, said
the hotels and the union had reached
an agreement in February whereby
increased wages, averaging 10 per cent
were granted walters and cooks. On
February % he said the Willard dis
charged an employe for gross incom-
petence' and that the union then
demanded a closed shop.
The nature of the hotel business
involving service to the public" he
said, "is such that the hotels cannot
share their responsibility with any
one and therefore the closed union
shop is impossible for the Willard or
Evening star., 1937-03-09

Detailed instructions as to how they
should conduct themselves during the
Willard Hotel "sit-down" were issued
to the employees by union officers.
A carbon. copy of the alleged in
structions, obtained from one Of the
strikers yesterday, follows:
Instructions.
Oocal 1917
I. When strike order Is given all
walters, mattresses and kitchen en-
ployes stop working.
2. All walters and Mattresses "sit
down."
3. All kitchen employees sit down at
your posts and refuse to work.
4. During the strike all walters and
mattresses may sit down in the lobby
or lobbies of the hotel, like any other
member of the public.
S. Also, all walters and waitreses
may sit down in the dining room, like
any other members of the public and
order. OF course, what is ordered
(such as coffee, milk, etc. must be
paid for, like other members Of the
public.
6. All walters and mattresses should
sit down in their uniforms.
7. All kitchen employees should sit
down in their uniform and working
clothes
8. All walters and mattresses mus,
be polite to the public and to the other
non-interested persons. Walters and
mattresses must not talk to the public
or to the guests of the hotel, unless
spoken to. and then they should speak
quietly and courteously in response
and answer to the questions of the
public and guests.
9. No profanity of any kind shall
be used. No swearing of any kind.
Evening star., 1937-03-09
JUNIOR HIGH TOPIC

A panel discussion on Our Junior
High School-Its Aims and Objects"
will be held at the meeting of the
Powell Junior High Parent-Teacher
Association at 8 pm. tomorrow in the
school auditorium.
Lester T. Walter, principal of the
school. will conduct the panel, aided
by Miss A. Grace Lind, newly appoint
ed supervisor of the fifth division.
who will talk on the Elementary
Viewpoint" and L. A. Braugher, as
sistant principal OF Central High
School, whose topic will be The High
School Viewpoint"
Evening star., 1937-03-09

rFOn1
Spanish coast, badly damaged, but
not in immediate danger OF sinking"
(The Canarias reported last night
to a British destroyer she had sunk
the Mar Cantabrico, carrying NUM-
tions Hom the United States and
Mexico to government Spain)
Three small Spanish insurgent
freighters helped the Canarias capture
the Mar Cantabrico. Poo declared.
With hold number hit and af1re,
the insurgents sent a boarding party
onto the Mar Cantabrico. They i'm
prisoned the crew, Poo related.
1t appeared, he said, that all the
cargo of the Mar Cantabrico. includ-
ing eight United States planes des-
tined for government forces. might
have fallen into insurgent hands.
The sailor asserted the long con-
fusion in the identity Of the stricken
vessel was due partly to the fact that
the Mar Cantabrico had painted the
name "Adda Of Newcastle" on her
side and had taken the Adda's radio
call letters.
I'VE left the United States with
the airplanes at the very moment
when Congress adopted an embargo
law on arms" said Poo.
Stopped at Vera Cruz.
THE Mar Cantabrico stopped at
Vera Cruz, where she took on other
munitions. We changed the name to
AIDA as a precautionary measure.
That Is British ship Of about the
same tonnage.
But the Canarias discovered the
subterfuge and began shelling us as
We we're heading for Santander.
"A shell hit us and started fire in
No. 2 hold.
1T was then that We sent out our
S. o. S., using the call letters of the
Ada.
Soon afterward numerous ships
came alongside of us. Officers from
the Canarias came aboard to examine
us and make a search.
The crew and passengers were then
transported to the Canarias.
Fearing that / would be killed if
were captured, hid myself with eight
of my comrades and, when a French
boat passed nearby, I threw myself
overheard and tried to reach it SWIM
ming.
Il was lucky. got there
Il believe all the Spanish citizens
taken aboard the Canarias were shot {"
Insurgent Pilot Aboard.
Poo added that an insurgent pilot
came aboard the Mar Cantabrico and
took charge of her. apparently trying
to get the ship under her own power
so she could make better speed to some
Spanish port.
OF the crew and passengers, Poo
said, there were five Italians and five
Mexicans, in addition to the two un-
named Americans, but that all the rest
were Spanish.
The master of the Cameleyre, de-
scribing his arrival on the scene, said
he saw the burning vessel. which he
learned later was the Mar Cantabrico.
A second and smaller ,oat was en-
gagged busily in mysterious maneu-
vers," he said
Both ships declined help, and then
he saw two sailors swimming, the
French master continued. He man
| aged to save Poo.
Basque authorities, meantime, said
they had no word of the fate of the
Mar Cantabrico.