Evening star., 1937-03-20

Continued From First Page)
ond time in attempts to conciliate a
major automobile strike Their efforts
led to settlement Of General Motors
strikes a month ago
Only small groups of pickets hud-
died about snow-covered gates at the
huge Chrysler factories this morning
There was no unusual activity Some
gates we're barricaded, others were
merely chained.
The chairman of Chrysler Strike
Committees today issued a statement,
addressed to Gov. Murphy. declaring:
You can do one of two things You
can use your influence to see that our
| grievances are adjusted, or you can
use the States troops to try to force
us out.
Alternatives Cited
THE first way will lead to indus
trial peace and the elimination Of the
! causes for strikes The second way
will lead to bloodshed and violence
and more strikes We are resolved
to protect our rights to our jobs with
| you
Restating the union contention that
the Chrysler Corp. had violated the
national labor relations act by its re-
fusal to recognize the U. A. w A. as
sole bargaining agency for $1,000 en-
| ployeS, the strike leaders said.
Our employers have refused to rec
ognize the principles of collective bar
| gaining, so We have resorted to the
only weapon we have to make them
abide by the law"
| The situation today as Dewey and
Gov Murphy engaged in conferences
seeking a way for peaceful evacuation
of the Chrysler plants, appeared to be
deadlocked as tightly as it has been
since the strikers halted plant opera
tions 13 davs ago.
Homer Martin, union president,
said: Our proposals for an AMIGA u4e
and swift settlement of this con-
troversy were spurned by the corpora
ton"
One report was that the union was
willing to evacuate the sit-doWn
strikers in return for written pledge
from Walter P. Chrysler, chairman
of the corporations board, that no
attempt to reopen the plants, or to
remove dies and machinery would be
made. and that the corporations exec
utives would get down to bedrock"
negotiating with uinon representatives.
Meeting Blocked.
In this connection, one report said,
efforts to bring about meeting be-
tween Chrysler and John L. Lewis,
chairman of the Committee for In
dustrial Organization supporting the
U. A. w. A. strikes, have been blocked
by the manufacturers refusal to meet
with any union official until the plants
have been cleared.
Dewey, arriving in Detroit by train
this morning, declined to state his
plans, but said I'VE will probably ar
range several conferences"
The union strikers statement to
Murphy today, signed by "sit-down
strikers in the Chrysler plants" as
serted that:
What we have to say is supported
by more than $4,000 other Chrysler
workers, more than 100000 automobile
workers in Detroit, 200 900 in Michi-
gan and 100000 in the United States"
The letter rejected the mediation
boards proposed in conference
called by the Governor this week with
the statement, They don't work"
Claim Wages Inadequate.
The strikers contended that made
quate wages. speed of the production
line, discriminatory discharges and in
timidation by the agents Of labor
spy organization led to their strike
action
Then, when we had built our union
in spite of these obstacles" the letter
continued, "the Chrysler Corp. re-
fused to recognize U.S."
Dewey came to Detroit at the direc-
ton of Secretary Perkins to join Gov.
Murphy, who has been comforting
with Chrysler Corp. executives and
officials of the U. A. W. A.
Remains in New York.
Secretary Perkins decided to remain
in New York overnight after conversing
by telephone with Chrysler and Gov.
Murphy. Lewis and ChrySler were In
New York, but Miss Perkins would
not say whether she had communi-
Gated with the labor leader.
Il think that If Mr.. Chrysler and
Mr.. Lewis could get together it would
clear up some things" the Labor Sec
retary said. She said she had not
tried to arrange such a meeting. but
that she understood such an endeavor
had been made.
Her main objective, she explained,
was to get negotiations between the
corporation and the union started.
Then she added:
Every one has been too mad to
talk things over; what with court
orders and 50 on, both sides have been
mad"
The two sides had opened negotia-
tions over union demands when the
strike was called, but they have re-
ported no progress. Much Of their
discussions have centered on the re-
jected request Of the U. A. w. A. for
recognition Is the sole bargaining
agency Of Chrysler employees.