The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-02-19

UP and we can lead them out by the
ear lobes."
Lull in Fighting y,
There was lull In the fighting
shortly before 0 a. m. 90 a. m,
T.. 8. To. The strikers and officers
had been battling since GAO a. m.
Sheriff L. A. Doolittle strobe up to
plant window at $50 o'clock and
read a court order calling for arrest
of every one Of the strikers, MEM
bers Of the Amalgamated Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers, committee for
Industrial organization unit. The
attack was concentrated first upon
three story building, No. 5, then
upon two-story building, NO. ..
Only one striker left. He came
staggering out to police lines COM
planning he was too Ill to remain.
He was sent home In technical
custody.
Called Law Breakers
With the tear gas virtually ex-
hausted, officials went into confer
ence with plant authorities. These
men no longer are trespassers-they
are lawbreakers," a company ofdcial
was overheard telling Kennedy.
We've got riot and fire insurance
so 20 ahead-use any method at
your command-but get them out.
It Is not fair to our loyal workers
to allow them to remain In posses
sion OF the plant" The plant has
been closed by the strike since
Wednesday. The sit-downers de-
manded recognition Of the unior
and the right to bargain collectively.
A company spokesman; charged that
the strike was called merely to in-
ture the company's business. =
Gun Shots Doubted
One deputy sheriff, who refused
to allow use of his name, said he
had been fired at four times by a
striker with shotgun In an upper
story of the plant. The United
Press Correspondent, who witnessed
the battle from the start, saw no
sign of firearms on either side.
However, there was a constant bonn
bardment of tear gas combs which
spread gas upward toward the fac
tory. The white steamers poured
from hundreds of windows shattered
by Che strikers. The men inside
| turned on the ventilation system
and the blowers cleared much Of
the tear gas before the company
turned off the electricity. Several Of
the attacking force were burned
slightly by yellow acide used IN fre
extinguishers.
The attack-first attempted mass
eviction of sit-down strikers in the
recent outbreak Of that form Of la
Dor ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS made under
a court order issued secretly last
night by Circuit Judge Ralph j.
Dady. Earlier yesterday Dady sign
ed an injunction ordering the
strikers to evacuate Immediately.
When they defied the sheriff he or
dered them arrested for contempt
Of court.
Deiicaet Machinery
The seven and one-half acre plant.
which manufactures electrical parts
for automobiles and radio from
such valuable metals as tungsten,
molybendum and tantalum. con-
tains delicate machinery which the
strikers had threatened to damage
If attacked.
After the first exchange, the at
tackers stepped back and again an
officer called:
Come on out"
go to blazes," came voice from
the plant.
Deputies and six assisting police
men then began hurting cartridge
after cartridge of tear gas into the
lower story Of the plant. The WHISKY
white gas rose into the upper story
and curled thickly from hundreds
Of shattered windows.
With each new explosion Of tear
gas there was a renewed tinkle Of
broken glass as strikers smashed
scores Of tiny window panes.
| The workers could be seen inside
wiping tears from their eyes. The
quarters they held were filled with
gas. They showed no signs Of quit
ting at 7:15 a. m. (8:15 EST.
Deputies Half Blinded
| Many Of the special deputies who
swarmcd around the plant swinging
billies were half-blinded by the tear
gas also.
Occasionally metal object would
arc from q window and land near
the deputies, who would stampede
to safer ground.
Deputy Sheriff Harold Schiskie
| !.