Imperial Valley press., 1937-03-19
News Behind the News
Shoe on the Other Foot {. A Strike
in Washington is Different At
Least to WaShingtOnidns

WAsHINGTON.-Its one thing to have
sitdown strike a thousand miles away from
here and as many washingtonians found out.
quite another to have one in this non-industrial
capital city Especially one which ties up food
and drink in that nationally famous hostelry,
the New Willard.
When the strike involves John L. Lewis and
other celebrated labor leaders, and is settled
by Assistant Labor Secretary Edward F. Nc
Grady maestro of mediators. and it all hap
pens right in the heart of this strange city
well. sir, you have something such as a Washing
ton correspondent is seldom privileged to OBJ
serve.
The first surprise you get is when you go
TO the hotel to check up on labor's Non-Parti-
san Leagues convention and find dozen wait
ers, cooks and mattresses picketing with stand
ards which proclaim The Willard Hotel Resi-
dence of Presidents. Is on Strike" Then you
find the other walters and mattresses sitting
down in the dining room, coffee shop and cock
tail lounges. and a few remaining guests pre-
pairing to leave.
Down in the kitchen, 20 cooks and helpers
have put the food away and stopped produc-
ton. at the source. Union men prepare to bring
them sandwiches. hundred employees are
sitting down
Ask how come and you hear accusations of
coercion and intimidation of union members,
plus discharge of coffee shop waitress, alleged
ly for union activity. The girl is on the picket
line. carrying a placard and accompanied by
her mama. She's good looking. Reporters and
photographers rushing to the scene. The
MANAGEMENT refuses TO make statement. Guests
are checking out especially labor leaders there
for the convention Word spreads that the
stke is hostile frameup by the A. F. of L.
with which the walters and cooks union is
affiliated McGrady comes to the hotel for
dinner but refuses to pass the picket line
Your correspondent encounters Maj. George
L. Berry chairman of labors Non-PartiSan
League dining at the nearby Occidental Res
taurant on tender two-inch steak, impeccably
broiled black outside and red in the middle.
Major Berry is kind enough to buy drink
eventually two drinks Berry knows of the
strike thinks it's a plot against his conven-
ton and points out he has contractual relations
with the hotel He says: I'm my 29 years as
delegate to A. F. of l.. conventions, there's never
been one without cooks and walters incident
in which delegates urged not to eat or
sleep somewhere He says that is an exclusive
statement which he will give to nobody else.
He says the big night meeting in the hotel
ballroom at which speakers are TO argue for
the Roosevelt Supreme Court plan will go on
just the same
Berrys meeting goes on, but the strike down.
stairs has ruined it, Lewis, scheduled as the
big speaker of the evening, hears of the picket
line knows photographers are waiting TO shoot
him as he enters the hotel and announces he
doesn't pass through picket lines. Strike leaders
offer to call off the pickets for two hours while
he enters and speaks. Lewis declines with
thanks Other speakers crate but you can
hardly hear them for the corridor noise OF
angry delegates. Some believe the meeting
should be moved and others. insist its plot