The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-02-01
and prevent interference witt
loyal" workers.
Fears Of Violence


Fears Of Violence
Fearing violence, Murphy was at
tempting to effect q truce like the
one he negotiated last month which
collapsed when each side accused
the other Of violating 1t. The orig
inal agreement provided for with
drawal Of the sit-down strikS-:'j and
a pledge by General Motors that 1t
would not attempt to repoen strike
closed plants.
The governor, given a free hand
after failure by Secretary OF Labor
Frances Perkins to bring oppc sing
leaders together in Washington, had
several conferences during the week
end with G. M. executives and ON
cialS OF the United Automobile
Workers union. Detroit, headquar-
tiers Of both groups, was his base
Of operations.
There was an undercurrent OF re-
sentiment among union men here as
a result of General Motors apparent
determination TO settle the sitdown
issue before agreeing to a general
conference on any phase Of the
strike situation.
Sit-DOwn Men Armed
The sit-downers-750 In Fisher
plant ] and $50 In plant 2-were
armed with blackjacks and heavy
clubs. Most of them were young
raw-boned, reckless men. They Or
ganized an elaborate defense plan,
with sentries on duty "a hours
day.
Strikers have been building up
ammunition supplies - bolts, door
hinges and milk bottles-since the
recent outbreak.
City and state police, armed with
riot and tear gas guns, have been
ordered to be ready for any emer-
gency. In addition, 10000 National
Guardsmen have been instructed by
Murphy to enforce peace. He has
said that violence would not be
tolerated.
''The high point in the strike is
coming this week." said Powers
Hapgood, representing John L..
Lewis committee for industrial or
ganization, at strikers mass meet
ing last night.
I'm expecting a settlement before
long," he continued, but I believe
that General Motors will attempt
to recapture one Of thee losed plants
before they settle"
Thirty-One Defendants
Thirty-one defendants, including
Homer Martin, automobile union
president, and G. I. O. representa-
tives, were ordered to appear before
Judge Gadola to show cause why
the General Motors injunction plea
should not be granted.
Union leaders ordered their sit
down forces to stand by" at full
strength for whatever action fol-
lowed the courts ruling. Mass meet
ings were scheduled outside the
court house and later at the two
Fisher plants.
There were persistent reports that
the corporation would attempt to
reopen II strike-locked plants as
result of the deadlock in peace nego-
tiations. These reports were boil
stored by General Motors state
ment that IAN immediate back-to-
work movement is supported by
123,724 of the 149,249 workers
affected, or nearly SO per cent"
The corporation already has re-
sumed operations In many plants not
directly affected by the strike but
which had been forced to close be-
cause of a material shortage. The
Buick plant here is scheduled to re-
oIen today. with 1000 men returning
to work. 1t was estimated that be-
fore the end of the week 5000 will
be back on the job.
Union officials charged that doz-
en- men had been dismissed from the
Flint Chevrolet plant since 1t re-
opened on a part-time basis last
week because they wore union
badges. Arnold Lenz, plant manager,
said three had been discharged for
violating an agreement between the
company and union leaders banning
display of union emblems In the
plant or on General Motors prem
iSeS.
Ellen Wilkinson, labor member OF
the British parliament, toured the
Fisher plants, chatted with the sit
downerS and announced from a
sound truck in the street:
"Boiled down, it looks to me as If
the crucial issue is this: Shall Presi-
ply, representing the people, be
dent Roosevelt and Governor Muir
overruled by the economic royalists
that run General Motors?"
John L. Lewis Warns
Washington, Feb. 1-(UP)-John
L. Lewis warned the nation today
that the automotive strike which he
is sponsoring sis only the first en-
gagement in a war between labor
and finance"
Lewis, who returned to the CAPT.
tai from New York where he spoke
before a forum conducted by the
magazine Common Sense" charged
that the steel industry was backing
the General Motors corporation in
the present dispute with the United
Automobile Workers of America.
He discussed possibilities of class
warfare between capital and labor,
as federal attempts to mediate the
GMC strike collapsed and the gov
eminent looked to Gov. Frank Muir
ply. Of Michigan to effect peace.
Lewis said the principal financial
interests of the country were united
in opposition to him and that either
j. p. Morgan or Pierre S. du Pont
could settle the General Motors
strike with nod of their heads"