Evening star., 1937-01-11
Strike
Continued From First Page.)

returned 10 Lansing. he Sdlu, NOW.
ever, he would return to Detroit II
his services were required.
Even before Martin and Brophy an
nounced their impending departure
for Washington, there had been indi-
cations that strike settlement efforts
were being focused on the Capital.
Department Of Labor officials in
Washington gave increasing attention
to the attempts to arrange a peace
conference between the union and
the General Motors management.
Edward F. McGrady, Assistant
Secretary of Labor, Cancelled plans to
go to the Pacific Coast 50 he could
remain in Washington to devote most
Of the week to the auto-labor situ-
alton. AS the week opened the dead
lock left nearly 100, 900 General Motors
employees out of work and added
thousands in parts plants of other
firms to the idle.
McGrady did not indicate that he
considered coming to Detroit, but he
and Miss Frances Perkins, Secretary
of Labor. communicated frequently
with Dewey, Edward c. Mcdonald and
John E. O'Connor, the three concil-
iators dispatched to the motor city.
Reports on the situation presuma-
bly, were relayed to President Roose-
welt, who interceded when a general
automotive strike was threatened in
March, 1884.
Hinges on One Issue.
Declarations by William S. Knud-
sen, General Motors executive vice
president, and Martin emphasized the
one issue-the terms under which sit
down" strikers would vacate five Of
the company's plants-still preventing
joint conversations.
The corporation has not wavered In
its insistence that the strikers must
evacuate before negotiations open.
The union demands written assurance
that no equipment will be removed
during the discussions If the men
leave.
Each side has outlined its position
in statements given Gov. Murphy. who
has been taking a leading hand in
trying to arrange for joint parley.
Statement by Knudsen.
Knudsens statement said in part:
I'VE have time and again expressed
willingness to bargain collectively with
union officials on the basis of their
memorandum of January upon the
sole condition that sit-down strikers
in five Of our plants leave the premises.
However, at the last conferences
with the conciliatorS set of demands
was presented from the union as
conditions upon which the strikers
would move out.
ITO have accepted these conditions
would have placed General Motors in
the position Of condoning their illegal
action"
Knudsen told the Michigan Gov
ernor that the corporation would meet
with the union Immediately upon the
evacuation of the plants by the "sit-
down" strikers and that negotiations
will be conducted frankly and without
prejudice to any one"
Upon learning of Knudsen's state
ment, Martin commented:
1.-THE whole trouble Is that General
Motors wants to negotiate with Its
fingers crossed. We want their terms
in writing before we bring our men
out Of the plants"
The unions position as outlined in
Martins statement to Gov. Murphy is:
I'VE are willing to agree to with
drawal Of sit-down strikers If negotia-
tions are Immediately opened -
with an agreement that all plants
remained closed, without movement
of equipment or resumption Of activ-
tiles until national settlement Is ef-
fected, and with further agreement
that all activities such as circulation
of petitions, organizing vigilante ac-
tivities, threatening or coercing en-
ployes be Immediately stopped"
The U. A. w. A. president said he
did not demand that General Motors
agree to recognize the union as the
sole bargaining agency for General
Motors employees before negotiations
are opened.
Governor in Conference.
Gov. Murphy and Conciliator Dewey
COIllCIIcu 1OE tWO uOuES ldSt IllkQC.
The Governor asked Dewey to defer q
proposed trip to Washington to consult
his superiors. Murphy intended to re-
turn to Lansing, the State capital,
today, but made it clear that he would
keep in touch with the situation.
An official source said the Governors
return to Lansing did not mean that
he was withdrawing"
"The Governor is ready to help and
will continue to help both sides at any
time," this source told the Associated
Press. Every minute Of his time will
be available for any move toward set
Ting the strikes"
At a Sunday night press conference
Martin said Murphy "still is definitely
in the picture and will continue to be-"
Martin replied that he had mo state
ment to make" when asked II he had
asked President Roosevelt to intervene
in the labor crisis.
Expresses Determination.
Wyndham Mortimer, first vice pres
ident Of the union, told a meeting Of
Cleveland Fisher Body plant strikers,
that the "sit down" strikers In the
No. / Fisher plant at Flint, Mich, are
"prepared to stAy there from now on"