Evening star., 1937-01-09
Strike
Continued From First Page.)

FIOiH fdRe.D
other in the person of William L.
Hutcheson. president of the Carpen-
ters' Union.
Questioned closely about the extent
OF determination of building and
metal workers TO return to work. Frey
said circumstances" would guide in
deciding whether the attempt would
become general at all G. M. plants
now tied up.
In no event. he emphasized, will de-
partment members work with strike
breakers. He added that he had no
information that strike breakers were
involved in the Cleveland situation.
although the U. A. w. has charged
that professional strikebreakers have
been engaged by General Motors for
use in some OF their Detroit plants.
Asked If the departmental action
represents the attitude of the entire
federation. frey said he had not con-
ferred today with William Green,
federation president. He indicated,
however, no disapproval was likely
and the close harmony and dominant
position of the two departments
within the federation make it vir-
tually certain their decision would
stand for the whole organization if
concerted action becomes necessary.
Charges Against U. A. w.
Building up the background for the
rn ho
the U. A. w. openly has dedicated it,
self to industrial organization Of the
automobile industry without regard
for craft jurisdictional lines. 1t then,
he continued. called strikes in numer-
Gus G. M. plants, forcing members of
craft unions, such as those of the two
departments acting today, out of work
without giving them any voice in
whether they desired to participate in
strike action.
The issue, therefore. plainly dis
cernible in Cleveland. Frey said, is a
dual one involving Cd whether build
ing and metal workers should be al
lowed to work and (2) whether the
two departments should sit by while
gaining rights for workers.
The answer, as contained in tele-
graphed orders from Frey to George A.
McKinnon of the Cleveland Metal
Trades Council, following a confer
ence OF leaders Of the two depart
ments here yesterday follows in part:
Our members in Cleveland. having
had nothing to do with bringing this
strike, are in no way bound to be gov
erned by the action Of others. AS
the policy of the building trades in
Cleveland is to resume work legiti-
mately theirs at the Fisher Body
plant, 1t is the policy of the Metal
Trades Department that our members
should do likewise and that they take
action accordingly and take cooper
ative action with the building trades"
Frey said the two departments have
no written agreements with General
Motors about working conditions, but
that verbal agreements have been in
effect in several plants and always
have been carried out faithfully by
the company.
In making his first reference to the
U. A. w. strike activities, Frey de-
clared they carry many Of the fea-
lures "of a runaway strike" explain
ing that such strike is one in which
the local members take the initiative
without direction from their national
officers.
Many observers of the automotive
| troubles have expressed a similar
opinion, particularly since the c. I. o.
was deeply involved in Its fight to
organize the steel industry when the
tie-ups began in Detroit. On the
other hand, from c. I. o. headquar-
ters has come insistence that every
thing is proceeding along the lines
Of q "well-ordered plan"
White House Watchful.
Meanwhile increasing pressure for
White House action in the situation
was noticeable as close contact was
being maintained with the Labor De-
partment, the Committee for Indus
trial Organization and spokesmen for
industry.
The Senate committee investigat-
ing espionage and coercion in labor
relations, already interested in Cen
eral Motors policies in that field,
disclosed today its Investigators are
looking into charges that the auto
mobile company already has hired pro-
fessional strikebreakers. The charges
were made by the United Automobile
Workers.
With committee hearings due to re-
open next Thursday, it was said that
General Motors officials may be called
to testify.
Yesterdays direct contact between
the White House and the strike field
came through telephone conference
between Gov. Frank Murphy OF Mich
igan and one of the White House stan.
and a personal conference between
President Roosevelt and Myron Taylor,
chairman of the board of the United
States Steel Corp.
Taylor later told reporters the steel
industry would not back down IN its