Evening star., 1937-06-19
GOVERNOR MUST
ASK FOR TROOPS
Early Voices View Com.
menting on johnstown
Mayors Plea.
~ the Associated Press,

Mayors Plea.
,, the Associated Press.
Stephen T. Early. secretary to Pres
ident Roosevelt, said today the Gov
ernment could not order out troops
to prevent disturbances In the steel
strike unless requested to do 20 by Z
Governor or State Lsg1slature.
Early was commenting on q second
request for Federal aid from Mayor
Daniel J. Shields Of Johnstown, Pa.
He said he was not speaking for the
President.
Warning that more death" usually
follows movement Of armed forces In
the field. Early said:
The Governor OF Pennsylvania has
not made any request. Johnstown is
city In PeAnsylvania. The Governor
Of Ohio asked the President for action
and got 1t. The Governor OF Pennsyl-
vania has not done 20, nor has he
indicated that he Is incapable Of tax
ing care Of his own troubles.
THE Government cannot use force
to prevent disturbances until re-
quested by the Governor Of the State,
or. II Legislature h in session. by
the Legislature and Governor also.
Answer Own Quastisn.
What can We do?" the Secretary
asked, and replied to his own query:
IT troops were moved into Johns
town without the requirements being
met. then what II Chicago and the
rest OF the country-cittes elsewhere
asked for troops?"
Where do you 90 IL you once start?
One city is rightly entitled to pro-
lection as another. Where DO you
usually 60 when you have armed
forces IN the field? More death?"
shields' telegram to the President
had asked:
Are you going to fall me BY allow
ing this reign Of terror to continue?"
Early added that people complain
that things are done unconstitu-
tionally and then they want you to
do unconstitutional things. without
regard to the law Of the land"
1T Is \ case OF the shoe pinchins
the other foot" he said. >Ihese seem
to be the facts. am not speaking
for the President"
Tive Inquiries Launched.
Two separate Federal inquiries into
the violent. ar-fiung steel strike were
under way, meanwhile.
An investigation by the National
Labor Relations Board was demanded
late yesterday by the strikers, who
charged that the steel industry had
violated the Wagner act by alleEedly
intimidating workers and refusing TO
bargain with them.
A special mediation board named
by Secretary Of Labor Perkins yester-
was was expected to swing into action
today.
Ofhcials OF the Labor Board agreed
to launch an immediate investigation
Of the charges filed by the Steel Work.
ers' Organising Committee.
Lee Pressman. counsel for the Steel
Union, asserted In letter accompany
ing the charges that the strikers are
extremely desirous OF An election to
determine employe representation In
Republic plants but are not now ask
ing the board to conduct one.
His letter contended 4 policy Of dis
elimination maintained by Republic
"makes 1t impossible to have such an
election conducted at the present time
in fair, impartial manner"
McGrady Leaves BY Plane.
Edward r. McGrady. Assistant Sec
retary OF Labor, left by plane mean
while for Cleveland to join other MEM
bers OF The Government board named
to attempt strike mediation.
Tho Labor Department said the
board would meet shortly after Nc
Gradys arrival. Other members are
Charles p. Taft, Cincinnati, and Lloyd |
K. Garrison. Madison. Wis.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican. OF
Michigan. Issued statement last
night declaring that 1t would appear |
Miss Perkins' three-man board, like |
the President who chose them. may
have pre- Judged the case to damag-
ing degree"
He said two Of the board mem
bers-Taft and Garrison-Were on |
record in favor OF written agreements |
between workers and their employers. |
He added that the third member, Nc
Grady. is the Presidents own direct !
agent"
The steel strikers contend that the |
cause Of the present conflict Is the
refusal OF the big four steel compa-
MES involved to sign contracts.
The Wagner act, under which the
strike leaders filed charges with the |
Labor Board, guarantees workers the
right to organize and bargain collec-
lively without interference, intimida-
ton or coercion.
The Workers Organising Commit
tee accused Republic Steel of dis
charging ~ employees from plants at |
Cleveland, Warren and Massilon,
Ohio. because Of union activities.
1t charged also that the company
ordered . lockout at its Canton,
Ohio. tin mill May S, prior to the strike,
for the purpose Of coercing employees
to discontinue union membership.
Another allegation was that the COM
pany had created dissension between
white and colored employees to destroy
morale and interfere with sell -organi-
xation.'
The strike leaders accused the COM
pany Of acting In collusion with the
chief Of police Of Canton and with the
sheriff and Mayor Of youngstown to
swear In special police to intimidaA
employees.
ChArSe ArpenAls Maintainsd.
They charged further that the cor
poration had maintained extensive ar
senah to intimidate employees at Cleve-
land, Canton, youngstown, Warren and
Niles. and that company agents at the