Evening star., 1937-06-16
Steel
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Continued From First Page.)
Homer Cummings that c. l. o. pickets
prevented A. F. of L. workers from re-
turning to their jobs.
The protest followed yesterdays
clash at Ambridge, when scores were
beaten in free-for-all between 500
C. I. o. pickets and so A F. Of L.
members attempting a back-to-work
movement.
Blast at Johnstown.
The explosion at Johnstown sent
scores Of terror-stricken residents
tumbling from their beds into the
streets before dawn today.
The explosion-police believe 1t was
caused by a bomb-shattered the
temporary calm outside the gates Of
the Bethlehem Steel plant a. Johns
town just before dawn. No one was
hurt, but taut-nerved citizens for
blocks around ran excitedly into the
streets.
Just "a hours before, there had been
fierce fighting at the same strike
bound plant; and there had been
dynamiting at Warren, Ohio.
Today's blast was near the Gautier
plant Of Bethlehem's sprawling Cam
bria works. 1t ripped away q large
section Of concrete walk, and shat
tered several windows.
No police were on duty there.
Violence in the strike came on the
heels Of volley Of words from two
big guns OF steel. They were from
Tom Girdler OF Republic Steel and
Purnell.
"Communistic" was the way fiery
Tom Girdler labeled Lewis c. I.
o. Purnell, president of Sheet &
Tube, was not as outspoken. Both
reiterated that their determination not
to sign c. I. o. contracts-the crux Of
the situation under which more than
100000 workers are idle-was un-
changed.
Spokesman for non striking Re-
public Steel workers said their men
wanted to 60 back to work and that
they had 'back-to-work" signatures
from 10 per cent of Republics 5000
employees in Youngstown.
c. I. O. to Meet Challenge.
But c. I. o. leaders made ready
to meet the challenge. They hur-
rtedly arranged series of mass
meetings throughout the strike-locked
Mahoning Valley today to bolster
strike morale. c. I. O.'s director for
Ohio, John Owens, was called in to
take personal charge of the strike and
to head today's speakers.
c. I. o. chiefs scored the "back-to-
work" movement as having been in
spired by "the professional strike
breaker Pearl Bergof."
Gov. Martin L. Davey, undismayed
by the failure Of his peace confer
ence yesterday, called upon Girdler
and Purnell to meet With him tomor-
row. He hopes that in a conference
at which union men are not present
he may be able to learn from the
steel executives just what terms would
be acceptable.
There was little prospect, however,
that either Girdler or Purnell would
accept the Governors invitation. Grid
Ter did not comment, and Purnell.
asked If he would attend the meeting,
replied:
Il have nothing to say about that at
all"
Girdler, In . statement distributed
ito our employees" late yesterday, gave
what he called "a frst-hand account
Of the situation existing throughout
the corporation"
Plants Still Operating.
Republic Steel plants at Buffalo,
Chicago, Canton, Warren and Niles,
Ohio, he said, ARE operating in spite
OF armed pickets," and "the sixth open
hearth furnace and the wire mill have
been started at Chicago"
ct was at Republics South Chicago
plant on Memorial Sunday that nine
persons died In consequence Of q
massed march on the plant. The ninth
death occurred yesterday
Girdler said the number Of employees
at all these plants was increasing
daily, that employees had been housed
and fed in the plants, and that at
Warren and Niles food Is being flown
to the men in planes.
Explaining his refusal to sign a con-
tract as demanded by c. I. O., Grdler
said G. I. O. has broken numerous
contracts" adding:
Would you, yourself, sign contract
with a man who clubs his neighbor
over the head, kicks the postman out
| Of your yard, throws bricks through
your parlor window and has already
broken contract with the man across
the street,"
Grdler said the G. I. o. strike has
already cost Republic steel workers
nearly 100000 in wages"-wages,
Gidler said, which the employees have
lost forever"
His statement finished this way:
Must Republic and its men submit
to the communistic dictates and ter
rorism Of the G. I. O.?
| III America Is to remain q free
country the answer is no."