Evening star., 1937-06-09
CITY Mobiles. 100
TO RESIST C,L, D. At.
PLANT REOPEN|NG
Union Says 10000 sympa.
thizers Will Come to
, Monroe to Help.
MAYOR SWEARS IN
SPECIAL OFFICERS
Workers Preparing Furnace for
Operations Tomorrow Despite
Trouble Threats.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
John L. LeWis' Committee for
Industrial Organization iron con-
tracts 1cith leading steel producers
several months ago. This spurred
c. I. o. into its long anticipated
general steel unionization driue.
Three large Independent producers
refused to sign. They mere Repub-
lie Steel Corp, Youngstown Sheet
& Tube Co. and Inland Steel Corp.
Strike was called on May 25 and
about 10000 workers made idle.
Violence has marked strike in Chi
cdgo-Ohio area.
3y the Associated Press
MONROE, Mich, June City Off
Cials modified 100 civilians as specia.
Ipolice today in advance of an an
rounced move to reopen the strike
closed Newton Steel Co. plant despite
opposition of the Committee for In
dustrial Organization.
The civilians augmented a normal
police force of 20 and SO special depu-
tiles assembled by Sheriff Joseph Bair-
(ley. AS they were sworn in by Mayor
panlel A. Knaggs at the city nall. C.
o. o. leaders claimed strikers attempt
ang to prevent reopening of the plant
tomorrow morning would be supported
by 5000 or 10000 union men from
Detroit.
Last minute efforts to reach a
peaceful agreement to permit nom
striking workers to return to their
bobS were arranged this afternoon,
with George A. Krogstad State labor
commissioner. representing Gov. Frank
Murphy. participating.
Mayor knaggs said he would ask
Charles kiser. district director of the
Steel Workers Organizing Committee,
TO permit the men to go back to work
pending actual completion by the Re-
public Steel Corp. Of its purchase of
the Newton Co. This is scheduled un-
DER mortgage proceedings set for June
Fl, the Mayor said.
Ten Workers Enter Plant.
Although the only road to the plant
MAS guarded by 125 pickets last night,
Mayor knaggs said 10 workers had
entered the Newton plant to prepare
the furnaces for normal operations.
The special police force will be in
tharge of Police Chief Jesse Fisher,
who declined to say how they would be
Rrmed. Neither Knaggs nor Fisher
would discuss their plans for keeping
the road to the plant open tomorrow.
State Intervention came after Mon
roe local S. w. O. c. group petitioned
the Governors office at Lansing and
charged Mayor Knaggs lis working
ss a strike breaking agency against
the men and not for the good of the
city"
Plans to reopen the plant were an
1lounced after the Mayor said he con-
Quoted vote among the Newton en-
ployes which resulted in 1872
to-32 decision against continuing the
strike.
Krogstad arranged a meeting with
company officials headed by H. H..
Holloway of Cleveland, district man.
Rger for Republic, and with c. I. O.
leaders headed by Kiser and Harry
Clark OF the S. w. O. C. group.
Nom Strikers Called.
Ivor Powell, chairman of the Steel
Workers Association of Monroe, COM
posed of non-striking workers, called
a meeting for 7:30 O'Clock tonight to
give them instruction on the scheduled
return to work.
Speeches at a meeting of strikers
last night indicated the S. w. o. c.
would resist to the last any attempt
to reopen the plant.
Confidence was expressed by strike
leaders that union members from Ma
tional Steel Corp. plants in Ecorse
and River Rouge, Detroit suburbs
would reinforce the pickets here.
There were assertions in the same
tources that referendum among
Newton Steel employees which, Mayor
knaggs said, resulted in the vote of 1872
TO 80 against continuance of the strike
s'did not mean anything"
There are 1922 Newton Steel en-
ployes, S. w. o. c. organizers said
had instructed members not to par
ticipate IN the poll.
1t was on the basis of the referen-
DUN that Mayor Knaggs announced
necessary protection would be pro-
vided for men who desired to return
to work.
He asked Gov. Frank Murphy yes
terday for National Guard troops or
State police, but the Governor told
him the State could intervene only If
the community were imperiled. The
Governor, said the State would not
"take sides" in the strike.
Following that conference, the
tnayor issued his call for volunteers.