Evening star., 1939-03-19
S-Hour Farley
Nears Accord in
Hotel Strike
Uninterrupted Talk
Is Held Behind
Locked Doors

a conference That lasted untnter.
ruptedly for eight hours behind
locked doors at the Labor Depart
ment brought Washingtons hotel
strike close to a settlement, DR.. j. r.
steelman. director of conciliation at
the department, said last night.
Representatives Of the strikers
and the hotel operators-empowered
at any time to sign an agreement
ending the controversy-began their
sessions at 10 am. They stayed be-
hind the doors of the conference
room, without even a pause for
lunch, until pm.
DR.. Steelman expressed himself as
hopeful for a quick halt to the
strike which has caused pickets to
be thrown around 13 local hotels.
The committees will resume their
negotiations at II am. today.
Major Issues Settled.
1t was learned that the major
issues involved in the strike had
been settled. and that the delibera-
tions were being continued in order
to iron out a mass Of details.
What agreement had been reached
IN regard to the strikers demand
for a union shop" or for arbitra-
ton OF dismissals and other points
could not be learned. It was un-
derstood that the settlement Of these
points, however, was contingent
upon an agreement being reached
on all other issues.
The unions directing the strike,
in the meantime. announced for.
nation of council to direct activi.
ties, which Is to include not only
the striking unions but representa-
tives Of the musicians, electrical
workers and engineers as well.
The announcement made by the
Strike Committee implied that
stronger support of the strike would
be forthcoming from the musicians,
electricians and engineers, all Of
whom have continued at their jobs
in spite of the strike unless an
early settlement was reached.
! announcement Ma0e.
The strike announcement, made
after a meeting of leaders of the
Hotel and Restaurant Employees In
ternational Union at the Hamilton
Hotel, said:
THE basis for the meeting was
contained in confidential kilograms
from the international presidents of
the musicians, engineers and elec-
trlcal workers, Joseph N. Weber,
John Possehl and Daniel j. Tracy.
Drivers also were represented
strongly.
THE newly organized council will
join in making all future strike
plans and will stand by for whatever
action may be deemed wise or nee
essary.
THE joint meeting this afternoon
adopted the following statement:
1--WE, the united unions of WASH
ington, having employees normally in
the hotel industry, ask all public
officials and all organizations to re-
frain from making use of the facili-
ties of the struck hotels until there
has been an adjustment of our diff
ferences.
Banquet Cancelled.
1.-The hotel and restaurant en-
ployes are presenting reasonable and
fair proposals in an effort to put
their employment on more stable
and fair basis, somewhat comparable
to like service in other occupations.
"'We dislike to see the public in
convenienced. but we find the public
gladly making the temporary sacri-
flee. AS an example, we were noti-
fled Officially today that a banquet
to serve 1900 persons Wednesday
night had been Cancelled at one of
the leading hotels"
The unions also said they were
making independent efforts to fix
responsibility for brick tossing that
marked the strike earlier in the
week. They said their members were
not responsible and declared that
they were conducting the strike in
an orderly. lawful manner.
Before the mediation conference
began at the Labor Department yes
terday. DR.. Steelman talked to Ed
ward Flore, international vice presi-
dent of the Hotel and Restaurant
Employees Alliance. Mr.. Flore re-
manned in the negotiations during
the day.
The Labor Department conciliator
has succeeded in persuading both
sides to send small committees to
the meetings, armed with the power
to sign a peace agreement without
consulting their groups.
At the kitchen where strikers are
being served their meals, group Of
prominent women appeared yester-
day to aid in service. Among those
serving were Mrs. Leon Henderson,
Mrs. William Douglas and Mrs. Nor
decai Ezekiel.