Evening star., 1941-04-05
All Ford Plants Close

DETROIT, April P).-Produc-
tion in the gigantic industrial net
work of Ford Motor Co. plants was
halted today by c. I. o. strike as
completely as were the automotive
operations of General Motors and
Chrysler Corp. during the 1897 Sit
downs of the same union.
The strike of the United Auto
mobile Workers &C. I. o. at Ford's
River Rouge plant, largest indus
trial unit in the world and key
producing cog of the Ford empire,
led the company to order closing OF
its assembly, parts and other branch
producers in Al other communities
throughout the Nation.
Suppliers from whom the COM
pany said it had purchased Sll, ,000,-
900 worth of material weekly since
January were notified to stop
further shipments.
Ford Co. Spokesmen said 10000
of it's production workers have been
made idle by the strike. Additional
thousands of non-production en-
ployes and workers in plants supply
ing Ford production lines, were esti-
mated to bring the total affected by
the strike to 100000.
Situation More Hopeful"
Federal Conciliator James F.
Dewey, persistent in his efforts to
settle the stubborn dispute, said the
situation last night was more hope
ful" and arranged to renew separate
parleys with company and union
representatives today.
Accompanied by Oscar G. Olander,
State police commissioner whose
uniformed men have patrolled the
River Rouge plant gates since vio-
lent outbreaks Wednesday, Mr..
Dewey drove in a cold drizzle last
night to the plant in futile attempt
to persuade some 1,500 production
workers inside the factory to leave.
Some so workers needed Mr..
Deweys appeal and left in two
buses, but the others stayed.
As Mr.. Dewey, limping from arth-
ritis, emerged from the main plant
gate, he said, There's very bad
ettitude in there"
Before the conciliator went to the
plant, he said the men were afraid
10 come out for fear of being beaten
up" and that a great many were
EARNED with weapons they made
themselves" Mr.. Dewey said the
union absolutely guaranteed that
any leaving would be unmolested.
Told to Hide Weapons"
Michael r. Widman, Jr., U. A. W.
C. I. o. Ford organizing director,
said a unionist who left the plant
last night informed him the men
inside we're told by member of the
Ford Service Department to hide
their weapons before Mr.. Dewey ar
rived and to tell him they feared
they would be attacked if they left.
Despite his setback at the plant,
Mr.. Dewey refused to show any
discouragement. He came out of a
night conference to say, We're
going to settle this strike. I don't
know what day it will be, but we'll
settle it."
Asked what month";" Mr.. Dewey
quickly replied: April"
Charges by Ray Roush. River
Rouge plant superintendent, that
strikers had caused 100000 damage
by deliberate breakage of tool and
die parts vital in aircraft produc-
ton" brought quick denials from
union officials who invited an Off
cial investigation of the reports.
F. b. I. Probe Rumored.
There were reports that John S.
Bugas, agent in charge of the Detroit
Office of the F. B. l., had visited
the River Rouge plant personally,
but he refused to confirm the re-
ports and had no comment upon the
possibility that the F. B. 1. might
undertake an investigation.
The closing of the River Rouge
plant halted production on a half
finished Army order for l 500 pigmy
; trucks and resulted in the closing
OF Navy Service School and an
Aircraft Apprentice School located
there. A Ford spokesman said the
two schools were primarily for shop
observation and study, and that with
the shops closed there was nothing
for the students to do.
Construction on a new airplane
plant was halted, the spokesman
said, as much by damage to dies and
lack of materials and transporta-
tion facilities as by the hesitancy
Of A. F. L. construction workers to
pass the c. 1. o. picket line.
A huge magnesium foundry in the
River Rouge plant also suspended
operations. Ford officials said it
& turned out metal for planes and
(See FORD, Page A-30