Evening star., 1941-04-03
Ford
Continued From First Page)

plant hospital, was said to be a
timekeeper.
About 5000 persons, most OF them
Negroes, left the plant during the
night and only about 200 were in
evidence this morning. One picket
was struck but not seriously hurt
by galvanized bucket tossed from
the plant roof.
Capt. Laurence Lyon of State
police instructed the pickets to stop
their practice of halting approach
ing automobiles and demanding
Identification of occupants In
vehement tones he informed the
leader of the pickets that that was
the business of the State police.
After a three-hour meeting with
five-man committee representing
the Ford Co. which lasted until
after midnight, Mr.. Dewey said that
mo conclusions on any of the mat
ters in the dispute" had been
reached
The company appealed to Presi-
dent Roosevelt last night for your
assistance in ending terroristic mass
picketing. violence and other lawless
acts so that our employees can re-
sumo work and make possible our
full participation in the national de-
fense program"
Has Huge Defense Orders.
Earlier, U. A. VIC. I. o. leaders
offered to facilitate entry to the
plant for any workers the Office of
Production Management or Depart
ment of Labor said were needed for
work on defense orders. The Ford
Co. has some S155 900, 900 in defense
contracts. Informed sources said
the plants only current defense pro-
duction was on an order for about
1900 "blitz buggies" for the Army.
Harry H. Bennett. Ford personnel
director, in the telegraphed appeal
to the President, said that 'agitators
Schooled in Communist tactics of
mass action have been imported
from neighboring States of Ohio
and Indiana and from other auto
mobile plants in this locality" and
that local and State law enforce
ment agencies appear to be unable
to cope with the situation
Union officials said the Ford
strikers had rejected offers of picket
ing aid from other U. A. VIC. I. O.
locals in the Detroit area.
Mr.. Bennett said more than 200
non-striking employees were injured
in yesterdays riots. U. A. VIC. I. O..
officials counted the injured among
the strikers at about 60.
Homer Martin, formerly president
of the U. A. VIC. I. o. and later
the U. A. WA. F. L. and now a
manufacturer agent, addressed a
meeting called last night to promote
organization of an A. F. L. Federal
local union, labor group organized
on industrial instead of craft lines
in the Ford plant. Police estimated
that more than 5000 attended. Mr.
Martin told his listeners not to try
to cross the G. I. o. picket lines in
dividually, but added, give us a
few days and we'll organize 100000
The audience was told that definite
time and place for assembly of
workers wishing to return to the
plant would be announced tonight
Opposition to Mr.. Martins activity
was voiced last night at a meeting
of delegates of A. F. L. locals of
the Detroit and Wayne County Fed
Grafton of Labor, who adopted a
resolution asking the A. F. L. Ma
tional Executive Council to prevent
Mr.. Martin from representing him
self as an authorized agent of the
A. F. L. Frank x. Martel, president
of the Detroit and Wayne County
Federations, said it would TASK that
Martin be removed from the pic
ture."