Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-09
Strikes
Continued From First Page

the total on that shift, and that the
number was steadily increasing"
In ordering the plant taken over
earlier in the day, the President
said that continual production at
the plant was essential to nationa
defense
Mr. Early quoted Col. Branshau
as saying that the nearest picket
line was half mile from the plant
and was breaking up.
Col. Branshaw, Mr.. Early said
praised the conduct of the troops
and described conditions as all
quiet" now.
The presidential secretary said he
thought it should be emphasized
that while the Army is in posses
sion and operating this plant, medi-
alton still goes on-there is no
stoppage of mediation and no stop
page of collective bargaining"
The President issued an executive
order at 10:40 am. fE. S. t.. direct
ing the Army to take over the North
American plant after police and
sheriff's deputies had used tear gas
to quell two riots when ABOUT 1000
c. l. o. pickets fought with workers
attempting to go through the gates.
There was no disorder as the
troops, 1000 of them, arrived in
trucks, and pickets quickly raised
placards saying: Welcome, Army.
Keep Out Scabs"
Now and then a picket attempted
to argue as the khaki-clad troops,
bayonets fixed on their guns. began
to converge on the plant from all
directions, but no soldier paid heed
as the columns moved on toward
and through the gates. A few
strikers started to press toward the
troops, but the steady movement of
the soldiers caused them to step
back.
Crowd Watches Tensely.
AS the marching line reached
gate No. l, where 500 pickets were
massed, the crowd across the road
watched tensely. But the pickets
fell back. From one of the strikers
sound trucks came the cry:
That's our flag and that's our
Army, We're not fighting them.
Our fight is with the North Ameri-
can"
During the march a trooper took
a flag from a striker. An officer
quickly stepped up, took the flag
from the trooper, and handed it
back to the striker.
Truckloads OF Army supplies,
such as food and clothing. entered
the plant unmolested.
Emergency Powers Cited.
The extraordinary action Of Mr.
Roosevelt in the North American
strike was taken, the White House
said, under powers vested in him
by the Constitution and under
his recent declaration of an unlim-
tied national emergency after eff
forts at Cancellation and mediation
had collapsed The plant has $780,
100000 in airplane contracts.
The c. I. o. union which called
the strike for higher wages acted
while the Defense Mediation Board
was holding management-union
conferences in Washington five days
ago.
1t. Col. Charles E. Branshaw,
regional director of the Army Air
Corps and commander of the troops
placed at the North American
plant, announced workers could re-
turn to their jobs and summoned
the nine-man c. 1. o. bargaining
committee. Troopers escorted the
members into the plant
ShipbuiIders Called.
Harvey w. Brown. president of the
A. F. L. Machinists' Union, has
called a meeting of his unions Ex-
ecutive Council for Thursday to
consider a request of President
Roosevelt for settlement of strike
of machinists in II San Francisco
Bay Shipyards.
Mr.. Early told reporters late today
the President, in conference with
Mr.. Brown this morning, had "f1atly
asked him to adjust the strike and
get the men back to work.
Mr.. Brown, Mr.. Early said, ex-
planned that any action had to be
by direction of the Executive Coun-
ell of the union. Late today Mr..
Brown advised the White House by
telephone that he had called the
Thursday meeting. and that this
step had been taken at the Presi-
dents request.
Both c. I, o. and A. F. L. ma
chinists are on strike at the ship
yards.
The Senate, due to objections by
Senator McNary, Republican, Of
oregon, postponed action on leg
islation which would authorize the
-EA