Evening star., 1941-03-26
Hundreds of Police
On Duty at Steel,
Harvester Plants

than 100 picked Pennsylvania State
police stood guard to enforce peace
full picketing" today, after smashing
massed picket lines last night at the
parent plant of the Bethlehem Steel
Co. Workers passed in and out OF
the mills without incident.
Shouting warnings and waving
riot sticks. the uoopers-malS oi
them mounted-cleared all nine en-
frances last night of pickets eStao-
hshed by the c. L o. Steel Workers
Organizing Committee.
Meanwhile. across the State IN
JohnstoWn another threatened Strlke
at the company's Cambria plant
where 10000 men are employed
failed to materialize. There are
$1,000 workmen here.
Strikers May Seek Injunction.
Strike leaders announced they
NAV seek a court injunction Tor re-
sumption of picketing broken up by
nolice "if necessary" They threat
ened a finish fight" in all Bethle-
hem steel mills and ShlpyardS WIN
their more than a billion dollars OF
defense contracts.
No pickets appeared Immediately
although strikers gathered on sCreeVs
a short distance from the plant. Ihe
State police had decreed peaceful
picketing only" and the union later
directed its membership not TO gath
er in groups near the mills.
r. A. Lewis, general manager OF
the plant here, said:
"All steelmaking departments are
operating at full capacity. Almost
so per cent of the regular forces are
at work"
The normal day shift totals $500.
For the first time since the strike
began Monday, the S. w. o. C. at its
usual press conference made no
claims concerning the number on
strike. Previously it had claimed
the strike was 90 per cent effective.
Picketing to Be Resumed.
John v. Rife, S. w. o. C. official
In charge of the strike, announced
the union proposed TO resume 'un-
restricted picketing' as soon as
possible He asserted that pickets
were withdrawn last night at the
request of Government officials. "
whom he did not name. when State
police went into action.
Mr.. Rife charged paid agents
of the company overturned approx
mately 100 automobiles near the
plant late yesterday Ito provide
an excuse for bringing in State
police.
Some of the agents. he de-
ciared, have admitted it."
Mr.. Rife said the union was ready
at any time to settle the strike on
the basis of a program suggested
yesterday. This program included
disestablishmen of the E. r. P. and
4 Labor Board election to chose a
collective bargaining agency.
He declared the company stead
fastly refused TO meet with the
union. A company spokesman said
previously the company has moth
ing to do with the E. R. P. election" +"
This is pay day for employees of
the Saucon mill of the company
and the company placed booths out
side the gates to pay off any strikers
who appeared for money due them
from last weeks work. Men In
other departments will be paid to-
morrow.
Johnstown Issue Is Same.
The issue at the Johnstown plant
was the same as the one that pre-
eipitated the strike here-a sched-
uled election of bargaining repre-
sentatives by an independent union,
the Employees Representation Plan.
The Johnstown election was sched-
med this morning but Foster Jones
ar official of the E. r. P, said
nothing had been done, adding:
I'VE want to hold our election but
we do not want to do anything that
might precipitate trouble"
The detachment of troopers that
moved last night against the masseo
picket lines totaled approximately
l25 and Col. Lyman G. Adams, State
police commissioner, said adequate
reinforcements are available" if
needed.
Col. Adams said today "the ones
making the trouble are stevedores
ex-sailors, dockhands and Com
munists." who, he said were
brought in"
Asked who brought them in, Col
Adams said: Il won't say"
Conference Called Off.
A conference that S. w. o. c. Off
eias said they had arranged for this
morning with w. L. Trumbauer, the
conpany's industrial relations man
ager. was not held. Mr.. Rife de-
elared the company called it off aftel
he and Is union officials had as
sembled.
Mr.. Rife said he sent kilograms
to Sidney Hillman of the Office OF
Production Management. Secretary
of Labor Perkins and Clarence DykS'
ira, chairman of the National De.
fense Mediation Board, protesting
that company officials have refused
to meet with the S. w. 0. c. in ar
effort to settle the existing labol
trouble"
The threat of Walkout at John
town came as 125 State troopers
some mounted on horses and swing
ing riot sticks, drove pickets anc
strike sympathizers from the nint
gates of the -mile-long plan
here and forced them to streets ou
of sight of the sprawling mills las
night.
Scores Injured.
Scores were injured and hal
dozen arrests were reported. Stat,
police action followed an appeal from
local authorities for aid after NOR,
than 100 automobiles were over.
turned, and the strikers clashed re-
peatedly with Bethlehem city police
In the swiftly moving develop
ments, the company apparently pre-
pared for long seige by providinI
food and sleeping facilities for non