Evening star., 1941-10-31
Army TO Rehire
ento0perdte
Air Associates
Suspends Work
For Day After
Seizing Plant

1Si%fti iait
History OF Air Associates Ia
Dor difficulties and teri OF Prest-
dent RooseUelts order to seize
plant on page A-4J
By the Associated Press.
BENDIX. N. j.. Oct. 3l.-The
Army seized the plant OF Air As
sociates, Inc, today and won cheers
from both factions in a bitter labor
fight with an announcement that
it would rehire men without regard
for the past.
President Roosevelt issued an eX-
ecutive order last night directing
that the Army take over and op-
crate the plant, saying the dispute
threatened to halt production OF
vital defense material Secretary
OF War Stimson set the troops in
motion.
More than 1000 soldiers with steel
helmets, naked bsyonets and ma
chine guns formed human ring
around the plant. deployed through
out nearby fields or idled wearily
in the vicinity. Few had slept.
Machine Guns Loaded.
Despite the show of force only
the machine guns were loaded. Of
ficers had orders that not bullet
was to be in any rife or pistol.
AT the nearby Hasbrouck railroad
station c. 1. o. strikers wormed on
one side of driveway and non-
strikers massed on the other. A
line of troops with fixed bayonets.
gas bombs and a machine gun eyed
both groups.
Into this tense scene rode Col.
Roy M. Jones, Eastern district SUPER
visor for the Air Corps Procurement
Division, who took charge OF the
plant.
This plant is an important plant
to national defense" he told the
crowd. we propose to open the
plant and We will need workers to
do so. We are going to set up an
employment agency just as soon as
We can complete the necessary in
ventory. I am asking you in the
name of the President Of the United
States as good citizens to support
me-"
Talk Breaks Tension.
He then expressed hope there
would be jobs for all and said tbev
would be rehired regardless of past
dlttculties. The tension broke and
cheers resounded.
Loren J. Houser. Eastern regional
director of the C. I. O.s United
Automobile Workers Of America
Aviation Division, said It's men were
ready for kork and full cooperation
with the Army.
Robert E. Fowler. company public
relations director. said he and Presi-
dent F. Leroy Hill would report 10
see whether they would be rehired.
With 700 workers. the plant is
comparatively small in the New Jer-
Sey industrial picture. But its
products are essential for Martin
bombers. Brewster dive bombers,
Airacobra fighters and other war
craft. 1t holds $4,000, 900 in defense
contracts.
Edward F. McGrady. labor adviser
to the War Department, flew here
in an Army transport plane.
I am here" he said, Ito assist
Col. Jones in getting production un-
der way in a peaceful and construc-
tive manner. We expect the men to
come back, not as union men or
non-union men, but as American
citizens"
Hill Is Former Employe."
Mr.. McGrady and Mr.. Hill Joined
the conferees inside the plant and
after the meeting Mr.. McGrady told
a press conference that $50 men
already had been re-employed at
1880 pm, but Col. Jones said that
the company president had become
"a former employe"
Hill has gone home and he is not
coming back as far as know" said
the new manager. He is now a
former employe. Naturally. we are
Keeping some members Of the ex-
ecutive force and We are consult.
ing with them freely"
Mr.. Hill, too. would be availabls
for consultation, Col. Jones said.
The troops meanwhile began
pitching tents for an indefinite stay.
A clash between returning c. I.
Q. strikers and non-union workers
preclpitated the Presidents action,
the third time the Federal Govern
ment has taken over production
stopped or threatened by labor dis
putes.
Col. Ralph w. Wilson of Fort
Hancock said 2.lO0 troops were on
the scene.
1t. John Austin. acting public
relations officer, announced there
would be no work today. but that
1t would be resumed as soon as de-
tails could be settled. Civilian en-
ployes were barred meanwhile.
Within the plant officers conferred
with executives. 1t Austin said he
could not discuss this, but that
Mr.. Hill company president and
strikers target, was not among the
conferees.
A Bergen County policeman
(See BENDIX, Page A-4D