Evening star., 1941-04-10
Firm Agrees
ToProposaIs
With Changes
Governor Offers
3-Point Program
For Immediate Peace
Earlier Story on Page A-1.)
Earlier Story on Page AID

Earlier Story on Page A-1.)
Earlier Story on Page AID
5' tte Associated Press.
The Ford Motor Co. accepted
with notifications today a COM ,
promise three-point program OF
Gov. Murray D. Van Wagner Of
for settlement of the =
old strike at the firms
River Rouge plant.
Two hours and a half after the
United Automobile Workers &c. l.
o. accepted in full the Governors 4
program, Ford officials made public
a letter from Harry Bennett per-
Sonnel director. to the Governor,
which said that all of your pro-
posals are fundamentally acceptable
with certain modification"
Mr.. Bennett said the company vas
prepared to reopen its plant on the -,
Governor terms, except that it
is impossible to return all employees
to their jobs at once"
Wants \. L. r. B. Actions Deferred.
Mr.. Bennett said that as a con- &;
dition of any proposed settlement
the company would insist that cer-
tain complaints filed with the Ma y
tional Labor Relations Board here
by the union and other National
Labor Relations Board hearings af- \
fecting the Rouge plant be deferred
and held in abeyance" until after
the election which the n. L. r. B.
has ordered to be held in the Rouge
plant within As days.
"As to the third point in your pro-
posal.' Mr.. Bennett said. the COM
psny is not only willing but anxious X
to expedite the holding of an elec-
ton, The company's sole interest
in that regard is 10 make sure that y
a fair and honest election is held
an election that will represent the
true wishes OF the majority of its
employees. In that connection, the
company will make its paw rolls =
available at any time in the plant"
Anxious to Settle Strike.
Mr.. Bennett said the company had
been anxious to settle the strike as
speedily as possible for the sake Of
its employees and families who are
innocent victims" and because Of
the urgency of completing its ma
tional defense contracts"
He added that the company did .
not wish to appear arbitrary" i'll
effecting temporary solution OF
the strike. x
The stoppage has caused shutdown
of Ford plants throughout the Ma
ton.
The U. A. w. will meet tonight and
President R. j. Thomas said Gov.
Van Wagoner's agreement would be \
recommended to the union member
ship for adoption.
Gov. Van Wagner had said he
realized his proposal did not satisfy
either side. but that it was "prac.
ticsl and fair" and would serve in
terests OF defense. law and order,
Later, in Federal Court at De- .
troit, Frank Nolan, Ford counsel
told Judge Arthur j. Tuttle two
witnesses waiting to testify y
in an injunction hearing had been
assaulted by members of the U. A.W.
in front of the Federal Building.
1. A. Capizzi. chief of Ford coun-
sci, who was preparing the COM
pany's reply to Gov. Van Wagoners
proposals, Immediately hurried to
the courtroom.
Meanwhile President Roosevelt
discussed steel production here with
heads of the United States Steel q,
Corp.
Benjamin Fairless. president Of
the steel firm, said after the con- \
ference Il always look for a peace
full settlement OF any controversy"
His remark was in reply to report y
ers' questions as to whether he ex-
pected settlement of labor contract
negotiations with the c. l. o.
President May Confer on Strikes.
The defense labor situation also =
was a possible subject for discus
sion in the Presidents weekly check.
up on the defense program with his \
Secretaries of State. War, Navy and
Treasury, Admiral H. r. Stark and
Harry l.. Hopkins.
Undersecretary of War Patter-
son said the strike situation gen.
orally was greatly improved from
the War Department. standpoint,
with tieups the feWest since early
February. He said there were now.
exclusive of the Ford strike, IS
strikes in progress, involving 5000 =.
men, compared with peak of 10000
affected by strikes earlier.
Allis Peace a Great Boom"
Mr.. Patterson said settlement Of
the Allis-Chalmers strike in Mil ..
waukee was a great boon" to the
War and Navy Departments as it
had very seriously" affected pro- :,
duction of smokeless powder. He
said turbines for the new Radforu,
Va, powder plant were still un- =,
completed because of the strike.
Negotiators for soft coal contract
held their longest single session, \
nearly five hours. in New York. ad-
iourned until tonight without indi-
eating their progress. There would
be a statement conferees said, after
the night meeting. A part of the
industry already has agreed to terms :,
with the United Mine Workers &C.
I. o..