Evening star., 1941-04-02
Riots Close AHis Plants

strike-bound Allis- Chalmers Manu-
featuring Co., scene OF riotouS out
breaks in which 43 persons were
injured, suspended production today
at the request of State and local au-
thorities seeking to prevent recur-
renee of disorder and bloodshed.
The order closing the huge sub
urban West Allis plant came last
night after peace officers had
clashed in a three-hour battle with
c. I. o. strikers and sympathizers
who attempted to break up back
to-work movement climaxing the
71-day strike. Tear gas and fire
hoses were used in the fight.
Company President Max w. Babb,
that he acted at the urgent request
of Gov Julius He'll and Sheriff
Joseph j. SINNERS and that the
situation now was 'in the hands of
the Federal Government for action" !"
Gov. He'll, whose automobile was
stoned in the thick of the battle,
also announced that he had wired
President Roosevelt that the sit
uation lis absolutely out of control
of all the peace officers available"
st am notifying you in order that
you may direct such action as you
deem advisable, Gov. He'll tele-
graphed. I'm the meantime in order
to prevent bloodshed, am direct
ing the company to cease all produc-
ton operations.
Second Outbreak.
The outbreak of violence was the
second within "a hours at the plant,
which was reopened Friday at the
request of Navy Secretary Knox and
o. P M. Co-director Knudsen to
speed up production on $45 ,000, 900
in urgently needed defense orders.
CT. o. auto workers have been de-
manding union shop and wage ad-
justments.
Gov. He'll had come to the plant
to address the men from sound
truck, but even as he spoke strikers
smashed through company gate
and the trouble was on again.
During the height of the melee
| peace officers showered tear gas and
turned fire hoses on strikers who
retaliated by throwing stones and
other missiles which broke hundreds
| of windows at the plant.
Most of the 48 injured, at least 10
of whom were hurt seriously, were
deputies and special officers struck
by stones or sickened by tear gas.
Strikers Storm Plant.
A crowd of strikers and sympa-
thizers surged through police lines
and stormed the plant, broke down
a section of an 8-foot fence and
smashed windows and threw paint
on Gov Heil's car during the widest
part of the melee.
AS Gov. He'll spoke crowd of
about so tried to smash their way
through the gates. They were met
with water from fire hoses and re-
treated. The Governor then took
refuge in the plant, leaving his car
outside where it was damaged.
When he left in it later he was
stoned.
Deputies stood off charges of
strikers at the gates, reinforced by
about so workers armed with steel
bars at the point where the fence
was broken down. They used the
bars to rap strikers on the hands
when they tried to climb over the
fence.
The day shift, which the company
said was about go per cent of normal,
was marooned inside the plant until
tine disturbances quieted down in the
evening. Officers were unable to
use the armored car, which had been
effective in dispensing crowds earlier
in the day, after the, tear gas shell
throwing device jammed.
c. |. O. and A. +. L. Men
Strike at She'll Plant
BUFFALO, N. Y, April 2 (P.-
| c. I. o. and A. F. of L. workers
(see ALLIs-CHALMERs, Page A-3)