Evening star., 1941-04-02
State Police Sent to Ford Plant
As Battles Between Workers
And 6. |. 0. Strikers |njure 40
President Refers
Gov. HeiI's Appeal
To Two Agencies
BY JOHN c. HENRY.


President Roosevelt referred to
the Labor Department and the Of
flee of Production Management to-
day an appeal for Federal inter-
vention in disorders attendant on
the Allis-C Chalmers strike at Mil
waukee.
The appeal was made to the Pres
ident early this morning in tele-
gram from Gov. Julius He'll inform
ing the Chief Executive that condi-
tions Of civil disorder at the Allis-
Chalmers plant are absolutely be-
yond control of all peace officers
which can be assembled"
In his telegram. the Governor
asked the President to direct such
action as you deem advisable"
At the same time Gov. He'll asked
the commanding general of the 9th
Corps Area at Chicago to dispatch
Federal troops to Milwaukee to re-
store order. White House Secretary
Stephen T. Early said this latter re-
quest has not been relayed to the
President, and that in any event it
could not in that form be considered
a formal appeal for use of Federal
arms.
Use of Troops.
Actual intervention of Federal
troops for civil purposes can take
place only after a formal and direct
request from a State Governor to
the President of the United States,
Mr.. Early explained. Furthermore
if in session, the State Legislature
must concur in the appeal of the
Governor.
Mr.. Early said the He'll request for
assistance was Immediately dis
patched to the two Federal agen-
cies most directly concerned with
industrial disputes and that a re-
port from them had been asked.
Both the conciliation service of the
Labor Department and mediators of
o. P. M. have tried on several occa-
sions in resent weeks to settle the
Allis- Chalmers trouble. In addition,
Secretary of Navy Knox and o. P.
M. Director Knudsen joined in
telegram last week to the manage
ment and striking union directing
them to reopen the plant for opera
tionS.
In response to this action the plant
did resume work on Monday on a
large order of electric generators for
Navy destroyers. Only portion of
the company's employees returned to
their jobs, however, and continued
demonstrations by those still on
strike forced closing of the plant
again yesterday. In his telegram to
the President, Gov. He'll estimated
that about so per cent Of the men
were at work when the outbreak of
rioting forced the new suspension OF
operations.
Secretary Knox and Mr. Knud-
sen Cancelled scheduled press con-
ferences today without explanation.
Earlier they had conferred for
about an hour with Secretary of
War Stimson. When the meeting
broke up none would comment on
what was discussed.
At his press conference late yes
terday, Mr.. Roosevelt said that he
believed employer -employe disputes
can be worked out with existing
mediation machinery in a mutual
spirit of give and take and with
the understanding that the defense
program must not be slowed down
Consequently, he continued, he will
give this machinery a fair trial
before attempting any different
procedure.
In this connection, Mr.. Roosevelt
expressed the opinion that the new
National Defense Mediation Board
has functioned very well thus far.
Intervention of this new agency
in a particular dispute can take
place only on certification by the
Labor Department. Up to now the
department has not so certified the
Allis- Chalmers case, although such
action may take place soon if the
stalemate of some two months du-
ration is not quickly broken.
At his press conference today,
Mr.. Early repeated the President S
expression of yesterday that pres
ent governmental mediation ma
chinery should be given a fair
chance to effect labor peace.
"If it doesn't" Mr.. Early added
without explanation, then will
come the next STEP"