Evening star., 1941-04-07
THE EVENING STAR WASHINGTON D. c. MONDAY APRIL
Dewey Seeking joint
Farley Of Ford and
Union Leaders
Were Going to Do
Some Real Mediotinq
Todoy.' He Says
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
DETROIT, April Prospects for
the first joint meeting-possibly to-
night-between Ford Motor CO.
representative and chieftains of the
striking United Automobile Work"
ers &C. I. o. frightened today with
an announcement by Federal Con-
ciliator James F. Dewey that we're
going to do some real mediating
today"
Mr.. Dewey scheduled separate
conferences this afternoon with
union and company men in an effort
to clear up the deadlock which
shut down the vast River Rouge
plant last Tuesday midnight.
Discussing briefly the projected
joint conference to negotiate di-
rectly on "the points at issue" he
said Il know 1 am" going to bring
the parties face to face.
At such a conference, Mr.. Dewey
and Gov. Murray D. Van Wagner
of Michigan said, I'VE hope to reach
a settlement so that work can be
resumed"
Quiet ruled at the River Rouge
plant again this morning. Only II
State policemen we're on duty at
the main gate-Gate 4-and the
picket lines there had dWindled to
about SO unionists.
Conditions Described.
The U. A. VIC. I. o. issued a
statement today purporting to come
from Ford employe who was inside
the plant from the strikes start
until last Friday, in which condi-
tions among the non-Sriking foun-
dry workers who remain in the plant
were described. The story was one
of men roaming around with dam
gerous weapons" of fighting going
on all the time" OF men armed
with swords" seizing food brought in
by a tug and selling it, and of new
automobiles taken off the end Of
the production line and being raced
through the plant.
A few isolated instances of vio-
lence were reported over the week
end. Officers at the Naval Training
School on the Rouge grounds COM
planned to Capt. Laurence A. Lyon
of the State police that pickets at
Gate II were insulting trainees en-
tering or leaving the plant. Capt.
Lyons said the union agreed to re-
move its pickets from that gate.
Indicates Further Progress.
Mr.. Dewey, troubled with arthritis
in his leg. spent yesterday in his
hotel bedroom, but indicated that
further progress was made in tele-
phone conversations.
We have been comforting with the
union practically all day getting
ready to write up a memorandum
tomorrow that will cover the points
of dispute upon which the union
wants some understanding, he re-
ported last night. Il think that by
tomorrow afternoon we will be ready
to agree on some of the points Of
issue. Then we'll get both sides in
Joint conference tomorrow night"
The points of dispute pre-
sumably include the unions de-
mands for recognition in the Rouge
plant, wage increases, seniority and
grievance of men the U. A. W.
C. I. o. claims we're discharged for
union activity.
In the six days of the strike, the
paralysis which has halted Rouge
plant production has spread to most
other Ford units, as the company
ordered plants in Al other cities
shut down. Layoffs of workers have
occurred in supplier plants until
estimates of the strike idle have
reached 100000
The Rouge plant, employing IS 900
hourly rated workers, was described
yesterday by Ford spokesman as
perhaps the most vital defense
plant in America. The company
holds some s155 ,000,0 900 in defense
orders, although some of them are
to be produced in other Ford units.
U. A. VIC. l. o. strike leaders have
offered to permit the return at any
time of employees needed for de-
fense work.
Picket lines at the plant were in
creased yesterday.