Evening star., 1944-12-28
Army Seizes
Ward Property
In Seven Cities
Gen. Byron Serves
Presidential Order;
Court Action Begun
BY the Associated Press.

-
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Dec. 28.-The Army
seized Montgomery Ward proper
ties in seven cities today under
a presidential order in a show
down on the company's refusal
to comply with War Labor Board
directives.
simultaneously, Government at
torneys filed petition in Federal
Court asking for an injunction to
restrain the company and its Off
GERS from interfering with Federal
operation Of the plants Presum-
ably, this was precautionary in the
event Wards should offer legal re-
sistance to the seizure.
The petition also asked for a
declaratory judgment authorizing
Government seizure.
Maj. Gen. Joseph w. Byron, di-
rector Of the Special Service Divi-
sion, Army Service Forces, WASH
ington, accompanied by his staff,
served the seizure order on Sewell
Avery, Wards chairman OF the
board, in Mr. Avery's private Office.
Mr.. Avery greeted Gen. Byron
pleasantly and they shook hands.
Strike Begins at Chicago.
The seizure came as the CIO
United Retail, Wholesale and De-
partment Store Employees of Amer
lea began the second strike at
Wards Chicago plants this year.
1t was the second Army seizure, too.
the first coming last April 26 when
an aide to the Commerce Depart
ment took over.
On April 27 Mr. Avery was carried
bodily from his Office by two soldiers
after the Government contended he
refused to cooperate in the seizure
procedure.
Gen. Byron issued the following
statement in seizing the mail order
concerns properties:
In accordance with the provi-
sions of an executive order, the War
Department has taken possession Of
certain properties of Montgomery
Ward & Co, Inc, in Chicago, De-
troit, St. Paul, Denver, Jamaica,
Long Island, N Y; Portland, Oreg.,
and San Rafael, Calf.
Hopes for Cooperation.
These properties will be operated
under the terms of the directive
orders of the National War Labor
Board as specified in the executive
order.
1T is the sincere hope of the Wa,
Department that it will have the co.
operation of every executive ant
every employe Of Montgomery Ware
81 Co., Inc, in the fulfillment of it
mission, and that it will be possibl
in the near future for the War De
; partment to relinquish control O
this enterprise so that those of u
who have been assigned to this tasl
may return to our urgent war duties.
/ In the seven cities concerned, long.
standing labor disputes have existed
between the union and Wards. The
union contended that in each local.
lty the company refuses to follow
WLB directives. The WLB sent the
cases to Fred NJ Vinson, economic
stabilization director, a week ago
and he evidently advised President
Roosevelt to seize the properties.
Union Membership Issue.
Maintenance of union member
ship was fundamental issue in
the cases, Mr.. Avery having refused
to grant it on the contention it
would deprive employees their right
freely to join or not to join union
and still work Tor the big mail-order
concern.
The Washington military staff
headed by Gen. Byron which he
said will operate the properties
included:
1t. Col A. S. Mason, executive
department; 1t. Col. Daniel L. Bo-
land, labor relations; 1t. Col. Paul
Hebert, legal adviser; 1t. Col. j. H
Savage and H. A. Wythes, a civil
ian, financial advisers, and 1t. Col
A. H. Raskin, public relations.
In New York City, Samuel VOL
chok, international president of this
union, said: Now that the Govern
ment has seized the plants the union
pledges its full support for efficient
operation"
| U. S. Officials Work All Night.
Justice Department specialists
from Washington worked until /:
a In in the United States district at.
torneys Office preparing, it was un
derstood, for the Federal Cour
action.
A staff of four Justice Department
experts, after their night-long la
bors, settled down in United State
Attorney j. Albert Woll's Office abou
am. to await seizure developments
They were Benedict Deinard and Ar
mold Levy, special assistants to tn,
Attorney General; Huge B. Cox. as
slstant to the solicitor general, ant
M. Fowler Hamilton, Assistant At
torney General.
Stuart Ball and Harold Smith
counsel for Montgomery Ward, ais,
LOOK up vigil at the Federal Build
ing.
AS the strike began this morn.
ing picket lines were formed
around the mail-order plant, the
retail store land warehouse. A spe-
cial detail of 100 policemen was as.
signed to the area, on the neal
North Side along the Chicago River
There was no disturbance. Leonard
Levy, union international vice presi-
dent, who announced the calling OF
the strike last night, said the picket
lines formed shortly after the union
members on the early morning shift
had finished work.
Strikes already are underway
among Wards employees In Detroit
Kansas City and Baltimore.
| Leonard Levy said the second strik,
tSee WARD, Page A-5.)
IQuuke Shakes Huwuii: