Evening star., 1949-04-07
.Pressmen Back,
Efforts 10 Settle
Dispute Go On
25-Hour Strike on
Four Newspapers Ends
On Union Heads Order
REPORTERS, EDITORS, Print
ers on job During Strike.
Page A-4.

Contract negotiations were to
resume today between Washing
ton newspaper publishers and
pressmen who ended a 25-hour
surprise strike and went back to
work last night at the order of
their international union presi-
dent.
The strike tied up all four
daily newspapers yesterday. Mem
bers of Printing Pressmen' S
Union No. 6. meeting at Pythian
Temple. l0l4 Ninth street NV,
voted to return to work and re-
sumo negotiations shortly after
6 pm. This was four hours after
International President J. H. de
la Rosa instructed the local to call
off the work stoppage.
c. v. Ernest of Philadelphia
international vice president of the
AFL presSmen's union. announced
the pressmen's decision a half
hour later at his room in the Will
lard Hotel. The Post and Times
Herald Immediately resumed pub
lication of regular editions and
The Star and Daily News came
out today.
Men Ordered Back.
The order to return to work
Immediately" was issued about 2
pm. yesterday by International
President de la Rosa to George
T. Walker. president of Local 8,
At the same time Mr.. de la Rosa
notified publishers he had sent
the order to Mr.. Walker.
About 140 pressmen were in
volved in the strike that began at
6 pm. Tuesday with a "contin-
uous meeting" Members of the
union have been working without
a contract since February 7 under
an agreement with the publishers
association pending negotiation of
a new contract.
While pressmen were meeting
earlier yesterday, Louis A. Lopez,
representative of the International
Pressmen's Union, described the
strike as unauthorized" and "a
complete surprise to the interna-
tional."
After the international presi-
dent telegraphed Mr.. Walker, the
pressmen met again In closed ses-
sion at pm. in Pythian Temple
for discussion Of the matter with
international officers who had
come to Washington during the
day.
When that meeting broke up,
some Of the members objected to
the presence Of reporters in the
corridor.
Phone Snatched From Reporter.
A Washington Post reporter,
Howard Dutkin. was making a
call from a public pay station out
side the meeting hall. The phone
was snatched from his hand and
some one took a swing" at him.
he reported. He was not hit or
hurt, but was showed out. wit
nesses said.
Resumption of negotiations for
a new contract were to be re-
sumed today by the publishers
and three international vice pres
idents of the union as we'll as the
Scale Committee" OF Local 6, Mr..
Ernest announced last night.
The time of the meeting was
not stated but Mr.. Ernest said the
union would be ready to resume
at 10 am. He added that no
Federal conciliators will be pres
ent.
Besides Mr.. Ernest, the other
vice presidents were A. j. Andrade
of Boston and Fred w. Maxted of
Hamilton. Ontario. The Scale
Committee consists of Mr.. Walker,
Edward Meyers and Henry Pettis.
secretary-treasurer.
The publishers were notified Of
the international presidents ac-
ton In a telegram to Peyton Evans,
executive secretary of the Wash
ington Newspaper Publishers
Association. 1t read:
Regret inability to answer your
wire earlier due to absence. Have
just wired President Walker and
Secretary Pettis of our local union
No. 6 as follows: Have been ad-
vised by executive secretary of
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