Evening Star Newspaper, January 15, 1937, Page 4

Page views left: 0

You have reached the hourly page view limit. Unlock higher limit to our entire archive!

Subscribers enjoy higher page view limit, downloads, and exclusive features.

Text content (automatically generated)

A—4 x» AUTO STRIKE LOSS 15 MANY MILLION Cost to G. M. C. and Work- ers Alone Is Placed at $10,000,000. BY the Associated Press. DETROIT, January 15—The “sit- down" strikes affecting General Mo- tors' plants have cost the automobile company and its employes close to $10.000.000 to date, an unofficial sur- vey indicated today. Shutdowns and curtailment of opera- tions in related industries, principally steel, flat glass and transportation, have added several more million dol- lars to this estimate of business losses. An Associated Press compilation, based on the number of idle employes, working days lost in each plant and the company's report of $7 as its aver- age daily wage, shows that General Motors workers have lost approxi- mately $6.156.661, including today. With about 115.000 General Motors employes idle—and the number in- creasing daily—informed sources re- port that the losses of wages, cur- rent profits, prospective stock divi- dends and trade would amount to & Left to right: THE EVENING State, union and labor officials in the office of Gov. Frank Murphy at Lansing, Mich., after the announcement they had reached an agreement for negotiations for permanent settlement of the “sit-down” strikes in the General Motors plants. Donaldson Brown, G. M. finance chairman; John Thomas Smith, STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, Governor’s Conference at Which Strike Agreement Was Reached G. M. counsel; John E. O’Connor, Federal labor conciliator; William S. Knudsen, executive vice president of General Motors; Gov. Murphy, James F. Dewey, labor conciliator; Homer Martin, president of Automobile Workers’ Union, and John Brophy, director of the Committee for Industrial Organization. JANUARY 15, 1937, —Copyright, A. P. Wirephoto. “staggering figure.” William S. Knudsen, vice president of General Motors, has told newsmen that the company’s idle employes now | are losing about $1,000,000 a day in | unpaid wages. Texts of Strike Truce Asked how much Genbral Motors | was losing in current profits, he re- plied: “T hate to think about it,” but declined to make an estimate. Previously a General Motors official commented that the corporation “stands to lose” about $330,000 a day | in expectable net profits if all S| gy pe associnted Press. LG e Gl A DETROIT, January 15.—Here are o 30me trade quarters hate mentoneg | the letters and an amplifying state- the company's Joss of met profiia, el | Ment in Wikch Genersl Motors and 2 | the United Automobile Workers stated lowing for varying numbers of closed | thelr terms for opening strike settle- plants, since the strikes started. Merchants in cities with closed G. M. C. and Union Officials Send Their Accept- ances of Peace Talks to Gov. Murphy, Wha Issues Statement Calling for Agreement. | plants on strike to take care of foreign requirements, | “It is felt that every opportunity | should be taken to effect a fair settle- | ment of the matters in dispute with strikers as soon as possible. No rights l rent and we must not permit them to continue. “There is just one point I want to emphasize at this juncture. Advance- | ment of the social welfare and gradual amelioration of gross inequalities may be furthered by upholding the prin- | ciples of orderly collective bargaining on a just and representative basis in accordance with sound democratic | principles, without prejudice to legal | rights as established by law. “It was my thought that you might come to a better understanding by first conferring together frankly and directly, but in a spirit of good will and mutual forebearance. If it seems advisable to you or either of you now ment negotiations and Gov. Frank | of any worker not represented by the | or later to proceed by an intermediary relationship of benefit to all con- | cerned.” John Brophy, C. I O. representl»l ivi The agreement reached last night provides a basis for real collective | bargaining and opens the way for a | permanent settlement. To the sit- down strikers goes the credit for re- | sults so far achieved. | “If sit-down strikes are to be avoided by industry, it can only come | as a result of wholehearted accep- tance by industrialists of collective bargaining in both theory and fact.” t Strike negotiations shall be conducted with the utmost dispatch and every effort | shall be made by both parties to ring about a speedy settlement.” The U. A. W. A. had insisted ever since attempts were started to arrange for negotiations that the “sit down” strikers would not vacate the five General Motors piants they occupied unless the corporation promised not to remove equipment or resume operations. Three Sign Union Statement, The union’s statement to the Gov- | ernor was signed by Martin, Wyndham Mortimer, first vice president, and ! ( John Brophy, director of the Commit- tee for Industrial Organization. John | a reduced basis at the plants not shut down as = result of the strike.” | Gov. Murphy, who spent nearly twn! weeks trying to effect the first meeting | of representatives of the two groups, appeared weary as he emerged from | the final session, but he smiled as he | told newsmen that a truce had been arranged which would permit the | opening of negotiations for a “perma- | nent settlement” of the strikes. Gov. Murphy said that a decision will be made later concerning the de- mobilization of the Nationai Guard units which have been called out. In Flint 2,300 troops were billeted after last Monday night’s rioting. “The order for demobilization will be conditioned,” he said, “upon the ne- cessity for preservation of peace and | order. I believe there is little to be concerned about, but we want to be | abeolutely certain there is no vio- | lence.” Governer Issues Statement. The Governor also issued a formal statement along with coples of the let- | ters given him by General Motors and the union. In it he told the corpora- tion and the union officers that “if it seems advisable to you or either of you now or later to proceed by an in- termediary I have no objection to that course.” Martin indicated that it might be Sunday before all of the occupied plants are evacuated. The union's Board of Strategy re- mained near the Governor's office throughout the conference, and the union leaders frequently consulted the board members during the recesses in the joint meeting. Absolute secrecy was maintained during the discussions. | Four more General Motors plants | announced yesterday that they would close, due to the strikes and lack of | parts. Eight hundred employes of the Pisher and Chevrolet plants at Tarry- | | | play of signs announcing the strike and prohibited strikers from distribut- ing leaflets and directing abusive or threatening language at the workers. Delmont Garst, secretary of the local union, claimed 3,500 of 4,100 employes in both divisions of the plant are on strike. Vincent Dirkes, superintendent of the Fisher body division, said 882 men reported for work out of a force of 2275. Officials at the Chevrolet plaat, which normally employs about 1,900, would not comment. INDIANA GOVERNOR AIDS. INDIANAPOLIS, January 15 (). — Gov. M. Clifford Townsend prepared today to go to Detroit, Mich., if sum- moned by Gov. Prank Murphy of Michigan to aid in mediation of the General Motors strikes. Townsend said Murphy had indi- cated the summons might come within the next two days. ‘The General Motors strike directly affects Indiana and Michizan In a telegram to Murphy Gov. Townsend said: “We wish to lend our co-operation to your efforts and wish you every success in this fine under- taking, the result of which will be fruitful of a complete and satisfactory | adjustment of this situation, which, of | course, is of Nation-wide interest and of particular interest to the State of | Indiana.” More than 11,000 persons are idle at Anderson following a shutdown of | the Delco Remy plants and a “sit- down” strike at the guide lamp plant, operated by the General Motors Corp. | Approximately 1,500 are jobless at | Muncie following the shutdown of a General Motors assembly plant. MORE THAN $300 TAKEN IN DISTRICT ROBBERIES town, N, Y., were released last night, and the management said both would close completely by Monday. Their workers total 4.000. Two Chevrolet factories at Saginaw, Mich., will close tomorrow, Alfred G. Gulliver, manager, | announced. | In Flint, where several hundred ! “sit down” strikers remained in two | Fisher body plants, the situation was | quiet, The two regiments of National| Hold-up men and housebreakers ob- tained more than $300 in robberies early today and last night Ollie Floyd, 50, of 1426 N street, was robbed of $75 by an armed, well-j dressed man at Thomas circle earl today, and a little later, Willlam Brodle, 35, of 4406 Seventh street clerk at the Parkside Hotel, 1336 I street, was held up and robbed of $37 by two men. Jessie Chesivoir, 61, reported that | Murphy’s formal comment: union will be prejudiced in any of | I have no objection to that course. General Motors plants have felt the | Guardsmen mobilized after Monday ‘WO armed colored men walked into effect of stoppage of wages, as a large part of the automotive workers’ dol- lar goes into the retail trade. Statis- ticians have reported no sharp break vet, however, in retail business indi- cators, The Associated Press compilation, using the company's figures on how many men are idle at various cities, shows the following totals of employes | not working and the wages unearned: | In Michigan: Flint, 26,359 idle workers, $1.456.917 lost wages; De- troit, 30, workers, $1,221,332 lost; Saginaw, 5500 workers, $269,500 lost; Pontiac, 9,100 workers, $178,500 lost; Lansing. 8,400 workers, $146,300 lost; | Grand Rapids, 1,182 workers, $91,014 | lost; Bay City, 2,300 workers, $80,500 lost. | In Ohio: Cleveland, 7.211 work- | ers, $706.678 lost;: Norwood, 1.769 | workers, $136.213 lost; Toledo, 831 | workers, $58,240 lost. Other cities: Atlanta, Ga., 1542 workers, $431,760 lost: Kansas City, workers, $329574 lost: Mem- Tenn,, 1,054 workers, $95,914 Anderson, Ind.. 10,309 \\orkrrs.l $731,836 los Harrison, N. J., 700 workers, $49.080 lost; Janesville, Wis.,“ 2,467 workers, $120,883 lost; Muncie, | Ind, 1,500 workers, $52,500 lost. | In addition, the United Automobile | ‘Workers” Union has drawn heavily | upon the “strike fund” of the Inter- national Union for expenses, including payment of house rent bills of “sit- downers,” cost of food for the strikers and some families and incidental items. The U. A. W. A. headquarters_said $11,000 has been donated the Strike Committee by other labor unions, but declined to estimate expenses, General Motors, because of the strike, has canceled advertising schedules, a sizable item for news- papers and broadcasting stations. National Guard officers, figuring the cost of keeping a soldier in readi- ness at $5 per man each day, esti- General urphy: “As a result of your very arduous Motors’ letter to Gov. M iand sincere efforts to secure a basis | {5 Gov. Murphy: | upon which collective bargaining can | be commenced, culminating in the conference held in your office today | America, we accept the terms set forth | practical and underlying questions at | |in the interest of expediting a settle- | in the letter of January 15, 1937, ad- | issue.” ment, we hereby state the position of the corporation as follows: “It having been agreed that all the plants now occupied by sit-down strikers, including Fisher Body plants | No. 1 and 2 in Flint, Guide Lamp plant at Anderson, Cadillac and Fleetwood plants at Detroit, will be immediately evacuated, General Mo- | tors Corp. representatives will meet on Monday, January 18, at 11 am. at its Detroit offices with the represent- | atives of the International Union, United Automobile Workers of Amer= ica for the purpose of bargaining col- lectively on the proposals contained in the letter from the International Union dated January 4, 1937. The negotiations will be conducted frankly and without prejudice to any one. The corporation reiterates its policy that in respect of its continuing op- eration there will be no discrimina- tion against any employe of union affiliation “Negotiations shall commence on Monday, January 18, 1937, and shall continue until a satisfactory settlement shall be effected, if possible. Unless such a settlement is concluded sooner, | there shall be no termination of efforts | to effect a settlement for at least 15 days from the date of commencement of negotiations, it being understood | that the negotiations shall be con- ducted with the utmost dispatch and every effort shall be made by both parties to bring about a speedy settle- ment. “The corporation has no intention to and will not during the negotiations remove any dies, tools, machinery, ma- terials (except for export trade) or | the proposed negotiations.” | United Automobile Workers' letter *‘On behalf of the International Un- | | fon, United Automobile Workers of | | | dressed to you by the General Motors | | Corp. as a basis upon which collective | | bargaining shall be commenced upon | the issues involved. | “The union will in good faith en- | deavor to arrive at a speedy settle-| ! ment. “The evacuation of the sit-down strikers will be effectuated as soon as practicable and before Monday morn- | ing. January 18. | “We wish to express our apprecia- tion for your untiring and unselfish | efforts.” Gov. Murphy’'s statement: 1 “It seems hardly necessary to em- phasize the importance of this mat- ter to the general public. Never in | the history of our State has a strike | of any such far-reaching effects taken | | place. Directly or indirectly its ef- | fects will soon be felt in every home | in Michigan. None of us should think | of this matter in a mere self-centered | ! way. We should think of the welfare of the whole State and its people and | of the widespread harm it is pro- ducing. | “It has become a great public ques- tion which can be solved only in a | way that gives paramount considera- | tion to the public viewpoint and the | | public welfare. “I want peace and order preserved. I have done everything I could to see that there is no violence and will continue to do so. At every oppor- | | tunity I have counseled temperance | and restraint. Each side must under- | stand that the public authority is | supreme in Michigan. “By tradition and choice we are | loyal to democracy and its institutions. | mated the 2,300 Guardsmen mobilized | €quipment from any of the plants on | we must settle this in the American at Flint cost the State $11,500 daily. About $2,000 of this is for rations. RINGLING GIVES ESTATE AND LANDS TO STATE strike and agrees during said period not to resume operation of any plant.” General Motors issued this statement amplying the letter: “The Governor was successful in gaining the union’s agreement to evac- uate all the plants where there are | sit-down strikers and, in the interest | of public peace and the general wel- | | fare, as well as the preservation of law | and order, the corporation was willing | of Sarasota. *o express to Gov. Murphy its inten- | B) the Associated Press. tions in respect to the forthcoming TALLAHASSEE. Fla., January 15.— | Degotiations with the union. A codicil in the will of John Ringling, | “Ample time until February 1 has| the circus magnate, gives his art mu- ‘ been allotted to conduct the nego-| &eum and his entire estate to the State | tiations, which are to commence on | of Florida, instead of half the estate | Monday, January 18, at the Detroit as first announced. 4 | office of the corporation. If the State does not accept it the | “In order to alleviate distress the | property will go to the city of Sara- | corporation proposes to resume oper-‘ sota, where the Ringling museum and | ations on a reduced basis at plants not residence are located. | shut down as a result of the strike. | Attorney General Landis reported | It also will remove material trom | the codicil to the State cabinet yes- | terday. Landis informed the cabinet some reports said the Ringling estate was insolvent, while others ‘estimated its value at several millions of dollars. ‘Two or three years probably will be required to settle litigation about it, he said. & It Florida Does Not Accept Be- quest. It Will Go to City cxpress CENTER PENNA.AVE.AT6THST, PHONE DISTRICT 4224 Kitten on the Keys. JERSEYVILLE, Ill.—Illinois, home of Minnie the Singing Mouse, now comes up with Tiger, the musical cat. Martha Leigh Thatcher, high school student, says her gray-striped cat heads for the piano as soon as he gets in the house, stands on his hind legs and strikes the keys with the front paws, sometimes improvising by racing up and down the keyboerd. _ Our Lumber Service Covers the Town! (3¢ No matter where you live, we are you. ~Just pick up ¥i r'the lumber yo sure delivery ) ber. correctly ter to small orders. make free delivery and cut lumber to wanted sizes at no extra cost. Lumber prices ber and J. FRANK ELLY; SUDDEN SERVICE Lumber and Millwork 2121 . Ave. No:fi 1 341 | way and in accordance with the prin- | ciples of law and order. No one | | should wish or attempt to place the | Governor of this State in a position | of suspending the law of the land. | This is not right and he is not going ! to do it. “Already I have spent many hours with representatives of both sides, con= veying messages back and forth try- ing to bring about an agreement, but without success. It has been better | and more satisfactory to bring you to- | gether in one room where you could | face each other, hear each other and judge each other on a basis of good faith. “Whatever may be done, T want your | conversations to continue in a spirit | of reason shd good faith until you have agreed on a basis of negotiations | among yourselves. Peaceful negotia- | tions amd a spirit of reason must be | substituted for rioting, threats and in- timidation. These things are abhor- buses New York, $3.50 o.w. Richmond, $2.2 Phi . $2.25 o.w. Boi Miami, 14.90 o.w. Ch'e’st Save 1070—buy round-trip tickets, 5 o.w. The immediate object is to better understand each other's viewpoint, | have in mind the paramount interest of the great public for whose welfare we are all In a sense trustees, and seek to find a basis for negotiation of the Homer Martin: “The conference and agreement, which is the basis upon which nego- tiations between the International Union, United Automobile Workers, and the General Motors Corp. shall proceed, is a recognition of the In- | ternational Union and forms for the first time, in my opinion, a basis for real collective bargaining between the legitimate union and the General Motors Corp. “We will make every effort to reach a speedy and satisfactory agreement and establish & permanent peaceful | YOU'LL FIND WORLD-FAMOUS WINES AMERICAN-MADE BY GARRETT ® Discover new delicate favors. Find new favorites in wines .. . among Garrett's 27 original American types, made in the 101- year Garrett tradition. For better health and digestion drink Garrett's Sauternes or Claret or Chablis. Serve Garrett's excellent Sherry, Port, Tokay, Muscatel Angelica and Fortified Wine (19- 21% alcohol by volume). Enjoy any time—OId North State Blackberry. Buy at your dealer. . .. Garrett & Company, Inc fyn, N. Milton §. Kronheim & So 301 K St. N.W. Vienna. Va.. Distribi Maxess OF Famous " ‘95@ ) I yIRGlN nigh: WINE THE sotLip (Continued From First Page.) | deavor to arrive at a speedy settle- ment,” its letter to the Governor said. ‘The statement from General Motors executives said the negotiations, which | Wil open in its office here at 11 am (Eastern standard time) Monday, “will be conducted frankly and with- out prejudice to any one.” It added | that there will be “no discrimination | against any employe of union affilia- tion.” “Negotiations,” said General Motors, | “shall continue until a satisfactory settlement shall be effected, if pos- sible. Unless such a settlement is | concluded sooner. there shall be no | termination of efforts to effect a set- | tiement for at least 15 days from the | date of commencement of negotia- tions, it being understood that the | ! natures L. Lewis and his C. I O. have been | supporting the striking auto workers. General Motors' letter bore the sig- | of William S. Knudsen, | executive vice president; Donaldson Brown, chairman of its Finance Com- night's riot were kept in their quarters in an abandoned school building, two athletic field houses and the armory in an effort to make them as in- conspicuous as possible. mittee, and John Thomas Smith, chief of its legal counsel. | These six men were called together by Gov. Murphy, in whose offices the discussions were held. The Governor and James F. Dewey, Federal labor conciliator, also were present. | During the occasional recesses two | other Federal conciliators—Edward C. | McDonald and John E. O'Connor— also talked with the conferees. i Reduced Operations Planned. In a formal statement amplifying General Motors' Jetter to the Governor | the corporation announced that “in order to allevigte distress the corpora- tion proposes to resume operations on THE NEW PIANOS are designed for small homes In St. Louis, where the Chevrolet- Fisher body plant was operating with a curtailed force because of the strike. & court order was issued last night restraining strikers from interfering with employes not in sympathy with the walkout. ‘The order, issued by Circuit Judge Charles P. Williams, forbade the dis- | her store at 219 L street last night and forced her to hand over $22 in cash. Theft of $170 from a safe in the office of the Record Rental Co., was reported by Charles Coley, 1303 U street, proprietor of the office. Saddlery and TRUNK s Repairing of Leather Goods G. W. King, Jr,,511 11th St N.W. JANUARY CLEARANCE Reg. 39-°° Suits FINE QUALITY WORSTEDS In Regulars, Shorts and Longs Reduced to 9.45 Reg. 32:%° Suits ALL MODELS REGULARS ONLY. Reduced to 345 { All Robes Vx Off o Big Reductions on A Reg. 27-5° Suits HARD FINISH WORSTEDS In Regulars, Shorts and Longs Reduced to 9.45 All Overcoats and Topcoats 259 oFF From Reg. Prices All Pajamas V1 Off Il Furnishings & Hats YOUDIES . ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT to see the free exhibit of MODERN AT 1132 CONNECTICUT AVE,, N. W., UNTIL SATURDAY Join the thousands who are discovering the startling improvements made in heating with the smart, efficient anthracite equip- @My/um ANTHRACITE The Wurlitzer Spinette | A strikingly handsome little piano selected figured walnut with contrasting trim « . . only 33 inches high it will fit in a very small space, yet, despite its size it has a full tone. Of stalwart con- struction throughout and fully guaranteed by both the maker and ourselves. We are also showing 35 other new models of 11 famous makes. 195 ON VERY EASY TERMS o ALSO PIANOS FOR RENT HEATING EQUIPMENT ment of today. Discover how economical and easy it is to have automatic heat with anthracite. Learn how to banish smoke. Clean, odorless anthracite complies with all smoke abatement ordinances. Do not miss this extensive day and night display of modern anthracite heating equipment in actual operation. Open daily [} for this week only. ADMISSION FREE FUGL FOR SOLIDy COMFORT PARKING FREE 1342 G ST. N. BIG VALUES For Saturday Tender Beef CHUCK Fancy Steaks ROUND or SIRLOIN Faney Large n"::mu Fnu,-rs 3 4= 25: |GOOD Ripg BULK SAyER, FRESH sppy, AND VEGETABLES TOMATOES KRAUT _ ACH _ NE! NE W GREEN ppac - w ron#.;'.'f,‘?

Other pages from this issue: