Evening Star Newspaper, April 16, 1937, Page 5

- AKRON IS TIED UP BYBUS-CARSTRIKE 300,000 Without Service by Sudden Wage Demands of 250 to 300. BY the Associated Press. AKRON, Ohio, April 16—Bus drivers and street car opetators staged & sudden walkout today and left 300,000 residents of Greater Akron ‘without service. A picket line formed around the barns and no cars or busses were available. A spokesman for the Akron Trans- portation Co., with which the Amal- gamated Electrical Railway, Street Car and Motor Coach Employes of America had been conducting negotia- tions, claimed the walkout came with- sut warning, although wage negotia- tions had been in progress several weeks. M. P. Gill, secretary of the union, termed the walkout an ‘“outlaw strike,” and said the members, who were to have voted on a company pro- posal at 2 a.m. tomorrow, apparently became ‘“restless.” 250 to 300 on Strike. ‘The idleness of between 250 and 300 men forced this Northeastern Ohio industrial area entirely without warn- ing to depend on taxicabs, private automobiles, or to walk. Two months 8go a strike of gasoline station em- ployes closed nearly all of Akron's gas stations and forced many private automobiles off the streets. Thousands trudged to work. Many persons were late. Taxicab companies reported they were unable to keep up with calls. Many motorists stopped to pick up hapless pedestrians. The street car operators and bus | drivers, receiving 65 cents an hour under a contract which expired April 1, had demanded an incerase to $1 an hour' and were offered 68 cents | by the company. New Proposal Undisclosed. Later the company made a new proposal containing undisclosed “bet~ ter terms,” a company spokesman said, which was followed by still an- other, on which the union was to have voted early tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, the transportation con- eern’s mechanics had negotiated a new contract, which officials of the International Association of Machin- ists said provided ‘“substantially higher wages” for 110 maintenance men The machinists voted Wednesday night to accept the proposal, but it was not signed pending completion of the company’s negotiations with the drivers and operators, the union's officials said. LaF (;llette (Continued From First Page.) scribed by a United Automobile Work- ers’ witness as the “worst article” ever to hold the Harlan post. Following Middleton briefly was County Judge Morris Saylor, whose approval was given to the sheriff’s sppointments. Admitting he had no legal training, Saylor declared he had been advised by counsel that he had no privilege of refusing confirmation of Middleton's appointments. Imposition of a “yellow dog” con- tract on all employes was admitted by Pearl Bassham, vice president of the Harlan-Wallins Coal Co., contract prohibited any with unions. Declaring he had never become ac- quainted with provisions of the na- tional labor relations act, Bassham said his lawyer had mentioned the law for the first time this week. “You've been ignoring it since 1935, then?” La Follette asked. “Yes, I'm not very familiar with Federal statutes.” “You consider yourself a citizen of the United States, don't you?” “Yes,” Bassham agreed. 170 Per Cent Profit Bared. Tt was disclosed by questioning of Basshan that the Verda post office is located on Harlan-Wallins property, with facilities easily at hand to bar any ‘“‘undesirable” persons. During Saylor's appearance, it de- veloped that quarter ownership in the Verda Supply Co. had been obtained for only $1,500, with the yearly return of $2.400, amounting to 170 per cent profit on the investment. Saylor, Middletorr and Basshan each acquired interests in the property at the low figure. “You don't make 170 per cent on your coal operations, do you?” La Follette asked Basshan. “No.” “There’s no law against making as much profit as possible,” Middleton observed, as he arose to admit paying only $1,500 for his stock. Yesterday he said he thought he paid $2,500 for the interest. Court Condemnation Read. ‘Middleton testified he had no rule for selection of deputies and no stand- ard of qualifications. He added, how- ever, that the character of most of his deputies is “fairly good,” though “some may not be so good.” When the sheriff identified one Slemp Middleton as a brother, Senator La Follette read a court order for re- moval of Slemp, in which the court described him as of “violent and law- less habits” and “regarded as one of the most dangerous men.” La Follette next read a long record ~-®f indictments and arrests for Slemp and two cousins, Bill &nd John Middleton. Judge Scores Family. An order of removal resulting from indictment of John Middleton for “willful murder” contained the follow- ing statement: ) “It is personally known to the judge of this judicial district that for sev- eral years past there has been more crime in Harlan County than any ocounty in the State of Kentucky, that there has been almost a total disregard of the law, more than 800 common- wealth cases on the dockets of the Harlan Circuit Court, many of the charges being against the Middleton family, which is one of the largest families in Harlan County. A great deal of intimidation of witnesses, and even killing of witnesses, have taken place in this county. Local jurymen are afraid to do their duty. “For the foregoing reasons, the court does not believe that & trial can be bad in this case in Harlan County.” From a grand jury report of the Harlan County Circuit Court, dated May, 1934, five months after Theodore Middleton became sheriff, La Follette : “We recommend to this court * * * that the following persons be dis- charged from their positions as deputy sheriffs of Harlan County: Henry C. Stepp, Milt Middleton, Charlie Mid- * as he fol- | lowed Judge Saylor to the stand. The | affiliation | Canadian Press Staff Writer. : NTARIO'S chubby premier, Hepburn, who has taken the spotlight in the C. I. O. drive | on “foreign labor agitators,” is an | energetic man addicted to wearing | Slightly bald at the back, he has a | double chin and an infectious grin He is married, 40 years old, and has two adopted children, Peter and onion farm near St. Thomas, north of Lake Erie. the back concession” (referring to the farmer) he went into office in July, dent Roosevelt, and pledged his gov- ernment to a policy of economy to BY HAROLD FAIR, Mitchell Frederick (Mitch) in Canada by declaring open warfare | double-breasted suits. | that is famous all over the province. Patricia, who live on the big Hepburn Famous for the phrase “the man on 1934, two years after his idol, Presi- aid the dirt farmers. Civil Servants Slashed. Wholesale dismissals of civil serv- ants—described by opponents as wielding the Hepburn ax—featured his plan to cut costs of government. He abolished or reduced many boards. For instance, the three-man Liquor | Control Board was reduced to one. Another part of his campaign was for cheaper interest rates. * Fearless, he will tackle anything and comment on opponents with vitriol, rare in a land where politics is a THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, ‘Mitch’ Hepburn Spouts Vitriol As Leader of Canadian Party Ontario knows its bristling premier as “Mitch” Hepburn. He preaches freer trade and lower interest rates. kid-glove affair. Some of his bitterest shafts were directed at Canada's former Premier R. B. Bennett. Hepburn resigned his member- ship in the House of Commons to take active leadership of his party in the 1934 provincial elections. He enjoys a rough and tumble battle. By many, he is blamed for the bitter~ ness of Ontario legislative debs tes. A former bank clerk, he was edu- cated in high school and later took a correspondence course. He cannot be described exactly as a labor man. But his government brought down the in- dustrial standards act providing codes for various trades. “Big Interests” Target. Generall, he has sought legislation without special thought for any one group. The “big interests,” however, have been a taget for him. His government passed legislation canceling hydro- electric power purchases from private Quebec firms because he contended the deals were made at too high a price. Hepburn was accused of betraying Ontario’s credit through this policy of “repudiation.” He since has made new contracts with all but one of the companies. Economically, his two chief beliefs have been freer trade and lower in- terest rates. He approved whole- heartedly of the United States-Canada trade treaty and boasts of the success of his government in cheapening money. | dleton, Logan Middleton, Merle Mid- dleton, Bill Lewis, Tom Trent and Palmer Cox. “Your grand jury reports that each of these men are under one or more indictments for felonies, and in the opinion of the grand jury are no longer suitable to serve as officers charged with the enforcement of the very laws they stand indicted for violating. “It is apparent that in practically every homicide which has accurred in Harlan County since the first of the year, officers figure prominently.” The sheriff identified the Mid- dletons mentioned as cousins. More Criminal Records. In a recapitulation La Folleite noted that of 379 appointees by Middleton 37 have served time in the State Peni- tentiary, 3 have served Federal sen- tences and 64 have been indicted. Of 163 now active 14 have served State sentences, 2 Federal sentences and 34 have been indicted. “Have you further comment on the icharacler of your deputies?” La Fol- | lette asked. | “No, sir,” the sheriff replied. Strike (Continued From First Page.) men just as the General Motors strikers in Oshawa, 32 miles east of here, greeted Martin with a parade. Hepburn called the new peace con- ference last night after Martin and General Motors officials in Detroit an- nouncea that the Oshawa strike, af- | feting 3,700 workers, would have to | be settled in Canada. Invited to Conference. The premier invited C. H. Millard, president of the U. A. W. A. Oshawa local; J. L. Cohen, union counsel; H. J. Carmichael, vice president and gen- | eral manager of General Motors of Canada, Ltd, and J. B. Highfield, | plant manager of Oshawa, to the con- | ference. | A similar conference broke down last Saturday when the Oshawa Union Committee insisted on including Hugh Thompson, U. A. W. A. organizer. Today’s conference originally was slated for 11 am., but Hepburn, ar- riving at the Parliament Building in Queen’'s Park at 10.45, told reporters the meeting would be delayed pending the action of union stewards in Oshawa on his invitation. Strike leaders at Oshawa, although making no official statement, indicated they might ignore the Hepuburn con- ference invitation. Hepburn chuckled at what he said was a police report that “only” 750 strikers greeted Martin when he ar- rived at Oshawa. Taking reporters with him into his old-fashioned high ceilinged office, Hepburn, as his first job of the day, set in to assailing Hall, Mayor of Oshawa, who has sided with the strikers. Hepburn last night issued a state- ment that Hall still owed the province $259 he had collected in fees before he was dismissed as crown attorney in 1934, Says He Holds Proof. ’_l'old by a reporter that Hell denied this, Hepburn produced a large file of pains . . . stomach distress. really serious trouble. today, for a booklet or write MEt. 1062 correspondence, read excerpts, and said it proved Hall’s debt. “They all say I'm a liar!” he ex- claimed. Yesterday Ian MacKenzie, Federal minister of national defense, denied Hepburn's statement that the Federal government had promised Hepburn additional police aid. As a result, Hepburn asked the Fed- eral government to withdraw the 100 Royal Canadian mounted police sent here at Hepburn's request for use in case of violence at Oshawa. After Hepburn had reviewed the correspondence about Hezll's alleged debt, he said he would issue & warrant for his arrest, but later withdrew that statement on advice of Paul Leduc, acting attorney general since Hepburn dismissed Arthur Roebuck from the post Wednesday. Roebuck was out of sympathy with Hepburn's anti-Lewis policy. Hepburn also said the province would retain permanently the 300 spe- cial deputies recruited for strike duty during the last few days. 2 “Ontario from now on will not de- pend on the Dominion government for police protection,” he said On his arrival at Oshawa, Martin announced he would confer with union committees, union stewards, ad~ dress & mass meeting of workers and “aid in an amicable settlement of the strike.” “Will you confer with the company at Oshawa?” he was asked. “I will contact C. E. Wilson, vice president of General Motors, in De- troit with a view to making an im- mediate settlement here,” he replied. Hugh Thompson, United Automobile Workers’ organizer at Oshawa, said: “I think Hepburn will not be tak- ing part in any negotiations between the union and the company.” Martin left a Windsor, Ontario, mass meeting last night with this predic- tion: “I expect the strike situatio in Can- ada to be cleared up shortly.” Martin, one of Lewis’ principal lieu- tenants, indicated he expected a set- tlement of the 3,700 workers' tie-up before Monday night, the deadline of an “ultimatum” by Mayor Alex Hall of Oshawa. The Mayor announced he would urge the Oshawa U, A. W. A. local to aban- don its strike unless United States workers staged a sympathy strike, if there was no settlement of the Cana- dian walkout by the week end. “I do not anticipate he will have to tell them to withdraw their sup- port,” Martin commented. About 10,000 Canadian workers were idle today as a result of the Oshawa and other strikes. A C. I O. garment workers’ strike was underway in Montreal, with 5,000 called out. — WE NEED USED CARS Flood Motor Co. Direct Factory Dealer 4221 Connecticut Ave. Clev. 8400 DON'T BE MISERABLE WITH EXCESSIVE ACID . . . digestive upsets . . . aches Why be sick? . . . Eliminate the excessive uric acid accumulations which may bring Mountain Val- ley Mineral Water from Hot Springs, Ark., helps acidity . . . alkaline . . . pleasant tasting and helps the kidneys, too. Don’t be sick. Phone MEt. 1062, MOUNTAIN VALLEY WATER 1405 K St. N.W. PROBERS OF UNION AGCUSE WEIRTON Prepare to File Discrimina- tion Charge With U. S. Labor Board. By the Associated Press. PITTSBURGH, April 16.—Clinton S. Golden, regional director of the Y 7 N R N\ AW N\ R AW A Steel Workers' Organizing Committee, announced today union investigators are preparing to file a charge with the National Labor Board that the Weir- ton Steel Co. has discriminated against union men in its mills. The Weirton Steel Co. is a subsid- lary of the Natlonal Steel Corp., of which E. T. Weir, outspoken foe of New Deal legislation, is chairman of the board. Golden asserted affidavits and data have been collected in an attempt to show that more than 100 men have been discharged from the company be- { cause of union activity in the com- pany’s plants at Weirton, W. Va., and Steubenville, Ohio. orfst N A NN X NN N RN D. C, FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1937. PICKETS ENJOINED UNDER LABOR ACT Firm’s Employes Vote for Employe Representation Instead of Union. By the Associated Press. 8T. LOUIS, April 16.—A Federal court restraining order, granted a St. Louis employer under the national with a college education *% A—S it il B e ———— relations act, halted picketing by union agents and their sympathizers of a downtown store here today. The order was issued late yester- day by United £tates District Judge George H. Moore on application of the McCrory Stores Corp., whose at- torney is Wayne Ely. The injunction was sought and ob- tained on grounds that “an emer- gency” existed at the store. The pe- tition stated that employes had voted to bargain with their employer through employe representatives of their own choosing instead of through the Waitresses, Cooks and Clerk's Un- fon, which had been picketing the store. The Wagner act held constitutional Monday by the Supreme Court, proe vides that employers must deal ex- ciusively with representatives selected by the employes. Ely declared his client was “entitleu to protection of the Federal court under the law.” The petition for the injunction fur ther stated that the pickets have been advertising the atore as unfair while | s & matter of fact the firm is peying as good or better wages than de- | manded by the union. Relations be- tween the employer and employes have been satisfactory on both sides, the petition said. Housewives of the Netherlands In- dies are demanding electrical house- hold appliances ———— ers N THE SPRING, a young man's fancy turns to sports suits. And if he's a smart young man, he'll look to the college campus for sportsters that have earned their B. S. (best style) degree. That's what we've done. Our ¢andid camera has M, ¥ clicked on every elm.lined walk from Princeton to Minnesota. And the composite picture of vigorous varsity fashions we've prepared for you will make your mouth water. There are soft cheviots in tawny tans and blue greys. There are roughish Saxonies headlining the new hound's tooth checks. There are firm, meaty worsteds with bold plaids—and worsted-flannels with more conservative markings. Fussy style details are tabool Your well-dressed collegian demands poised, easy drape tapering from a broad pair of shoulders, and shat’s all! Now's the time to add a jounty sporister to your Spring wardrobe. Wear R for business. Relax in it for plain or faney loafing. And to be sure of its good taste, get it at Bond’s today or tomorrow —before all the plums are gone. P.S. There’s been no increase in our $25 $ rices this Sprin 30 including two trousers s //// 7 A\ PN NN RN, “Charge it" the Bond way This convenient service permits you to pay weekly or twice a month. It makes it easy for you to enjoy the luxury of good clothes. And it costs nothing extra. DORY 1% N 1335 F St. N. W.