LABOUR TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1932, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLE

POLICE CLASH SEVFRAL KILLED AND INJURED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) DETROIT, March 7. Three persons were kil'.sd, and more ithan a score injured, on Monday, when the poli.ep clashed with three thousand unemployed marchers, who aittemp'ted to enter -‘the employment offices of the Ford Motor Company, at Hirer Rouge j The clash came when /the unemployed, marching from down town Detroit, reached the Dearborn City limits. (Sixty .policemen attempted -to halt them by hurling tear-gas bombs. Tlie marchers retreated, but attacked the .police when the bombs were exhausted, continuing to. the gates of the Ford Company, where they were repulsed by firemen with hoses. The 'State, police assisted in dispensing the crowd, which failed to enter the employment offices. The “New York Times’s” Detroit correspondent states that probably the most serious labour ’tl'ouble Henry Ford ever encountered, occurred to-day. Three thousand unemployed, under Communist isuparvision and linr.tigation, marched to the main Ford plant Mi Dearborn, six miles distant and engaged in a serious .riot with .the police and at least fifty, including about fifteen police, were injured,: many serious, enough to require hospital attention. The marchers’ ostensible objective was to present a petition, demanding employment, which they allege never had.-a chance. The present riot came as a great surprise 'to the genera] public inasmuch as Henry Ford recently announced that he would soon employ thousands and carry out a policy of increased production.' However the serious unemployment situation at Detroit, which is coincident with the severe depression in the automobile industry which has been in effect for some time, and the recent curtailment of municipal relief produced the unrest, which is apparently partially responsible for the demonstration. It is reported that plans for the march had been formulated for several week® and came to a head on Sunday, at a 'Communist rally, where William Foster, several times Communist candidate for President, delivered an inflammatory speech.

The march was started within the city, and proceeded in an orderly fashion, until it passed Dearborn City line, where the police- attempted to halt it. A riot ensued and the marchers were .at.-first repulsed by tear gas bombs. However a strong wind 'soon blew away ‘•he fumes and the police drew revolvers Jfchi'entenlngily, tunl ordered reinforce, monte, who were rushed to the scene. The marchers attacked them with bricks, stones, and clodis of frozen mud, and fought their way to the gate of the Ford plant.

Although several times checked by deluges of cold water, from hoses operated by firemen at the gates, and a squad of police reinforcements, who blocked the way, one fired a revolver and a general melee started. The marchers used clubs and bricks, and the police firing revolvers, injuring many legs. The demonstrators attempted to commandeer automobiles and remove the Injured and stoned a motorist who refused.

The riot was quelled after the arrival of over one hundred Detroit police, also State police, who when clearing the area revealed that the pavements fl-pre stained with blood.

The streets were Tittered with broken glass and the wreckage of the bulletriddled automobile. Nearly every window in the plants employment building was broken. Charles Srensen, Ford’s General Manager, narrowly escaped injury when riding in his own automobile, with the Company's detective, which was overturned by the mob. The detective was seriously injured. After quiet was reached, Mr Fords son E'dsel, and other high Company officials, visited the hospital where the injured were being treated, and talked with 'them. The police arrested five alleged instigators.