The Gary American

MAYOR APPEALS TO ROOSEVELT TO CALL CONFERENCE OF INDUSTRY AND LABOR TO BREAK EMPLOYMENT DEADLOCK

ALARMING UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASE AND RELIEF FUND SHORTAGE MAKE CO-OPERATION MANDATORY

Mayor L. B. Clayton took an entirely unprecedented move yesterday, when he acted upon counsel given him by his own advisers and many citizens of Gary, and directed a strong appeal to President Franklin D. Roosevelt to call a conference of Industrial chieftains and heads of labor in the steel industry in an attempt to start the mills going again, and furnish private employment to the thousands of our citizens now on either relief or the WPA.

Under ordinary circumstances such a letter coming from one of the smaller cities of the country might go unnoticed. But in view of the fact, as reported by the Social Security Board at Washington that of the 101 largest cities in the country reporting, that Gary has the worst unemployment situation per capita, it was deemed would bring instant and sympathetic response from the President. just as the appeal for more WPA allotments for Gary and all of Lake County brought immediate response from both state and federal officials.

Here is the text of the Mayor's letter:

June 9, 1938

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
White House.
Washington, D. C.

My dear Mr. President:

Owing to the alarming condition of unemployment in the City of Gary. I am taking this means of suggesting that drastic steps be taken to relieve the same. Our citizens depend almost exclusively on the manufacture of steel for a livelihood. At the present time our mills are operating on the basis of approximately twenty to twenty-five percent of their normal production. Our relief load has arrived at staggering proportions and day by day is becoming a greater burden on our tax-payers. This condition, if it continues, will certainly develop into a serious situation and I believe that now is the proper time to take some definite action.

After consulting with a number of our citizens, I respectfully submit to you the suggestion and advisability of setting aside a day in the near future for the purpose of holding a conference on this problem between representatives of industry, the steel and other labor organizations, and particularly the CIO organization of steel workers and any other representatives you might select. Our Gary labor leaders would endorse this. movement without exception, and representatives of industry and capital are highly enthusiastic to cooperate with them. I know the city. county, and state officials together with other organizations will be at your service for any program you may deem advisable.

Thanking you, Mr. President, for any consideration you may give this important matter, I am

Very truly yours,

Lee B. Clayton, Mayor
City of Gary, Indiana

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In confidential official circles it is predicted that the letter will receive more than the ordinary consideration, and that it is more than a possibility that such a conference may be called. The Mayor took the attitude that even if his suggestion should not receive consideration, that it was his bounden duty to make every effort to secure federal intervention looking toward the opening of the big mill here and the re-employment of several thousand men.

The fact that the government is about to let contracts for enormous tonnage' of steel for battleships, makes the sending of the letter at this time of profound interest to officials of the corporation who hope to share very largely in the fabrication of this steel. That it is of interest to officials of the CIO has already been expressed directly by those who had been advised of its contents.

That all the thousands of employes of the Steel Corporation will receive the news with deepest interest and with hopes for good results to them goes without saying.

It is expected that the other Mayors of the region will follow up the letter of Mayor Clayton and be equally insistent that a direct move be made to get Government, Capital, and Labor together in a conciliatory conference.