As the owner of a few shares of the General Motors
Corporation I became somewhat alarmed when I learned that the
workers were sitting down in my plants at Flint, Fisher Body
No. 1 and Fisher Body No. 2, preventing the company from
finishing and shipping cars and threatening to Interrupt the
orderly flow of dividends. Accordingly I took Sunday for a
visit of investigation. Arriving at Flint I went to Fisher 2,
and on introducing myself as their employer was cordially
received by some 400 men occupying the plant. I must admit
that I was fortunate in having as my companion Adolf Germer,
who is on the board of strategy directing the strike.
My
first anxiety was for the condition of my property, and I was
relieved to find it well cared for. Springs and cushions were
being used for beds, it is true, sometimes laid side by side
as in a dormitory, sometimes isolated in cubicles between
bales of goods. I was glad to see certain marks of
domesticity-a clothes tree, an alarm clock, a whisk broom.
The boys had made themselves pretty comfortable. I asked who
was responsible for cleanliness, order, and protection of
property, and learned that the government was what might be
described, except for its unfortunate connotation, as a
soviet. Mass assemblies were called at frequent intervals at
which everything of importance was discussed. Court was held
every morning. I asked what crimes were committed and was
told that bringing in liquor and circulating m o r s were the
usual offenses. Those found guilty of the charges against
them were put out.
After a hearty Sunday dinner of roast
chicken and ice cream, I noticed several round holes in the
great glass windows, and inspecting more closely some of the
fetus-like bodies of cars on the tracks, awaiting their
delayed birth, I saw similar holes in the glass and dents in
the metal sides. I thought these indicated wanton violence
against my property, and asked how it occurred. Gun fire by
the police, was the answer. I knew that there had been
fighting on the Monday before in the street outside, but
these disasters were on the second floor. It was obvious that
there had been firing from a distance into the plant,
endangering the lives of my employees, whom I was beginning
to like though they were on strike, and damaging my property.
Accordingly I asked for particulars, and as I have seen no
clear account of the affair in any newspaper, despite the
columns of newsprint that have been given to the strike, I
will set down the facts as they were related to me by at
least eight participants and eyewitnesses.
The sitdown strike
involving 1,500 to 2,000 workers started at Fisher 1, when it
appeared that the management was loading dies and special
machinery into box cars to be shifted to other cities. Our
company is fortunate in having factories scattered over the
country; so that by transferring equipment a strike in Flint,
Michigan, can be broken by workers in Atlanta, Georgia.
Incidentally, that is why the workers demand the Industrial
form of organization and insist on dealing with General
Motors as a whole instead of with the component companies.
The sitdown strike spread to Fisher Body 2, where from 400 to
600 men were involved. Relations were harmonious with the
company police, who agreed to let the outer door stand open
for food to be brought in. Attempts were made from time to
time to shut off heat, light, and water, but workers with a
mechanical turn of mind turned them on again.
On Monday
afternoon the city police under Chief James Wills undertook
to block both ends of the street in front of Fisher 2, to
prevent food from being brought in. Later the police made an
attack in force with tear gas and gun fire, to enter the
plant. The strikers from inside countered the tear gas with
streams of water, and the bullets with heavy hinges and other
missiles. Some twenty-eight persons were injured, fourteen so
seriously as to be taken to the hospital, which, I was told,
had received warning beforehand to have an emergency ward
ready. The defeat of the forces of law and order is referred
to as Bulls' Run. The company police of Fisher 2 apparently
took no part in the battle, and were found next morning in a
ladies' rest room, where they had stood all night at
attention, lacking room to sit down. They were released
without acrimony by the workers in the factory.
Copyright: ©2002 Michigan State University.