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Horsemen to Race tor Average Daily Purse Outlay of 7,020 at Detroit Union Official Ray Carroll * Successful in Bringing Both Sides Together to End Strike By DON FAIR Staff Correspondent DETROIT, Mich., June 27. — There was racing today at this spacious Michigan Racing Association course, thanks to a timely assist from jovial, businesslike Ray Carroll, secretary-treasurer of Local 79, Building Service Employes Union AF of L. Although a settlement of a day old strike by horsemen was not completed until after 6 p. m. yesterday, horsemen flocked to racing secretary Charles McLennans office and filled the scheduled Wednesday program. Fields were rather short but the show went on and members of the Michigan division of the HBPA, president E. E. Dale Shaffer, vice-president George Haggarty, and general manager Robert Leavitt, of the MRA., along with Carroll expressed themselves as quite happy about the close of the affair. Harry W. Lindy, vice-president of the local section of the HBPA., who spearheaded the turfmens strike, could not be reached for a statement. A fifty-word telegram yesterday to Carroll, signed by officials of the Michigan Racing Association, notified the union ► leader that inasmuch as a strike of horsemen threatened to close the track today there would be no necessity for the 800 members of his union, employed at the local track, to report for duty. As soon as he received the wire, Carroll phoned Michigan Racing Commissioner Frederick E. Harris and informed him that he would be at the commission office to discuss the strike .situation. Carroll also called lindy and Haggarty, inviting them to be present when he arrived. Carroll lost no time in getting to the point. He told the representatives of the racing organization and the horsemen that he preferred to let them settle their own dispute in their own way relative to differences in purse distribution. But, he added that when the track notified him that 800 members of his union were going to be forced out of work without a hearing, he decided it was time to act in their behalf. "My people have a quarter of a million dollar wage equity in this fight and I am now in the battle a quarter million dollars worth," said Carroll. He stated that the members of his union would contribute 00 per day to protect their jobs, then suggested that the horsemen pare their demands and that the track increase its offer by a similar amount. "Now, that were rid of that ,500 we Continued on Page Six Detroit Horsemen to Race For Average 7,020 Daily Continued from Page One can get down down to business," added the rotund Carroll. His suggestion created a climax suitable to the settlement. Lindy accepted for the horsemen and Haggarty for the track. The latter said, however, that inasmuch as the employes were willing to go so far to avert trouble, he saw no reason why the MRA should not go even further. Haggarty stated that the track organization would refuse to accept the 00 from the employes but would make the sum up themselves. Haggarty, moved by the spirit shown by the help in the MRA organization, expressed his gratitude for the cooperative spirit. t Under the terms of the settlement the track has agreed to raise its daily purse distribution from 4,020 to an average of 7,020. The horsemen originally demanded a 0,000 per diem purse outlay but later scaled it down to 7,500. Before yesterdays final session, the MRA,had offered to raise its daily purse distribution to 6,000 but the horsemen rejected the proposal. No agreement has yet been reached on a demand that the minimum purse be boosted from ,50* but all parties seemed confident this matter would be settled satisfactorily. The main point is that the strike is definitely off, there will be racing today and every other week-day until the current meeting ends as scheduled on July 28, all because of the telegram and the astute leadership of Carroll, who is not often found occupying the spotlight. Carroll, along with his union duties, also is interested in the thoroughbred sport and he has been a small scale breeder at his thoroughbred nursery, situated on nearby Eight Mile Road.
