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Calvin Coolidge got the Presidency by way of the Vice Presidency and the Vice Presidency by way of the Boston Police Strike. If Frank Murphy got to the White House by way of the General Motors strike, history could not be accused of repeating itself. Coolidge did not settle his strike, but Murphy did settle his. Coolidge called out the National Guard to preserve law & order. Murphy, although he called out the Guard to preserve order refused to let the Guard enforce the law as represented by Judge Gadola's injunction ordering the sit-downers out of plant in which they were trespassing. Early aboard this vehicle was the American Irish Historical Society which called Gov ernor Murphy to Manhattan to receive a gold medal for "eminent public service' (as Mayor of Detroit and Governor General of the Philippines).
Money. A higher wage scale was not part of the strikers' demands in the General Motors sit-downs. Day of the settlement, however, General Motors announced a general wage increase of 5¢ an hour This was followed next day by a 5¢-per hour raise by Packard, both coming closely; on the heels of Chrysler's announcement last week of a 10% increase. All three companies had made previous wage increases, Chrysler 5% last June, Packan 5¢ and General Motors about 5¢ an hour last November. As a result of these wage increases General Motors estimated it will pay out about $55,000,000 more a year in wages, Packard $3,250,000, Chrysler about $20,000,000.