Electrical workers had voted to defer a decision on joining the general strike. An official said its action was intended to avert the "widespread catastrophe" that would result from interruption of service. International Typographical Union President Charles P. Howard arrived to take part in the printers' last-minute negotiations with the publishers. A year earlier-in the spring of 193 3-the publishers had demanded a 10 percent wage cut from the printers. Publishers had reinforced their demand with three hundred professional strikebreakers, supplied by the American Newspaper Pub- lishers' Association's open shop department, and even then lounging around the corner in the posh Palace Hotel. Now, with the general strike due to start the next morning, the publishers quickly offered to restore the cut and make it effective at once. Howard carried the offer to the printers' meeting. Despite vigorous opposition, it was adopted by a three-to-one vote. The question of joining the general strike was not specifically raised but the new contract effectively insured uninterrupted publication of the Bay Area dailies.