Barometer Falling

Canada's fears of serious labor troubles rose sharply. In Windsor, where a smoldering strike of 10,000 Ford Motor Co. of Canada workers entered its third month, there were signs of flame.

The trouble started on Friday, when Ford's Canadian management asked police to escort 35 guards through the picket lines ''to safeguard machinery." Eleven policemen formed a wedge, rammed into the lines. The pickets stood firm. Fists flew. The police discreetly retired.

Then Canadians heard ominous news. Ontario's Attorney General Leslie Blackwell sent 250 Ontario provincial police from Toronto to reinforce Windsor's cops. He followed it up by asking Ottawa for Royal Canadian Mounted Policemen. He got 200. Besides, 300 Regular Army troops from Chatham were held outside Windsor in readiness. Then Blackwell proclaimed: "A state of emergency exists in Windsor."

To the workers, in no mood to modify their demands for a closed shop and a dues checkoff, all this was a signal to prepare for a fight. Picket lines at each of the sprawling plant's 17 gates grew longer, thicker, more sullen. On Monday, 8,500 additional workers--from Windsor's Chrysler, Gar Wood, Kelsey Wheel and some 20 other smaller plants, walked out in sympathy. Pickets began erecting street barricades (hundreds of autos, bumper to jumper).

Union Director George Burt cried a warning: "[Premier George] Drew and Attorney General Blackwell . . . will have to take responsibility for bloodshed."

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