Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-09-03
SAILORS MAY QUIT
STRIKE THREATENED WHICH WILL
PARALYZE BRITISH COMMERCE..
FOR RECOGNITION OF UNION
TROUBLE GREW OUT OF A DEMAND
FOR HIGHER WAGES.
Strike Is Scheduled to Begin Monday
-Trans-Atlantic Traffic VIII He
the First to Feel the
Effect of the
Strike.
FOR RECOGNITION OF UNION

LONDON, Sept. 2-No one prides himself
more upon the greatness of the merchant
marine than does the British subject, yet.
strangely enough, no one Is binder TO
events that menace its welfare. This coun-
Try is apparently on the eve of u sailors
ana hremens strike that will paralyze
commerce, yet so far the matter has re-
ceived only passing notice in the British
press and has attracted practically no pub
llc interest. The trouble arose over a man
ifesto to the shipowners by the Seamen's
and Firemen's union, inviting them to con-
fer on the question of fixing a rate for fire.
men and sailors on steamers of $50 and for
sailors on sailing ships of $40 monthly, "a
slight advance In the average wages now
paid at the various British ports The
shipowners utterly ignored the union with
the result that the latter has planned a
strike at every port of the United King
dom, to commence next Monday
Mr.. Joseph Havelock Wilson, member of
parliament for Middlesborough, a Radical,
but who was elected more particularly as a
labor representative, has been addressing
meetings at Liverpool. Bristol Newcastle
and Glasgow.
The stewards and cooks, it is said, have
joined forces with the seamen, but the
wage issue is now rather secondary to the
recognition of the union by the shipown-
ers. Any offer to negotiate by the latter
would probably defer and, perhaps, pre-
vent, the proposed strike. The men claim
that, though the shipping trade has i'm
proved, the workers condition has re-
mained stationary.
Already the force of the strike movement
is beginning to be felt Fearing that il
would be unable to get a crew for the
s. o. 1a,
Monday. the White Star Line Steamship
Company tried to have the men sign Thurs
day last, but the later refused in body
The owners of the Dominion line steamer
Cambroman and the Cunard line steamer
Sylvania met with similar experience at
Liverpool.
An official of the F'iremen's union is quot
ed saying he believed the strike was in
evitable, but thought it would only last fol
week, the shipowners then being COM
pelied at least to negotiate.
The Shipping Gazette, speaking for the
shipowners. says they are justified in ignor-
ing the communications from the men be-
cause the union is an irresponsible and un-
representative body. The paper referred to
belittles the possibility OF serious conse-
quences from the strike, and concludes by
saying that things are not SO desperately
bad with our mercantile marine as to re-
quire recognition of an insignificant trade
union at all costs is proved by the increas-
ing desire of aliens to serve on British
ships as sailors. The union is once more
going to do foreign seamen a good turn by
throwing open new avenues of employment
for them
The note of appeal in this conclusion,
however, rather robs the previous optimis-
tic statement of their strength.
The Liverpool Merchants Service Guild
has passed resolutions disappearing the
threatening strike. saying the demands of
the men are unreasonable and urging the
officers of the merchant service to resist
the mems efforts.
Unless the shipowners agree to negotiate,
it is likely that next week will see the
greatest blow dealt British shipping in
many years. The tremendous trans Allan
tic travel will probably first feel its ef-
fectS
GLASGOW, Sept. Am open air meet
ing of seamen and firemen was held here
to-day, and was addressed by Joseph H.
Wilson, Radical member of parliament for
Middlesborough.. A resolution was passed
that the men would so on strike Monday
unless the increase in wages asked for was
granted.