The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-04-02
Lonsshoremen and Sailors Have
Clash Of Authority, With As.
sociation ''the Fall Guy"
BOTH CLAIM SANE RIGHTS
Unions Fail to GetTogether and
LOngshoremeh Declare As.
ISOLATION Unfair Other
Maritime happenings.

The first clash between members OF
the longshoremen's union and the en-
plpyers occurred yesterday, when q
strike was declared on the Columbia
River Packers Association. From all
that can be learned regarding the mat
se,, % the association has been involved
in conflict OF authority between the
longshoremen and the fishermen Of
ficials of the association say they are
powerless to take any action and have
asked the two unions to settle the mat
ter among themselves.
The trouble came up at the associa-
tion dock, where the bark Harry Morse
is being loaded for Alaska. The as
sociation recently signed its sailors for
the trip. Heretofore the sailors have
always loaded the Alaska vessels, al
though the officials of the association
declared yesterday they personally pre-
ferred to use longshoremen in this
work. However the sailors thought
they should be permitted to do the
work, and, being unionized, their wish
es were respected, the association
merely complying with the demands
of the union.
Yesterday the longshoremen de-
manded that they be permitted to load
the Morse. Representatives of the un-
ion made the demand, in a letter ad-
dressed to Samuel Elmore, vice-presi-
dent OF the association. At the same
time the Alaska Fishermen's Union,
which is conducted in connection with
the Coast Seamen's Union, made a
similar demand. Both unions claim
ed the right to load the ship
This put the officials of the associ-
alton up against a most peculiar sit
uation of affairs. The association
wanted the men to settle the difficulty
among themselves, hut this could not
be doae, neither side being willing to
give in. The sailors had the advantage
of possession of the premises and
would not leave -he vessel If the as
sociation decided in favor of the long
snoremen, the sailors would strike,
and it the decision were in favor of
the sailors the longshoremen would
strike. When Mr.. Elmore received
Secretary Noonans demand that the
longshcremen be permitted to load the
vessel, he wrote the following repuly,
in part
I'VE are between the devil and the
deep sea. We prefer longshoremen to
load our ships, and mad partially made
our arrangements with Messrs. Nc
Cabe & Brown to load the ship, but
our crew going north insist upon hand
ling the cargo themselves, for two
reasons-frst, because they want the
money; second, because when they un-
load the cargo they will know just
where every package is. We think it
is a proposition that can be easily ad-
justed by your own good selves with
out bringing US into the controversy,
which we hope you will certainly do
and settle it for all time"
When the sailors refused to leave
the ship, claiming the right under
their union regulations to load the ves-
sci, the longshoremen declared the as
ISOLATION unfair. They went even fur
ther than this and declared Mr. Elmore
unfair, refusing to unload his steam
er Harrison which had just reached
port with cargo of freight. Mr.. FL
more protested that the affairs of the
Columbia River Packers Association
had nothing to do with his private
business, but the union had not come
around to this way of looking at
things when Mr.. Elmore left his Of
fee last evening. Mr.. Elmore said of
the matter:
II can not understand why either the
or myself has been drawn
into this controversy. It's merely a |
question as to which Of the two unions |
has the right to load the ship. We are
anxious to have our work done by |
union men, and whichever union |
should do 1t would be permitted to go |
ahead. We know nothing about the |
conduct Of the unions, and l think it |
will be agreed that we have not the |
to decide this question. Why, |
under the terms of the demands of the
two unions, the association would be
liable to boycott no matter which un-
ion was employed. It's a matter for