Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-10-02
MEETINGS
BEFORE CHAMBER
CLARITY POINTS
Announcement Made BY Strik-
ers That Open Shop Matter
is to Be Eliminated

Recommendation OF the earbltra.
tion committee of the Chamber OF
Commerce that the stevedores now on
strike return TO their work immedi-
ately ind then make demands on
their employers for increased wages.
were fatty refused Saturday after
noon.
The strikers intend to stand pat"
for the time being. and viii not re-
turn to work except on the wage scale
OF 40 cents an hour and 50 cents an
hour for overtime. They desire TO an.
nounce publicly. and so informed the
arbitration committee. that. In all
future discussions or conferences.
they viii eliminate the question Of
the closed or open shop.
This Is a summary Of the results Of
three meetings held on Saturday by
the chamber committee with repre-
sentatives of the local Iongshoremen
and Representatives OF the ironwork-
ers' union, as forecast by the Star
Bulletin.
Holds Three Sessions
The committee met with the steve
dores' representatives at o'clock IN
the morning, and an hour later con-
ferred with the representatives OF the
shippers The entire situation per
tanning to the strike was well thresh-
ed out at both conferences. These
were held behind closed doors.
At 1870 o'clock the committee cali
ed the representatives Of the steve
dores into q special. and also exec,l-
tive meeting. Recommendation that
the strikers return to their work Inn
mediately, and then make their de-
mands for higher wages on their en-
ployers. were presented.
In view Of the fact that the sffik-
Hers left work without first making
their demands, the COMMITTEES feels
justified In presenting these recon-
mendations.' said Chairman Calf
In presenting the verbal reoommen.
dations, Chairman Gait said that. 4
the steyedores would return to work.
the committee would use al influence
and that 1t believed the strikers
would get favorable and prompt con-
alteration from their employers.
which doubtless would prove a vital
factor In. the attempts to bring the
strike to satisfactory ending
Considerable discussion Of the re-
Communications followed, the repre-
sentatives Of the strikers finally ask
ing until 3 o'clock to give the commit.
tee their answer This request was
allowed
NEGATIVE decision Apnounced
At 3 o'clock the representatives
filed into the chamber rooms Their
answer was brief and to the point.
lack" Edwardson, business agent Tor
the Sailors Union and one Of the rep
resentatives Of the Jsfeyedores. an
ncunced that the strikers had decided
to stay where they are until they
could be assured OF wage scale Of
40 cents an hour and 55 cents an hour
for overtime.
Edwardson branded the recommen-
dations of the chamber committee a8
ridiculous proDosition."
ut cant be done. he said. It
seems improbable to ask US TO adhere
to them
The representatives Of the strikers
further announced that they felt the
chamber COMMITTEES had no authority
to attempt an arbitration Of the dIl-
ferences. They added that IN their
opinion the only way to get TO the
bottom Of the situation was to have
the strikers meet directly with their
employees. In this way. they declared.
some progress could be made. They
argued that they were willing to meet
the shippers IN conference At any
time. day or night.
:All we are asking Is that the ship
pers nay Us what we demand. assert
ed Edwardson..
New COMMITTEES eupqested
One member Of the chamber com
mfttee suggested that the strikers 50
back to work and that an arbitration
committee satisfactory both to ship
pers and strikers he appointed to de-
eide on scale Of wages within q DEF
mite time
Gum. one Of the representatives 81