New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-18
May Tie Up Coal
Longshoremen Still
Delay Action.
UNIONS MEET
MAYOR TO-DAY
Lack of Police Likely
Factor in Plea for Car
Settlement.

The threat OF sympathetic strikes
in support OF the car men simmercd
down yesterday TO the possibility
the longshoremen may quit later ~
the week. Power TO order this strike
was voted TO Thomas V. O'Connor,
international president, BY the local
council of longshoremen. While de-
claring his sympathy with the ,sr
men, O'Connor was in no mood -
order a walkout last night.
His first duty, he held, was 10 hi
own organization, and it Is doubtful
if he will exercise the power vested
in him unless those in charge of the
car mems strike succeed in demon
strating TO him that by going out IN
sympathy the longshoremen can ex-
tend definite aid to those now out
Tidewater Boatmen Resiiye.
The nearest approach to a strike
was the vote last night of the Tide
water Boatmen, with 5000 members,
to quit work at time 10 be fixed by
the longshoremen's union TO enforce
their demands for higher wages and
better working conditions. They ask
$50 a month and recognition Of Their
union.
Charles Sheraton, secretary, OK
planned that the strike is not in sym
pathy with the car men.
"We are out 10 better our own
conditions" he said. "Thc fact that
the Interborough coal supply may be-
endangered is incidental We will
tie up all coal, Interborough or other
wise"
Mayor 10 Meet Men To-day.
O'Connor, as the representative -
the longshoremen, will be one OF
delegation Of labor men who will con
fer with Mayor Mitchell to-day on tho
general situation. Others arc william
B. Fitzgerald, organizer in charge OF
tho car strike; Edward Bohm. secretsry
Of the Central Federated tnion and of
the conference committee in charge o'
tho sympathetic strike situation, and
Hugh Frayne, organizer Of the Amor
/, can Federation Of Labor Timotlr
Hesly, international president OF Tho
Firemen's Union, is also expected.
Hesly'8 organization. which hss iu
risdiction over the men m the power
houses Of the companies, IS one which
10 has been said would be involved in
any general strike. y IT, genersllY
conceded among labor men that tho
power house men viii not quit. Dor
this reason Healy's appeal 10 the Mayor
again 20 intervene was looked upon in
the nature Of al appeal for help.
Both the International Longshorc-
mems Association and the Tidewster
Boatmen's Union held special meetings
yesterday.
The Longshoremen assembled ~
their rooms at 546 West wenty-third
Street At 2 p. m. and listened 20 ~
address by O'Connor. Various unions
of the parent body had grievance
against certain steamship companies
and some Of tho union men have pre-
sented evidence Of violations Of con-
tract, but none Of these misunderstsnd-
ings will be acted upon now.
After the meeting O'Connor said
that whatever decision might be taken
By the longshoremen ne would under
no circumstances call a strike OF tho
5000 scow trimmers and others EN-
ployed in handling the city's garbage.
Whom the longshoremen's meeting
i Il 4
Union went into session, sdJourning a.
$3.50 p. m.
A. the Hotel Continental after two
meetings O'Connor said that Of the
forty-two local unions only four had
voted on the question Of striking, lesv-
ing thirty-eight 10 vote between now
and mid-week.
"Will your men quit" he was asked.
"They have given me the power 70
call strike" he replied.
"Will you call one?" he was asked.
No Strike to Aid Car Men.
THAT depends on Developments
"How would your men quitting help
the car men?
"The same money that controls the
cars controls the shipping. II may be
a case Of hitting where we can. IL ~
is d fight between labor and capital We
are with labor naturally"
O'Connor's friendstsaid that the long
shoremen's chief had found himself in
an embarrassing position, inssmuch as
contract with two years 10 run was
signed by him with the chief shipping
interests Of this port last year. Hitherto
he has insisted on his people respect
ing all contracts.
! None of the labor men would say yes
i terday what they expected TO result
/ from the conference with Mr.. Mitchell
: to-day. The fact that Arthur Woods
I is also 10 attend led 20 the belief that
/ the argument which proved effective in
/ the first strike-insbility of the police
+ 70 furnish all the protection necessary
for the complete breaking OF the strike
might again obtain an agreement
from the railway officials TO send
everything in dispute to arbitration.
So far tho companies have not at.
tempted TO run any carr at night