Evening journal., 1917-08-21
government MAY
settle Strikes
Continued from First Page

employees for the past week. II Is
impossible. however 10 secure any
s.atemsnts from those in authority as
to the subject matter Of these confer
ences, or whether or not there Is any
possibility OF their differences, what
ever they may be, being amlcably set
tied. In fact, II is generally under
stood among labor union men, that
there is a probability Of a similar
strike being called at the Harlan plant
tomorrow.
The trouble at Pusey and d,Jones plant
started on Saturday when a number OF
the rlveters laid down their tools and
walked out. and these were followed
yesterday by almost all the remaining
boatyard employees. The men say that
their initial grievance Is that the
company has employed two non-union
men In the shlpyards, in violation OF
their agreement with the union, and
refuse TO either force them TO iOin
the union, or 10 discharge them. There
also is some talk among the men that
the company was asked to discharge
workman who was behind in his union
dues. Union men seen today were in
ollned to scout this phase OF the
question.
Since the walk-Out, the question Of
/ increased wages apparently has be-
come another matter for decision. The
workmen charge that there is gross
/. favoritsm shown in the arrangement
of contract gangs, which comprise
three men. a riveter, a heater and a
pickup man, who, collectively, earn
$3.50 daily, the men receiving rfspoc-
hourly. According 10 some OF the
men, this system is a good arrange
ment. provided one Stands in" with
the foreman, but the men complain
that some Of The gangs are not being
treated as well as are some others.
Striking workmen held a meeting
last evening in their headquarters in
the old Odd Fellows Hall at Third
and King streets, where the entire
matter was thoroughly discussed un.
I'll after midnight. After the meet.
ing, It was stated, though not official.
/ ly, that the men had given. the com.
pany until tomorrow evening to com
ply with all of their dbnands. other.
wise they would feel constrained TO
take the only course left open to
them. However. it seems to be the
concensus Of 'abor opinion that the
entire matter shall be conducted in
an orderly manner. and there Is i1t-
tie II any. fear of any trouble
! The conduct Of the fight. on behalf
of the unions is in chariC of
William j. Buckley, a national Of
: flcer OF the unions involved ana is
being conducted without reference 10
the local national representative OF
the American Federation OF Labor.
John II. Hickey. who also Is president
OF the Central Labor Union. The
company. It is understood. has laid
the situation before the authorities at
Washington, and will take no action
until there has been instructions re
ceived from the government authori
ties. This action was taken because
the government has commandeered
an contracts for merchant tonnage IN
progress at the yards.
Numerous efforts to get in touch
d with William J. Buckley, the newly ap
!, pointed organizer Of the shipbuilders
J unions in This district, who seems {
4 be in command Of tho situation. faile
up 20 the TING Of going 20 press. anc
J while other leading labor union ON
? cias Of this district would make M
b comments on the present situation sew
cral expressed themselves this after
noon as being somewhat mystined a
the local situation and as 90 what tn
strikers were trying TO gain. They sa,
that there is a satisfactory Workin
! agreement with the Puscy & Jonc
Company 90 is an clght-hour plant
, and that general working condition
have seemed TO be all right
According TO dispatches from Wash
ington today the nationwide strik
in steel shipyards working on govern
ment contracts Will be prevented b
recognition Of the demand for in
creased wages. Shipyard owners who's
contracts have been taken over by tn