The sun., 1917-09-21
WAR SONG SETTLES
'LONGSHORE STRIKE
Arbitration Plan Wins Amid
Cheers Of Union Men for
Patriotic Ballad.
BACK TO WORK TO-DAY
Proposed Sympathy Walkout
on Hoboken Piers Dropped
u. s. Ready to Act.
BACK TO WORK TO-DAY

After Tommy Vary sang Lets All
Be Americans Now" at the Grand The
atre meeting yesterday afternoon. which
was to settle the strike Of $500 long
shoremen or continue II indefinitely, II
was all over for the objectors who OPP
posed submitting their dispute to arbi-
tration.
About 500 Of the longshoremen whose
refusal to work has tied up important
Government shipping since Saturday
rose at that song and cheered for Presi-
dent Wilson and Capt. william B. Baker
OF the United States transport service.
who few minutes before had mixed a
few threats with an appeal for loyalty.
Sixty cars Of refrigerated beef will be
loaded when the longshoremen buckle
down to work at Z o'clock this morning.
BY a vote Of 4ly to 217 they decided to
leave the disposition Of Frank Labardo.
tho non-union foreman. to the arbitra-
tion committee headed by r. b. Stevens,
vice-chairman Of the International Ship
ping Board.
sac, 900 Lost In Wages.
The fve day strike has cost the freight
ships waiting cargoes for war use over
the seas have been tied up. Two French
lines suffered in common with the Gu
nard, International Mercantile Marine,
Anchor and Panama lines
A threat Of an extension Of q SYM
pathy strike to the Hoboken piers was
definitely abandoned after the meeting
yesterday. Walter H. Holt, president of
tho longshoremen's union there stated.
The motive operating among the
strikers was demonstrated to be solely
maintenance Of the union shop issue. To
prove that there was no disloyaty to
the Government in their walkout 200 of
the union mon worked for Ave hours
yesterday morning unloading mail from
a Cunard liner docked at Pier 81 with
out prospect Of pay.
John F. Riley. president Of the district
council OF the International Longshore-
mons Association. was happy after the
meeting at tho Grand Theatre. He said
there would be no trouble from the 211
who voted against arbitrating. He will
regard any dispute Of the arbitration
boards proceedings as q blemish on the
name OF the union. he said.
Government Ready to Act.
Capt Baker. addressing the mas.
meeting. said that the Government had
confidence in tho loyalty Of the long
shoremen, but that unless they agreed Il
q settlement the Government would tak'
immediate steps to restore shipping t.
| normal. Tho strikers could be con
scripted for this purpose, he said.
vice-Chairman Stevens made the ples
that supplies must be expedited. and T
". O'Connor. president OF the interna
tional union. also asked the men to drol
their opposition and let the Labardt
matter 60 to arbitration.
Labardo. who Is the centre point fo
the controversy. worked UP from tn
ranks to a foremanship. The striker
said that he was offensive in his treat
ment Of the men.
Tho members Of the arbitration boart
are r. b. Stevens. Capt Baker. Presi
dent O'Connor and P. A. S. Franklin
president Of the International Mercantil
Marine.
| No action will be taken by the arbitra
tion board to discharge or retain La
bardo until the strikers have furnishe
actual proof Of their consent to arbitra
ton. Mr.. O'Connor said last night /
the agreement is kept to return to worl
At o'clock this morning 1t Is likely tn
board will meet during the day.
Ward Line officials received word las
night that the 800 negro longshoreme
who have been holding out for pay in
crease. will return to work this morn
ing. Yesterday the ship compan
granted . cent increase an hour 70
regular working time and granted
scale of 80 to 65 cents an hour 70
overtime and holidays. The striker
wanted 20 cent increase for regula
time.