The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-09-20
HURLEY TO TRY
TO END STRIKE
Empowered by Wilson to Make
Offer to Ship Workers.
PRESIDENT MAY TAKE HAND
Situation Has Reached Point Where
Shipping Board Realizes Settle
ment Must Be Reached Soon
War Work Held Up.

Washington, Sept. 19.-Employers
and employees involved in the labor
disputes in shipyards on the Pacific
coast as well as in other sections Oh
the country, are to be asked TO come
to a speedy agreement TO aid the gov
eminent in its work.
If necessary President Wilson may
take a hand in settling the troubles
which have interrupted government
work.
As yet the executive mansion is
holding off from entering into the stu
alton, and attempts at settling the dis
putcs have been left largely in the
hands of the shipping board, the newly
organized adjustment committee and
President GomperS of the American
Federation of Labor.
Will Go TO Coast.
Chairman f. y. Hurley made prep
arations to leave for San Francisco
today to place the arguments Of the
federal authorities before the labor
and capital involved. lie may call at
the White House before he starts on
the trip.
Mr.. Hurley will carry with him the
authority of the president. il is said, TO
act definitely.
The situation has reached a point
where the shipping board realizes that
settlement must be brought about
without unnecessary delay in the best
Interests of the nation, and officials
are satisfied that an adjustment will
be reached when the situation is placed
before the warning factions on that
basis.
1t has been stated that certain en-
ployers have acted in a manner which
hindered speedy adjustment, unless the
government assumed the entire burden
of expense, bur ii is not thought that
they will be acceptable To the labor
interests and the government.
Mr.. Hurley spent most of the day
In consultation with Mr.. Gompers and
Secretary of Labor Wilson.
Mediator Acts.
san Francisco, Sept. l9.-Govern-
ment machinery moved rapidly during
the day to settle the strike of approxi-
mately $4,000 iron workers and ship
builders, whose walkout after rejection
of higher wage demands paralyzed 100
or more great and small industrial
plants in San Francisco and vicinity
and tied up war emergency construc-
ton tOtaling S150,0000O0
The first concrete results OF n CON
ference, called by W. r. Boyce, an as
siSiant immigration commissioner
here appointed by Secretary of Labor
Wilson as federal mediator and CON
ciliatOr, with committees of the Cali
fornia Metal Trades association and
the Iron Trades council, the organiza-
tions of employers and employees re-
Spectively, was II serious discussion of
Il plan whereby the striking craftsmen
members of % unions, might return to
work with pay based on the scale of
wages paid at Mare Island navy yard
See End of Strike Near.
No definite action was taken. the
conferees adjourning until James l..
Ackerson, representing the United
States shipping board, had had oppor-
tunity TO ascertain the federal wage
scale.
Leaders of the men expressed will
ingness 10 discuss any reasonable"
compromise which might be officially
offered. 1t was generally felt at the
headquarters of both factions that
some method of speedily ending the
strike would be found.
Marines on Guard.
Marines patroling the Union Iron
works, the largest of the plants af-
fected, refused TO allow anyone to an
pronch the gates unless armed with a
pass. II was said additional guards
would be placed about other ship
building plants in San Francisco, Oak
land and Alameda.
Ninety automobiles, each manned by
two policemen, pHtrolled lines of the
United Railroads in certain districts in
u determined effort TO prevent recur-
renee of riOtlng.