Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-30
EMPLOYEES QUIT
WORK ON WARSH|PS
Strike at Newport News Yards
May Mean Costly
Delay.
OVER 500 MACHINlSTS OUT
Conferences in Washington Fail
to Find Solution of La
Dor Trouble.

wASHINGToN. May Wholesale
registration troubles. spy plots and
antiwsr propa ganda were complicated
to-day by strike which threatens 10
throw out Of gear tho entire program
for speed in naval construction.
Despite tho utmost efforts of tho
government. q large group uf skilled
mechanics and machinists. who can
not Immediately be replaced. auit work
on the warships being rushed to COM
piction in the yards .of the Newport
News Shipbuildins and Dry Dock
Company. AT Newport News. Va
They turned down the efforts OF
Samuel GOmpcrs. president Of the
American Federation Of Labor. and
leader OF the Council Of National DC.
tense. and OF l.. q. Lewis. "a conciliator.
rushed to the scene by Secretary of
Labor Wilson. to bring about a ,.ork-
ing agreement
HANDLING VAST AMOUNT
OF GOVERNMENT WORK
The Newport News yards arc hand
ling moro government work probably
than any other shipbuildinC companv
IN the country. The navy. because Of
their great facilities. awarded them
scores of contracts IN tho understand
ing that not moment would he lost
in getting tho ships into the water
Especially was this so Of a number Of
dcstroyers needed Immediately for
submarine hunting in Europe. and Of
other Graf; demanded for patrol work
along the coast.
In addition. the Newport News Com
pany was at work on several larger
ships. pcr-Dreadnoughts and the
"A ,.I,
vital need should the American fcet
become engaged in any major engage
mcnt.
The men made secret demands upon
tho company. which arc understood
to have included higher wages Every
effort 10 bring about an agreement
was made. When the situation began
TO take on serious aspect the Dc
partmcnt Of Labor rushed Mr. Lewis
TO the scene.
The Navy Department lot the com.
pany understand that the work must
go on. Samuel Gompers also brought
his influence TO bear. il was stated
here tonight. Mr.. Ciompcrs. in a
public statement. had pledged labor
TO the government. and declared there
would be no slackcrs TO he found
within the ranks OF organized work
men.
LENGTHY CONFERENCE
IS WITHOUT RESULTS
y lengthy conference was held late
this afternoon in tho Office Of Score
tary OF the Navy Daniels in an effort
TO bring about an end of the strike
Other government rcprcs natives to-
night arc reported on their way TO
Newport News.
The government made no effort Ia
conceal its anxiety over The situa-
tion. 1t was pointc out that il was
almost impossible To replace the men.
All experts in their line. without seri-
"usiy hampcring the speed program
AT other points. The government has
hcen working three shifts at many
yards. and has been letting all its
recent contracts on a cost plus 10 per
cent profit basis. so that expense might
not act TO delay speed on its con-
tracts
The strike was tho outstanding fca-
ture OF situation which Is seriously
worrying and embarrassing the ad-
ministration. II is combining with
other manifestations of war opposi-
ton or war apathy which the gov.
crnment views rs mcnacine the safety
of the nation.