davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24

light as to demand investigation with view
to a criminal process
"A criminal process!
Mr' hurley knew, and the President must
nave known, that the officers of the Sbippino
Board, Mr.. Hurley's board. had annrovod
every contract, every purchase made at HOY
Island, either by the American international
or any of the sub-contractors
AND Admiral Bowles had already been
sent TO hog Island to review the whole work
aAa no" reports that he has found no graft.
is Mr. Hurley sitting tight in the boat?
Accusations of misconduct at Hog
Island are thus summarized in "The Fort
Worth Record" which asserts that "Hop
Island is we'll named"
About S42,000,000 Of government monev
mas peen spent in the Hog Island project in
"hlch the American International CORPORA
tlon, headed by Frank A. Vanderlp. president
OF the National City Bank, has figured An
Official reported that there has been NOTHING
worse at Hog island than inefficient manage
'Aent and reckless spending OF funds. Other
wise, hog Island is all right. Colonel Black.
ol fhliadelphla, is one of the former owners
Oh the island. 1t is alleged that he got s.. 600
ar acre for his property, whereas a wear ago
ne held an option on Hog Island at 81 900 an
acre" "'
Following which statement it is we'll to
read what Mr. Vanderlip himself was re-
ported as saying in "The Los Angeles
Times:
the purchase OF all lands used by the Hog
Island shpyard was made on the plans ap,
proved by the Federal Shipping Board Not
penny was made By the connanv in tho
erection of the yard At present there aro
1000 men employed, and it is the largest
shlpyard in the world The schedule laid
down by the government as to the speed ex
pected has been exceeded"
10 revert to The Tribunes plea for fair
play, this paper suggested,
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24

Staten Island draft board within twenty
four hours" adds "The New York Eve
ming Post" turning to the draft threat
"to call up strikers of draft age and
throw them into Class l."
"The immediate result the threat Of
strike by all the $4,000 or 10000 carpenters in
the harbor. Had such action been persisted
in, other branches of labor would have been
angered, and all the governments relations
with it compromised"
"Whie strikes in the shipyards are very
exasperating to the public" continues
"The Springfield Republican" "more harm
than good is done by those who seize the
opportunity to agitate for the 'conscrip-
ton of labor" Indeed
"Any serious effort to put it through would
wreck this countrys entire programme
In order to make 'conscription Of labor even
moderately successful the government would
have to take over all industries for which
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24

Evening Mail" "Thc Macon Telegraph y
"The Hudson Observer" "The New York
Evening World" "The New York Sum-"
"The New York Times" "The St. Louis
Post-Dispatch," "The Cincinnati Times
Star" "The Minneapolis Journal" ''The
Providence News" and "The Dallas
News" The moderate note is struck at
length by "'The Pittsburgh Dispatch"
"Charges of aiding the enemy are not made
by the President, who properly distinguishes
between q strike which has that effect and
strikers who have no such thought His state
ment that their quitting work when the gov
crnment had provided means of adjustment
strikes a deadly blow at the nations war
progress must bring that realization to the
workers. while his manifest determination to
hold the balance equal between capital and
labor must invite their confidence. His re-
tusai to confer with President Hutchcson
until the men return to work and agree to ac-
cept the same conditions as all other labor
organizations working directly or indirectly
for the government is logical There is no
occasion for appeal to him until every, other
means of adjustment provided by the govern
ment has been tried"
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24

France, was easily stirred by the thought
of men whose business it is to work ON
ships-the most essential American war
work-leaving this work to gain better
wages and the "closed shop"
On their side the strikers could cite
"higher wages for similar work on the
Pacific Coast" and could point the finger
of suspicion toward alleged prohteering
in the Hog Island shpbuilding. plant And
meantime the American Federation OF
Labor, asserting the loyalty of American
labor in general but controlling only a
small percentage of that labor, found it's
loyalty pledges embarrassed by small
group of strongly organized laborers The
situation, indeed, was full of ironical para
doNes as well as dangerous possibilities
chairman Hurley Makes Demand
~ OF Hutcheson
The carpenters strike, not at all an ex-
tensive affair, rose and fell within week,
but it was a busy, exciting week. First
Chairman HurlV of the Shipping Board
virtually demanV fd of Mr.. Hutcheson that
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
New York Tribune (Rep.)

The defeat at st. Louis of Mr. John r.
Adams for the craftsmanship Of the Republi-
can National Committee had in it nothing
personal 1t was clear cut national
issue. Now that the circumstances have been
fully detailed in all the newspapers, it is
worth while to emphasize the fact Mr..
Adams is, we believe, a man of high standing
and recognized ability 1t was graceful act
that he should himself have withdrawn from
the contest and himself placed Mr.. Hays in
nomination. For the same reasons that neces-
STATED his rejection chairman we regret
that at this time he should not have efTaced
himself still further and withdrawn from the
vice-chairmanship we'll. If he remains he
should promptly indicate in a public eetter
that his adhesion to the cause of his
country is now absolute and that he has no
sympathy and will have no traffic with any
covert disposition to engage on the Republi-
can side any of. the elements of disunion and
disoyaty.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
nREsIDENT WILSON'S mess
the striking shipvard carpenters


''Will you cooperate or obstruct?"
came as the climax of series of
contradictory developments in the world
of American labor 1t will be remem-
eered that the local strikes at New
York and Baltimore which ended with the
Presidents sharp query came in the same
week that marked the completion of the
drive for 250,o00 skilled shipyard workers.
That same week had been designated as
labor loyalty week" In the meantime
some interesting developments were occur
ring at the hearing in Chicago concerning
conditions among steckyards Slaborers,
while In Washington the railroad wage
trainmen should receive Increased remu-
neration.
ret at the very same time the American
Federation of Labor, through it's executive
council. asked a Square deal' for work
ers, warned against profteers, and went
even beyond the President with a ringing
declaration that "the peace parleys be-
tween Russia and Germany have shown
the futlity of diplomatic negotiations un-
til Prusslan militarists are convinced thew
cannot impose their will on the rest of
the world" The government almost 81
multaneously announced the personnel of
the new joint conference of employers and
union leaders, which will lay down basis
OF relations between capital and labor dur
ing the war.
Coming as it did on the heels of these
developments and the recent findings of
the Presidents Mediation Commission, Mr..
Wilson'S pointed rejoinder to w. l..
Hutcheson, general president of the Car
penters and Joiners of America, may be
said to have dramatized the present situa-
ton of American labor in relation to it's
lifelong enemy" capital and pressing
problems of construction connected with
the urgent prosecution Of the war
On the one hand, the government had a
case in the words of the President, "No
body of men have the moral right, in the
present circumstances of the nation, to
strike until every method of adjustment
has been tried to the limit" Again, the
public at large, with fathers and sons in
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24

Throw $4,000 or 10000 men alono va+o,.
front OF two miles in hury-burly of hjoh
speed construction; do this in the midst Of q
coal famine fuelless Mondays and a fvedav
smut down, with transportation clogged and
supplies held up, and it would be miracle
II enormous waste did not occur.
What the public wants to know and will
De relieved to know is that whatever the
waste, there has been a miracle of sueed
ne contract was not officially signed until
SeptemDer -, and already keels are being
iald down, and in many instances they are
actually waiting for steel plates"
This miracle of speed" will be re-
peated in the course of the next few
weeks, from present indications. \ hin
providing for the expenditure of $50 OoO.-
ooo to erect homes for shpbuilding work
ers and their families is expected to be
ready for President Wilson's sionat1,ra
tomorrow Of this amount $4,000 0OO
VIII be immediately available, and the
Shipping Board is given power TO an
praise and condemn land in case there is
any difficulty in arriving at fair prices.
.. Roger flannery, chairman of the Shin
ping Boards special commission on hous-
ing, informed The Philadelphia Public
Ledger that the enactment of the bill
would be the signal fo~ immediate opera
tons IN Philadelphia, and that as soon as
'he President had affixed his name to the
measure the site for housing, already Sc
lected, would be announced. Eventuallv
an the employees except those who special
lze as buyers and as employment agents
VIII be housed at Hog Island. "My under
standing is that some of the officials have
already moved down there Admiral
Bowles said whimsically. II think one of
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
ben Come Papers Striking the
l. More Constructive Note

From this point one can find evidences
of what might be termed more construc-
tive view of the situation. "Pity is," says
The New York Tribune, "that these strik
ers had ever been thought disloyal. Angry
suspicion is obstructive as much on one
side as on the other" "The injurious
habit OF one group calling in question the
patriotism OF another group should be con-
quered," agrees "The New York Globe"
The sure way to intensity the shipyard
trouble fiftyfold was discovered bv a
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24

them is planning to put up bed and sleep
in his Office
Editorial opinion for the most part
seems to favor complete Investigation Of
the whole situation. "The Ollabon,. ;.
Oklahoman" says:
"Envious cynicism. which, like death. loves
a shining mark, will doubtless voice 80
gHou!ish qualification for that great names
are lhFolVed IN a malodorous affair Tho
SOUND of mind will pass no judgment pa-
Conal pubic opinion VIII await proof cone
CENT mat the Administration will find +ho
guilty" ''0 p"'''s" inc
''The Cleveland Newsv heartily an
proves Mr.. Wilson's course in orderinp an
investigation, and puts this additional in
depreciation upon his letter to Attornev
General Gregory:
incidentally, by intmating that loco -
rlous scandals may we'll 'be taken caro- of
mercy by public disclosure and discuss;or
'ne iresldent has properly repudated tbosa
" ms uhalscernlng admirers who have heen
Gaining 1t 'dlsloyaty' or treason to lot ~
American people know bo,, ~ W ie' the
going" war Is
The Hog Island probe should be swift
Slo 'hofough, says "The Charleston
News and Courier" to which score If
newspapers, regardless of partv lnes
agree, and for reasons which mThe Roc
'0n Globe" sets forth in terms as follows.
Inc corporation that wastes governne,+
h, money IS no better than the enemy agent who
ourhs grain elevator or puts borh :;
snip mold. 4, on the contrary. III, car
poraoion,s record is clean, both corporar,or
and public will be the better for the ;nvast;
cation. Nothing hurts public morale Moo
'han suspicion OF general corporate nrofit-
eering. Nothing will benefit public mora,s
bsseless." 'p''io" proved
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
TO-MORROW the Senate Committee
of Inquiry is scheduled to visit Hog


OF Inquiry is scheduled to visit Hog
Island. Hog Island is situated mean.
Philadelphia and is in process of being
converted into a giant shipbuilding ward.
Charges of extravaganza or graft have
been so numerous and so serious that
President Wilson has directed that sep
arate investigation be undertaken by the
Department of Justice On Wednesday
last G. Carroll Todd, assistant to the
United States Attorney General and Mark
Hyman, of New York, special assistant in
antitrust Investigations, began this task
under orders from Attorney General
Gregory. Meantime. says The New York
Tribune, editorially-
"it is unfortunate in the last degree that the
public mind, and especially the minds of
workingmcn, should have been poisoned as it
has by tales and rumors Of gross profiteer
ing, or worse. We hold no possible brief
Tor the company under whose direction the
work at Hog Island is being carried out.
But 1t is certainly of value that the public
shou!o nave some little appreciation of the
magnitude and difficulties of the project
flrst, as to the mere question of size.
When 1T Is completed, as it will be now
within few weeks, the Hog Island plant
will equal any six shipyards existing in this
country before the war 1t will be equal in
size probably, to any four of the largest
shipbuilding plants abroad before the war.
1t Will have fifty ways, where ten or dozen
were heretofore accounted large yard"
On Thursday The Tribune printed again
IN its editorial columns the letter sent by
Mr.. Wilson to Attorney General Gregory,
and originally published on the preceding
FRIDAY. The letter, with italics by the
editor, ran thuss
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
paper, Judging from comment that fol
lowed. He said, in part:

paper, Judging from comment that fol-
lowed. He said, in part:
Before any government agency is given an
opportunity to act. and despite the good rec
ord of adjustment boards promptncss and
fairness in dealing with all labor matters, you
attempt to paralyzc the shipbulding industry
at the Port of New York.
"Do you realize that you are adding to the
fearful danger soldiers already face, the
danger of starvation and the danger of
slaughter if food and ammunition are not sent
over in ships and in many ships at once?"
But the strikers ignored this plea and
demanded immediate promises from the
government on a number of proposals,
particularly regarding higher wages and
the closed shop. While both sides to the
controversy made free use of the word
'loyalty," the strike threatened to spread
rapidly. Simultaneously-and unfortu-
nately-there occurred moves by at least
one draft board to start repeating the in
dustrial exemptions of number of strik-
ers unless they returned to work. This
action, Immediately discredited by Wash
ington, nevertheless brought out talk of
"drafting labor" and increased the tense
ness of the situation. At the same time
the embarrassment Of Samuel Gompers
and the American Federation of Labor in
creased, for the carpenters union alone of
fifteen branches of labor engaged in ship
building work refused last fall to sign an
agreement to settle all disputes without
cessation of labor.
Then came the Presidents singing note,
and the strike ended with Mr.. Hutche-
son gradually "backing down" and going
into conference with Mr.. Hurley and Sam
uel Gompers, but still insistent on the
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
Refusing TO Jump to Conclusions About Hoo Island
The White House, Washington, D. c.,
/ III, ~.

The White House, Washington, D. c..
February 13, 1918.
Ny Dear Mr. Attorney General
Mr. Huvley, of the Shipping Board. has
called my attention to some very SERIOUS
1acts which have recently been developed
Tet'n regofd 10 contracts made in connection
with the shipbuilding programme zcith the
company operating at Hog Island. They are
so serious, indeed, that l do not think we can
let them be taken care Of n1erely bg public
d'SctoS0fe and discussion. | would be verv
much obliged if you would have some trust
worthy person in your department get into
consultation with Mr.. Hurley about the whole
matter, scifh zio1o to institutino criminal
process in case the facts justify it.
Cordially and sincerely yours.
WOODROW WILSON.
Hon. T. W. GREGORY, the Attorney General
And The Tribune followed this uD with
an invitation to "consider the astonishino
language of this note" Further reAec-
ton also was bespoken upon the fact that
on Wednesday of last week, four days
after the publication of Mr.. Wilson'S let
ter, Mr.. Hurley told The Tribune that
he had no anticipation that ANYTHING
crooked would be developed by the inyesti-
cation of the Department Of JUSTICE And
the editorial then proceeded as follows:
" hen had he no such anticipation? Be-
tore he urged the President to take this sten
or now? Apparently before, for when askcn
as TO why he suggested that the President
order the inquiry he replied that he consid.
cred 1t necessary step in order to keep his
records clear. ''''
This is the rest: The company operating
at Hog Island is the American Internation,l
Corporation, through its subsidiary. On it's
board are men of high standing in the finan-
oial world. TfX public, through the news
papers Is advised by Mr. Hurley and the
president that facts so serious have come to
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
New York Evening Pos. Nnd.o

~ IS not at all probable that Mr.. Hays cal
~ al'aln anything like the prestige of suci
cnairmen as B. F. Jones. Quar- and Mar
nanna; or on The Democratic side. Sever
Muie' ,I,' Barnum, Senator Gorman and ". c
"h'ehey- In an earlier epoch the chairms1
had more money to spend, relatively, in
campaign, with 40 inconvenient accounts t
render To this day. the campaign fun'
winch Hanna had at command in 1896 is onl'
guessed at. And in the Golden Age of ns
.'onal chairmen their power was mere arpr
'rary and unquestioncd Mr. Wilcox e'
feeiring stated patheticaily that he re-
NAMED of the conviction that Hughs'
" you'd nave been elected in 1916 if ons
the instructions o. the National Commr'
tee" had been carried out.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
PhiladeIphia Press (Ind \

-, ne programme of the new chairman o.
5ne u Republican National ComYnirtee Viii VII T.
nays OF Indiana, illustrates the energizsd Cd
character Of the man. lie will spend All the
'i'he necessary in the ardnoYs ,abor n
cleahing up the details connected with hi,
once OF chairman Of the Indiana Council Of
Na.'onai Defence Then he will 90 to Wash.
lhs1on Tor close study of party conditions
a. a. me capital, beth in and out Of Congress.
.a,:t: ne "lll follow that study with survey Of
poi.tleai trends in all parts OF the country
,n.'h'ng personal investigation whenever that
may seem advisable.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
Brooklyn Eagle (Ind. DENY

- me victory of the Progressive element in
the Republican party as expressed in the de-
feat of Mr. Adams and the election of Mr.
lays to the Craftsmanship of the national
committee stimulates talk of Theodore Roose-
velt as the Presidential nominee in 1920 So
lar as we can see at this distance nothing
can stop the Colonel from getting the nomi
nation except his possible failure to secure
the necessary number of votes.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
stThe Call" Wants the Governn.u
L To Take Over the Shipyard,

For the extreme radical construa;,.
view, one must turn to 'TThe Baltmc,.
American" "The New Haven Register
"The Washington Post" and "The Nan
York CALL" all of which wonder in ya,r
ing degrees if the government should nos
take over the shipyards. The wonde,
amounts to certainty in the case of "Ts.
CALL" which says:
1--WE sincerely hope that the governmeo.
will not lose moment IN taking over the 1se
shpyards where the vessels are being bril-.
on which the winning Of the war depends
Those yards are now seething with strike,
and threatened strikes. They have not been
fomented by 'agitators,' and denunciation win
not change the fact, nor will appeals to na.
triotsm have any permanent effect
"The trouble with the men is not disloyaltv
or pro-Germanism, or even indifference. Wha,
they object to is proftecrng."
Of the Presidents moral leadership
eXemplifed by the way he handled the sjt.
uation there is much admiration. And
among those papers which do not wholly
blame the strikers, there is much casting
about for the root Of the trouble. Gen.
orally, the opinion is that the whole Amer
lean labor policy has been wrong, and that
the new conference of employers and labor
leaders is going to inaugurate new era
for the war, at least New labor plans
"labor's war" adjust labor, don't strike"
"a deficiency in labor leadership"-these
headlines and expressions alone indicate
the trend of the new comment. The coun
try at last appears awake to the neces
sity of handling labor as cooperator i
labor will cooperate.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
Buffalo Express (Ind. Rep)

Those members of the committee who con-
tinued to work for Adams after learning of
his Germanlsm would have dragged the party
into the same mire of Copperheadsm into
which the Democratic party fell during the
CIVIL War. If it were conceivable that the
Republican party could make that mistake
the effect probably would be its complete dis
appearance.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
The Press-Republicar1 Independent and Dem0crat-0n

ClNCE the charmanship of the Repub-
lican National Committee was in
trusted to Will H. Hays enough
time has elapsed to permit of rather
comprehensive poll of editorial opinion
over large part of the country
The Democratic press has been sngu-
lafly reticent in expressing editorial opin-
ion about Mr.. Hays. "The Columbia
State" speaks we'll of him. "The Brooklyn
Eagle" sees in his election a return of
Colonel Roosevelt to the White House, eff
he can get votes enough" The Republican
newspapers are frankly pleased and hope
full, and the tone of the independent jour
nalists, for the most part, friendly.
Mr.. Hays, Hoosier by birth and educa-
ton, is described as being plain and ncr-
vous of speech and manner, of medium
pounds. His eyes are wonderfully keen.
and so dark as to appear coal-black. He
bites his sentences like Roosevelt, and
gives the impression of a driving energy
that will permit of no superhuous flesh.
lie came into prominence as a political
organizer in 1908, when he was in charge
OF the speakers bureau of the Indiana
State Committee. He was made chairman
of the state committee in 1914, following
the 1912 campaign, in which Wilson car
ried Indiana by 10000. This was over
come and Hughes, under the campaign con-
Quoted by Hays, carried Indiana by 1000.
Brief excerpts from editorial opinion,
which show pretty clearly how the po-
litical wind is blowing, follow:
Portland Oregonian Ond. Kep.)
Mr. Hays is doubtless wise choice for
chairman Of the National Republican Com
mttee.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24

labor was drafted and become itself the en-
ployer."
For "labor's cohorts are marching on
with songs of loyalty, and the few who
may temporarily get OFT of line will soon
be found back in the serried ranks" saws
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24

party has shown the first glimpse of rational
party sense since Roosevelt lost control.
Hays has character and qualifca-
ton of his own. With him at the head of the
party organization things will be done, and
we have no hesitation in notifying the Demo-
cratic party that here is no Wilcox capable
of losing California through flabby incapacity.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
Cheyenne State Leader (Dem.)

So the election of Mr. Hays, himself an
admirable enough man and am astute polti-
cian was bargained for by Penrose at the
expense of the progressves. John r. Adams,
vce-chairman of the national committee and
Hays's chief opponent for the leadership.
only consented to withdraw from the contest
when Penrose promised that the progressives
would be shorn of active participation in the
inner councils of the Republican party.
New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
Springfield Republican Ind.)

John |. Adams, of Iowa, who is to remain
wee chairman of the Republican National
Committee, is as loyal as any one to the gov
ernment IN the present crisis 1t is not en-
tlrely fair to test mans loyalty in the war
by his attitude when the country was neutral
YET the Democrats feel easier, for partisan
reasons, to have Mr.. Adams remain in some