Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-18
Ship Carpenters
Obey President


Continued from Pase Ono
wired Hutcheson. ito call your attention
TO the fact that the strike OF the carpen-
ters In the shipyards Is In marked and
painful contrast 90 the action OF labor
In other trades and places"
The action OF labor as whole In tho
carpenters walkout marks unique
page In the history Of organized Amer.
lean workmen. All OF the leaders lined
up with the Government against thc
etrike sought by Hutcteson, and forced
him to yield through the pressure OF
labor and public opinion
As ono final gun in the campaign OF
the other trades TO leave IlutChcson 10
his own fate, 'he executive council OF the
\n,crican Federation ~ labor last night
issueu a statement upholding the hands
Of the Government in prosecuting the
war.
"Thc problem OF production. ind's-
rrneablc 20 preventing unnecessary
slaughter of fellow men. Is squarcly up
20 all workcrs--aye, to employees nri
employers the statement read.
Soldiers and sailors are helpless II
the producers do not do their part
Every link In the chain OF the mobtliza-
tlou Of the fighting force and necessary
supplies Is Indispensable TO winning the
war against mlitarism and the prln-
cip,eS Of freedom
The peace parlcys between Russia
and Germany" said tho counc'l resolu-
tons. have shown the futility or diplo-
matte negotiations until German m'l-
! 'prists are .pnvinccd they cannot super
| impose their will on the rest OF the
world. Force is the basis for their whole
| organization and Is the only argument
| they will understand
Pointing out that labor forms the
! backbone of the war. the resolution
| continued:
The workers are willing 10 sacriiic"
! for an idoal but not for the scltah gam
! + another. Give workers a decent place
10 live, protect them against conditions
| 10 take all their wages, give them aGen-
| cica whe, by grievances can he ad-
| justed and Industrial justice assured,
| mako il plain that their labor counts
in tho winning war for greater free
dom, not for private proNtcering, and
workers can confidently be expected to
do their part. Workers are loyal They
want 10 do their share for tho Republic
and for winning the war"
Tho time has come, the Government
feels wisr there must be no further
strikes iU the war work. Delays now
are dangerous. A nation wage policy
has been almost completed. Tho scale
announced by the wage adjustment COM
mission Of the shipping board Satur-
day to apply 20 fourteen yards in the
East will he taken as working basis
for standards in all yards.
The policy followed will be general
wage Increases. a basic eight-hour day.
time and u half overtime on regular
weekdays. double time overtime on
holidays and sundays and the open or
closed shop to he maintained, according
| tn conditions preVailing in the in
dIvidual shops before the war.
! The great problem to he considered
now Is the new national program of the
Government In its dealings with labor
The first two factors in this problem
President Wilson advised Hutcheson the
Government already has accepted and
will perform"-to see that THE best
possible conditions of labor are main
/, tanned and that there is nc lawless and
, , conscienceless profteering."
It stands as the Governments warning
to employers that they will he held
equally responsible with labor In meet
. ing the production demands of the war
1t also seems that before there is any
conscrlption of labor the acid test will
be applied to the employers.
Secretary of Labor Wilson has called
. conference for February 20 between
national representatives of employers
and workmcn, which II Is hoped will
result in agreements on basic principles
for Industrial relationship to govern the
Governments national 'abor policy fol
the duration OF the war.
: Five representatives each OF employ.
ers and workers have been selected, ant
these will choose two representatives OF
the Government. making twelve con
ferees in all.