The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-02-16
WILSON TAKES
HAND IN SHIP
YARDS STRIKE

! Secretary Daniels and Assistant Secre-
tary Roosevelt called the heads of the
carpenters union into conference in
Washington, Mr.. Guerin was said, and
an agreement was reached fixing an
eight hour day, a wage of $4.S8, a 5
per cent. bonus under certain condi-
lions, and two weeks vacation and all
holidays with pay-equivalent in all
to $3.50 day.
Such compromise now in favor of
the ship yard workers would be &C.
ceptable, Mr.. Guerin declared.
The situation at the ship yards in
Baltimore and vicinity, where 1000
carpenters, joiners and caulkers are
on strike, was declared to be I'M
changed this morning, with the ex-
ception that the ranks of the strik-
ers had been increased by the walk
out of 20 carpenters at the yards of
the Coastwise Ship Building Co.
These men did not report for work
under orders of their union leaders, il
was said. The caulkers went out yes
terday in sympathy with the carpen-
tiers.
That the action of the striking ship
mand for a "closed shop" was denied
today by John Morgan, general Or
ganizer of the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners of America
"Our demands are that the men now
out receive the same working condi-
tons as those on the Pacific coast, 4"
he said. 1--WE are firm in these de-
mands."
With respect to charge Of pro-Ger-
man influence that were made by one
ship building head here, Mr.. Morgan
declared that "no pro-German senti-
ment exists in our organization and
we will not tolerate any"
| Unless the United. States shipping
board takes definite action imme-
diately on the. wage demands of the
striking ship carpenters at Staten ISL
and and other yards in this vicinity,
union officials declared today that the
walkout, which already has affected
1000 men, will spread, not only over
the New York district, but all along
the Atlantic seaboard. This would
involve $1,000 men here, union lead
ers said, and tie up the government
shipping program.
Despite an appeal last night by
William L. Hutcheson, president OF
the United Brotherhood of Carpen-
tiers and Joiners, for the men to re-
main at work, trusting to the govern
ment to adjust the difficulty, the ex-
ecutive committee of the Marine
Wood Workers council is reported
to have voted at a secret meeting to
| 10 ri ia1 RI
today would not venture an opinion
as to how generally President Hutch
eson's appeal would be needed, but
they expressed their belief that "a
large number would respond to the
call to strike.
President Hutchinson, in a state.
ment last night, resented the i'm.
preston that the carpenters were
not loyal to the administration in the
conduct Of the war. The carpenters
insist that their demands have beer
in the hands of the shipping board fol
months, but have been set aside re,
peatedly without action. They as
sert that they ask only for an investi
cation of wage conditions, with 6
view to an agreement similar to thai
ldU0 On In0 COdSSJ.
Mr.. Guerin announced that he had
received today telephone message
!, from a ship building corporation al
, Edgewater, N. J., saying it had set
tied with its men on basis of $3.50 E
, day, pending an understanding be-
tween the government and the shiI
! yard workers generally.
! Mr.. Hutchinson said he had not yet
received the second telegram sent tc
him yesterday by Chairman Hurley o.
. the United States shipping board, re-
: questing him to direct the men to re-
! turn to work. Until Mr.. Hurley's
: message reached him, he declared, HI
would not comment on its text.
, His appeal to the president today
Mr. Hutcheson said, would ask tht
president to persuade Chairman Hur
Ley to formulate a memorial, to b'
presented to ship carpenters through
, out the country, setting forth a mini
: mum wage which the government
might be willing to pay.
Explaining this phase of the situa
tion, Mr.. G1erin said Chairman Hur
-, ley desired to have the carpenter
3 sign an agreement that they woult
, abide by any wages that the labor ad
= justment board might fix. The car
g penters would not sign such docu
, ment, Mr.. Guerin asserted, at least I'm
p til they were given some idea as t
e the amount of the minimum wage.
4 Brotherhood leaders asserted toda
z that there were about 5000 carpenter
~ idle here, owing to scarcity of mate
rial in addition to the strikers; an
q that throughout the country Their
q were 81, 900 carpenters idle who ha
u been employed on environments an
q who would be turned into ship build
~ ings workers with only a little train
Is ing. These estimates were given GU
if was said, to show that there wa
% plenty of labor available for carryin
out the governments ship buildin
nrogram if higher wages were paid.
~ Contrary to the claims of the brott
erhood leaders, information reachin
shipping board officials here at moo
indicated that fewer than LOO shi
., ward workers were on strike today
- the New York district.
~ The government has rejected a PR
~ nosition by the carpenters that tt
20 rI7in workers be allowed to place
~ commemorative on the labor adjustmel
: board of the emergency fleet corpor;
~ ton to settle the present wage col
AZ troversy, it was announced by NJ
Guerin. The ship workers wanted
,Z anpoint such a representative with IL
right to vote and with powers equ
az to those held by government repr
NJ ssentatfves