Evening star., 1918-02-16
Appeal Planned to Secure
Compromise Similar to That
of Navy Yard Workers.
GOVERNMENTS MINIMUM
PRICE WILL BE SOUGHT
President Hutcheson VIII Ask That
Chairman Hurley State Lowest
Wage o. S. Will Pay.
By the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, February 10
An appeal direct to President
Wilson to intervene in the strike
of shipyard workers engaged on
government contracts will be
made today by the United Broth
erhood of Carpenters and Joiners,
it was announced by officials of
the organization here this morn
ing.
The appeal to the President, T.
NJ. Guerin, member of the execu-
tive committee, said, would sug-
gest a compromise similar to that
which was effected last October
between the government and
navy yard carpenters who were
then threatening to strike.
AT that time the navy yard workers
wanted $3.50 day. similar to the wage
which shipyard workers are receiving
on the Pacific coast today. Secretary
Daniels and Assistant Secretary Roose-
ve1t called the heads of the Carpenters
Union into conference at Washington.
Mr.. Guerin said, and an agreement was
reached fixing an eight-hour day. a
wage of $4.ss. per cent bonus under
certain conditions and two weeks va
oil
equivalent In all to $3.50 day.
Would Be Acceptable
Such a compromise now in favor of
the shipyard workers would be accept
able. Mr. Guerin declared.
The proposition Of representation was
made on behalf of the brotherhood last
night in Washington in the presence
of Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor. Mr.
Guerin said. and was rejected by V.
Everit Macy, chairman of the wage ad-
justment board.
Mr.. Guerin, in making the announce
ment, prefaced it with a review of the
settlement of the navy yard workers
demands to the Navy Department last
October. telling how, he said. that con-
troverSy was settled within three hours
through this method of personal con-
tact after government mediators had
failed to find a solution.
Having that in mind" Mr.. Guerin
said. president HutcheSon last night
submitted to Chairman Macy of the
wage adjustment board the following
memorandum:
.In order to bring about a closer
Emergency Fleet Corporation and the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners. the following is proposed:
That when matters pertaining to
construction of wooden ships or work
affecting the woodworking craft are
considered by the wage adjustment
committee of the United States Emer-
tive of the United Brotherhood shall
sit in said committee with full author /
ity and voting power. the same as other
members on the committee"
Fifty Per Cent on Strike Claimed.
Approximately SO per cent of the ship
yard workers in the New York district
are on strike today, according to claims I
made by the brotherhood officials. in !
Mr.. Guerin.
The strike would spread from New I,
York to other cities along the Atlantic
coast, they said. unless wage demands 1
were granted. The number Of men out |
here was declared to be between 1000 !
and 5000. |
Contrary to the claims of the brother |
hood leaders, information reaching ship |
ping board officials here at noon indi-
Gated that fewer than 1,1O0 shipyard |
workers were on strike today in the |
New York district.
A. c. Wilkie. assistant district officer |
of the emergency fleet corporation in |
charge at New York, said reports /
showed only five yards engaged in gov /
shipbuilding were affected and |
that none of these was tied up. At ,
the plants of the Standard Shipbuild- |
ing Company, Downey Shipbuilding |
building Company. all constructing |
steel vessels. a total of 44o men had
quit, he said. and at those of the John
son Shipyards, Inc, and the Foundation
Company. building wooden ships, 625
men. Virtually none were reported |;
put at other yards.
Mr.. Guerin announced he had received
today telephone message from ship
building corporation at Edgewater, N. J..
saying it had settled with its men on a
standing between the government and
he shipyard workers generally.
William J.. Eutcheson, president of
the brotherhood, said he had not yet
received the second telegram sent to
him yesterday by Chairman Hurley of
the United States Shipping Board, re-
auesting him to direct the men to re-
turn to work. Until Mr.. Hurley's mes
sage reached him, he declared. he
would not comment on its text, which
he had read in the newspapers.
Would Formulate Memorial.
His appeal to President Wilson today, l.
Mr. Hutcheson said. would ask the |
President to persuade Chairman Hur- |,
ley to formulate memorial, to be II
out the country, setting forth mimi h
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