Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-22

{
Approximately so per cent. Of the
shipyard workers in the New York
district are on strike today, according
to claims made by the Brotherhood
officials, including 7. M. Guerin, MEM
her of the executive committee.
The strike would spread from New
York to other cities along the Atlantic
coast. they said, unless wage demands
were granted. The number OF men
out here was declared TO be between
1000 and 5000!
Chairman Hurley of the Shipping
Board, General Manager Piez OF the
Emergency Fleet Corporation. and V.
Fverit Macy, chairman of the Labor
Adjustment Board, conferred WITH
Acting Secretary Roosevelt of the
Navy in Washington today on the ship
yard strikes.
The effect of the Shipping Boards
second appeal to striking carpenters in
eastern ship yards to return to work
pending settlement of their grievances
by the Wage Adjustment Board was
anxiously awaited at Washington to-
day. The boards renewed request
was made by Chairman Hurley last
night in a telegram to William il.
Hutchinson, president of the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Join
ers, virtually demanding that he send
the striking ship building employees
back to their jobs. Earlier in the day
Hutchinson had answered ii previous
appeal with a communication declar-
ing it would he impossible to act I'M
til he had some definite proposition
from the Shipping Board as to work.
ing conditions.
Although nothing had come from
the Shipping Board early today to in
dictate that Hutchinson had replied to
NChairman Hurley's second telegram,
Abe union chief was quoted in New
York as saying that the action of the
l1ren IN going out does not meet with
his approval.
What steps the government will
take if the situation, which virtually
is paralyzing the ship building pro-
gram. remains unchanged, has not
been indicated, but President Wilson is
known to be giving the matter his
personal attention and is following
every development.
L0 dDptd- " IIlC plSSluSlll, wi
Guerin said, would suggest a COM
promise similar to that which was
effected last October between the gov
eminent and navy yard carpenters
who were then threatening to strike
At that time the navy yard workers
wanted $3.50 a day, similar to the
wage which ship yard workers are re-
ceiving on the Pacific coast today
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 ar
eight hour day, a wage of Sass, a
per cent. bonus under certain condf.
lions, and two weeks vacation and al
holidays with pay-equivalent in al
to $3.50 a day.
Such q compromise now in favor o,
the ship yard workers would be &C
ceptable, Mr.. Guerin declared.
The situation at the ship yards il
Baltimore and vicinity, where 1,00t
carpenters, joiners and caulkers ar,
on strike, was declared to be un
changed this morning, with the eX
ception that the ranks of the strik
ers had been increased by the walk
put of 20 carpenters at the yards o
the Coastwise Ship Building CO
These men did not report for Wort
under orders of their union leaders, ,
was said. The caulkers went out yes
terday in sympathy with the carpen
ters
D., That the action of the striking shi,
workers was taken because of a de
mand for a CLOSED shop" was denie
today by John Morgan, general or
ganizer of the United Brotherhood Q
Carpenters and Joiners of America
Our demands are that the men nov
out receive the same working condi
tions as those on the Pacific coast,
he said. I'VE are firm in these de
mands."
With respect to charge of pro-Ger
man influence, that were made by on
ship building head here, Mr.. Morga
declared that mo pro-German sent
ment exists in our organization an