New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
Word From Wilson
Is Awaited Here to
Halt Ship Strike


was all that union shipbuilders here
asked last night to prevent a general
strike that would paralyze the govern
ment's ship construction work.
The President was called upon to
say that word in a personal appeal tel
egraphed to him by William l.. Hutcke-
son. president of the United Brother
hood of Carpenters and Joiners, at the
conclusion of an all-day conference at
the Continental Hotel. The officials
profess to believe that he will make a
reply to-day that will send the workers
back to the shipyards tomorrow morn
ing. along with the small minority of
strikers Who have been out for week
Immediately after sending his tele-
gram to the President Mr.. Hutcheson
boarded a train to follow it to the cap-
tai He is convinced that he will have
little difficulty in obtaining the hearing
for which he is SO anxious before the
close of the day.
"The men nave lost confidence in the
Shipping Boards wage adjustment
committee. but will accept any state
ment President Wilson makes to them
was the way T. M. Guerin, general
organizer for tie brotherhood, summed
up the attitude of the workers. Were
ready to stay at work under any kind
of tentative agreement until some
definite arrangements can be made. We
want the President to say the word and
We'll stick to our jobs"
n the telegram to President Wilson
Mr. Hutchinson said
"My dear Mr President-The situ-
alton now existing in the shipyards
is of nature that requires imme-
diate attention. |. as president Of the
United Brotherhood of Joiners of
och
derstanding with the officials of the
United States Shipping Board, but
was unable to do SO. feel that if
given the opportunity to lay the mat
ter fully before you solution
could be quickly arrived at.
II desire 20 inform you, my dear
Mr.. President, that I. as a patriotic
citizen, am desirous Of rendering
every assistance to you and our
country to carry on the work neccs-
sary to bring about a successful
conclusion of the world war in which
we are engaged"
In an effort to assure himself Of a
hearing by President Wilson the union
official sent another telegram to Sec
retary Daniels of the Navy Department
telling him of the message to the Pres
ident and asking his assistance in the
negotiations. In this message he said:
uation now existing in the shipyards
Is OF nature that requires Immediate
action and solution, and my reason
for addressing this message to you
is that the experience We have had
with the department of the govern
mcnt which you represent has been
very satisfactory to our organization
and. judging from results, | believe
has been equally satisfactory to you
and your department..
VI am addressing a telegram to
President Woodrow Wilson in this
matter. and the thought occurs to me
that 1T might be of material assist
ance for you to give to the President
the results and experience your de-
partment has had with our organiza-
tion. as feel that you will agree
with me that every possible effort
should be made at once to reach a
solution of this matter"
IN discussing the situation later the
union oficlals explicitly set forth tha,
they have no intention of attemptine &c
force a hurried agreement through the
"hold-up' methods that Shipping Boarc
officials have accused them of using
All they wanted, they said, was an as.
surance from the President that some.
thing definite would be done in the way
of an investigation of the demands OF
the men.
'"All that is necessary now is for the
government TO recede from its stand
pat position. which has prevented an
understanding between the men and
the Shipping Board in the past, and
meet the men half way" said John
Rice, national organizer for the Broth
erhood of Carpenters. 81 believe that
the President will see the justice of
that move just as soon as it is brought
to his attention"
Meanwhile, another factor was in
jected into the situation by threat
that the metal workers, employed on
ship construction in conjunction with
the wcodworkers, would walk out in
sympathy with the carpenters unless