New-York tribune., 1918-02-20
Gompers Joins in Effort to
Adjust Shipping
Dispute
Demands Closed Shop
Or Federal Control
Discussions Set for To-day
Thought Likely to End
in Agreement
[Stdf Corresponde7,ce1

[Staf Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.--Dened a
conference with the President until he
had adjusted his differences with the
Shipping Board, William L. Hutcheson
president of the Brotherhood of Car
pentcrs. tonight resumed negotiations
with Chairman Hurley and the Labor
Adjustment Board
At conference attended by the head
Of the Shipping Board, members of the
Labor Adjustment Board, Charles Piez,
general manager Of the Fleet Corpora
ton; Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor. and Of
i'cials of the Brotherhood Of Carpen-
ters, an effort was made to compose the
differences which last week caused the
strikes in New York and Baltimore
shipyards.
While Hutcheson, the head of the
carpenters union. with the Presidents
rebuke fresh in his mind, was disposed
10 be more conciliatory than was the
case at his previous conferences with
representatives of the Shipping Board,
he was still far from an agreement
with them on the matter OF the closed
shop and other details of the separate
agreement he has sought to extract
organization.
Only the preliminaries were dealt
with tonight. Chairman Hurley an
nounced at the conclusion of the con-
ference. The discussions will be re.
sumed tomorrow afternoon, and. ac-
cording to the head of the Shipping
Board, it is probable that a satisfactory
adjustment of the situation will he
reached.
Hutcheson in Tight Place
Hutcheson finds himself now at odds
both with his fellow labor chieftains
and with the government of the United
States
Though he made efforts tonight to
draw line of distinction between "a
strike against the .shipyard employers"
and "a strike against the government
OF the United States," when pinned
down to the practicalities of the stua-
tion he admitted that shipyard strikes
were at this time a blow delivered
against the government.
Officials OF the Shipping Board also
emphasized that shipyard strikes now
further threatened the welfare of the
great mass of union workers in other
branches of war industries.
Ships must be built" Hutcheson
was told, "even if it makes necessary
shutting down other industries to ac-
complish it,"
Those closely In touch with the situ-
alton feel that Hutcheson, after the
formallty of slow surrender. will
finally agree to accept the decisions of
the Labor Adjustment Board, as has
been the case already with seventeen
national departments of the American
Federation of Labor.
Chairman Hurley. while not DISPOSED
to antagonize Hutcheson nor make his
poSltlon any more embarrassing than
is necessary, at the same time will he
insistent that the Brotherhood of car.
penters shall obtain no special rnlinus
at the hands of the Labor Adjustment
Board. In this stand the head of tho
Shipping Board will have the suppor.
OF the PRESIDENT and majority Of Of
Iicials OF the American Federation of
Labor ''0" "
Would End Private Profits
Hutcheson, at the conference IT,
night, insisted that, before the govern
ment held the carpenters to the omen
shop principle, it should take over all
shlpyards and eliminate profit taking
by private interests. If this should be
done, nc said, the carpenters would be
willing to work on any terms the gov
ernment might prescribe.
"On every hundred dollars paid the
carpenters by shipyards." said Hutchc-
son, "the shipyards themselves take
seven dollars. This is what the car
penters object to. The strikes are
over, bat the question itself is not set
tied. The carpenters insist that thew
have the right to choose the men with
whom they shall work The employer
is taking advantage of the situation to
try to crush the labor unions.
I'VE are not fighting the government
and we are not trying to obstruct the
shipbulding programme. But we are
Sighting the shipbuilder. If the Gov
ernment would take over the yards the
question would settle itself"
The fact that other union heads have
agreed to leave the settlement of all
differences to the Adjustment Board
was pointed out, but Hutcheson de-
clared he had no authority to sign any
such arrangement for the carpenters
if it would take from them their Con
stitutional rights
Grego'y's aid to Investigate at
Hog Island-Staten Island workers