Evening star., 1918-02-19
CARPENTERS CHIEF
PROBABLE WITNESS
Brotherhood President May
Be Called by Senate Commit
tee on Shipyards Inquiry.
WILL BE ASKED TO EXPLAIN

United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners, it is expected. will be called be.
fore the Senate commerce committee in
connection with its investigation of ship
yards. Chairman Fletcher Of the COM
mittee said today he has under consid.
Grafton calling the union chief in the
hope of obtaining additional informa.
ton on the labor situation at the yards
and will suggest calling him when the
committee meets tomorrow.
Hutcheson is expected to arrive here
tonight or tomorrow to confer with Of
flcials of the shipping board. 1t was not
indicated today when, If at all, his re-
quest for an interview with President
Wilson will be granted.
With the promise held out that every
striking shipyard worker, both on the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Will be
back on the job by Monday. responsible
officials in Washington today turned
their attention to measures intended to
prevent a recurrence of such walk
outs.
Presidents Action Deterrent.
Belief is expressed that after Presi-
dent Wilson'S telegram to President
Hutcheson of the carpenters union, no
labor leader will have the temerity to
call a strike, at least not until after all
resources for an adjustment OF grew
ances have been exhausted.
When Hutchesoh arrives in Washing
ton he is going to have some embar-
RAISING questions to answer and ex-
plantations to make. 1t now develops
that the Brotherhood of Carpenters and
TIT Il nYty IN 4.
ton of the adjustment board by the
signature of it's vice president. but
Hutcheson overruled his subordinate
action. This fact. according to V. Ev-
crit Macy, chairman OF the adjustment
board, is causing the present trouble at
Seattle, where carpenters are trying to
enforce a closed shop. All carpenters in
the western yards agreed to the Pacific
coast wage award. Mr.. Macy said, until
they learned recently that Hutcheson
had repudiated it.
Life Of Organized Labor at Stake.
William Blackman. director OF labor
for the Emergency Fleet Corporation.
has issued a statement declaring that
shipyard strikes threaten the life of
organized labor in that further short
age of ships will force the closing of
plants producing war munitions.
'It is only through shipyard labor
he said, that relief to labor through
out the country can come. Therefore,
uncalIed for strikes not only threaten
the safety of our armies in France, but
the very heart of labor itself. through
the reduction in employment which is
faced by millions of men not engaged
directly in shipyard work.
For this reason shipyard strike is
in effect a lockout. aimed at all labor
in the country. and threatens the very
life of organized labor itself.
"On ShiDv2rd wOrkerS danenda the
ability of other labor to obtain steady
employment. If a group of shipyard
workers tie up the shipyards or fail to
give a full days work not only will the
resulting stoppage of each mans work
throw them out of employment. but this
stoppage also will effect the employ
ment of the 6,200.o00 war workers as
well as the employment Of the entire
try.
Agreement scrupulously Kept.
Because of this fact the labor lead
ers of the country. including Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, have entered into
an agreement with the Navy Depart
ment. the shipping board and the
Emergency Fleet Corporation-an
scrupulous care by it's signers and en-
forced by board, the very personnel
Of which insures fairness
Il wish, therefore, now that the Pres
ident has personally taken action in
the carpenters strike. to point out to
employees and to the members of organ
ized labor throughout the country that
their own interests are vitality at stake
in this shipping matter. and that the
whole force of their mighty influence
must for their own protection be used
to keep the shipyards running full time
and block any attempt to- paralyze the
nations business through strikes, and
trust the labor adjustment board to
deal fairly with them.
Need Ships to Win War.
This war can be won through the
construction this year of $4,000 tons
of shipping by the United States and
the allies. This amount will not only
overcome the submarine, but also will
leave margin necessary to transport
and care for 100000 American troops
overseas.
There is but one thing ahead-a
until the ships are built. Not only are
plies for overseas. but there also are
in Atlantic coast terminals alone more
than 10000 cars loaded with supplies
for Europe. No greater surplus of sup
plies can possibly be permitted to ac-
cumulate, even though the estimated
amount Of war supplies needed this
year for overseas shipment will total
8.500.000 tons"
STRIKERS DENIED ENTRANCE.