Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-15
SHIP STRIKERS
CUT LIFELINE,
HURLEY WARNS
Action Invites World Disaster,
He Says in Appeal to
Patriotism

Baltimore. Feb. 15.-Thc strike of
200 carpenters for higher wages
which began yesterday at the ship
building plant of the Bethlehem
Steel Company ut Sparrows Point,
the Baltimore Drydock and Ship
building Company, and several small
III local yards. continued this morn
ing.
Nice-President J. NJ. Willis of the
Baltimore Drydock and Shipbuilding
Company, said the matter was in the
hands of the government and that
the company was having no dealings
with the men.
Washington, Feb. 15.-Following
strikes yesterday by ship carpenters
and Joiners in yards near New York
and Baltimore, Il. n. Hurley, chair
man of the United States Shipping
Board, employed the strongest Ian
guage addressed to organized labor
10y any government official in many
Years. The strikers are demanding
the wage scale of $3.50 day, re-
Gently granted on the Pacific coast
Mr.. Hurley's message follows:
William l.. Hutcheson, general
president United Brotherhood OF
carpenters and Joiners of America
iiiuldIldpOllS, lHu..
while the people Cf this country
are mourning the less of brave young
Americans in the Tuscania horror
while thousands OF American homes
are anNiously awaiting the lists of
survivors slowly coming in to make
certain that another precious life
has been snatched from the Atlantic
Ocean, telegram comes-and with
it the grim announcement that the
tor II, II Il
strike.
"Paralyzing Lifeline"
Before any government agency is
given an opportunity to act, and de-
spite the good record of our adjust
ment boards for promptness and
fairness in dealing with all labor
matters, YOU attempt to paralyze the
shipbuilding industry at the port of
New York.
DO you realize YOU are adding to
the fearful danger our soldiers al
ready face, the danger of starvation
and the danger of slaughter if food
and ammunition are not sent over in
ships, and in many ships at once?
do you think the fathers and
mothers whose sons are making this
sacrifice will sit patiently by and per-
init this paralyzing of the lifeline
between us and the western front
to go on?
will you take my friendly sug-
Gestion and go back TO work at once?
The machine ivr dealing with all
your demands and with the right of
labor is at nand. lOu will be well
advised to follow the methods of
wclI-managed ana patriotic labor Or
ganiZationS, ut least until you have
tested whether or not your govern
ment, for which as ship builders you
are now working, can be fair"
disaster to World Cause"
Il advise you to end the paralyz-
ing Of the shipyard work now. l am
sure you would not deliberately i'm
peril the lives and safety of brave
fellow citizens. l am sure you be-
lieve with me that those whose sons
are now giving their blood that you
and | and our children may be safe
ana free will not long permit either
you or me TO invite destruction of
heroic lives and disaster to a great
world cause"
This message also was sent TO
Fred Herman, secretary of the Unit
ed Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America, Jersey City, n. j.
Communicating of five or six
Yards is likely to follow if the la
bor troubles do not end at once.