East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1918-02-16
Appeal to Loyalty Will Be
Made to Get Men to Work
While Govt. COnfers.
LABOR AS A WHOLE
NOT IN SYMPATHY
Workers Blame Discomfort
on Inefficiency and
Profiteering.

/ WASHINGTON, Feb. I6.-Senate
and house conferces agreed today on
shipyard housing bill, providing
housing facilities for shipyard labor.
Lack of such facilities is one OF tho
causes of the labor shortage.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s.-Wfth ap-
pcals by Chairman Hurley and Others
futile, the President is preparing u
proposal TO end the shIpyard wood
workers strike which started this
morning.. He's expected 20 GIriyB az
the heart Of the trouble with an ap.
peal to the mems loyalty 20 get them
to WORK while the government con.
fers with union Officials. IL is defi-
nitely stated there will be no labor
cOnscription.
Shipping Heads Unconcerned.
Shipping board heads are not con-
cerned by the woodworkers threats
that nearly 1000 iron workers viii
walk out soon. They pointed out that
all shipworkers except the wood
workers are under agreement to ar
bitrate all controversies. Tho ship
ping board says it agreed to mediaIs
hours and wages but insisted il must
also mediate the working conditions
demanded, including the closed shop.
The unions refused the mediation or
and ordered a strike.
LabOrites Charge ProTiteering.
Laborites say the discomfort is duo
primarily to the inefficiency ana
profiteering in some big shipyards and
different scales in different yards
They ask the federal establishment cf
a standard wage, the elimination OF
profiteering, improved transportation
for the prompt delivery of materials
idleness, or pay the meg
for any idleness due to lack of ma
terials.
Sharp Action Expected.
President Wilson is prepared TO go
far to prevent a setback in the ship
ping program. Government operation
is the final trump, and sharp action
toward the owners of some plants is
from the administration.
Labor leaders are attacking President
the international head OF
he carpenters and joiners. as the cause
of the trouble. They aIlege he aas
oeen the sole international president
the government. Labor as
l whole does not sympathize with the
strike. Provost Marshal Crowder an
lounced that the strikers exempted as
;hipworkers would be put in tho
lrmy.
VIII BE Put In Army.
Many class one men were exempted
or shipbuildins with the provision
hey would go in class one when they
luit shipbuilding. Draft officials arc
Uncertain when such action will be
aiken, but agree it will be done il tho
yalkout becomes a long drawn at
air. The Baltimore iron workers as
ured the government they will hold
asst to their agreement not to strike.
)ne man high in labor confidence .
avs labor feels that Hutchinson's ac-
ion is dangerous and may cause tho .
cople to doubt labor's honest in
entions to stand patriotically by tho
government in the war.
Fear TO Lose Public.
They fear the unrest il followed b.
crisis in national affairs would los'
or labor as a whole the possibility G
elpful cooperation by the nation Z
eward labor for it's effective effor
o help in winning the great war. So
etary Wilson says conscription OF De-
or will not solve the situation. FTo
aysS L oppose drafting labor for a
FORK of private plants, regardless 't
-hether these are working on goverr
lent contracts. The whole plars
hould be taken over by the govern
lent before conscription OF labor %
Onsidered." He says no immcdiat1
ction to end the strike is planned b.
@ is keeping in close touch with tn
.tuation.