The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-07
HUTCHINSON FINDS
 W ASHINGTON DEAF
 TO STRIKE THREAT

Washington, March 7-The intima- tion by William l.. Hutcheson, presi dent of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, that refusal to grant his demands for a2ecial pr1vTliges might precipitate Z+rikes in the shipyards employing -sOodworkers, failed to cause even a furry yesterday among officials of the Emergency Fleet Corporation. and the representatives of other branches of organized labor, Ieaded by Samuel Gompers, who are standing behind the government.
 It can be stated authoritatively that MT. Hutchesons demands will not be granted by the Fleet Corporation and that his present attitude will receive no support from the American Feder- ation of Labor as represented by President Gompers and the National Presidents of the Metals Trade, all of whom at yesterdays conference are reported to have expressed themselves as unalterably opposed to his present actions in face of the emergency con- fronting the nation
 Mir. Hutcheson, it is stated, left the meeting in a bad humor when he found that he was making no head way in his efforts to disrupt the pro- gram which had been adopted by the government and the other trades en- gagged in shipbuilding, for the amica- ble settlement of grievances through the Shipbuilding Labor Adjustment Board. His statement, made soon after leaving the meeting, that he would now carry his complaint to President Wilson and that he could not be responsible for the actions of the members of his union unless his demands were met, was accepted yes terday as the closing chapter of the negotiations.
 President Wilson once declined to see the head of the Carpenters Union until Hutcheson consented to become a party to the agreement entered into by the other unions, and there was nothing today to indicate that the President had receded from that at- titude. Apparently the doors of the White House will remain closed tc rHutcheson unless he meets MT. Will sons terms.
 Investigation today brougth out the fact that MT. Gompers and the repre- sentatives of labor other than Hutche- son were soidly lined up against the demands and believed that organized labor had received many of it's great est benefits as a result of the rulings which have been made by the Ship building Labor Adjustment Board They told MT. Hutcheson at yester' days conference that they were op- posed to any effort on his part to em- barrass the government by attempting to use the war emergency as weapon to force the principle of the closed shop.
 It was represented to Hutcheson also that the government had taken control of the dealings between capi- tai and labor in the shipbuilding in- dustry to assure labor against exploit ation by the formation of the Ship building Labor Adjustment Board un. der authority granted by President Wilson and subscribed to by MT Gompers as president of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor. Despite such arguments MT. Hutcheson re- fused to give up his demands for spe- cial privilege.
 Government officials and represen- tatives of labor were satisfied las night that as a result of tho circuua. stances surrounding Hutcheson's re- fusal to join in the general agreement there was no danger of members O. the Carpenters union going on strike on even a small scale. It was pointed out that President Wilson had prom ised the carpenters fair dealings anC that they had been asked to stand be hind the nation at war by doing thi utmost to aid the production of ships
 Emphasis was laid on the fact tha MT. Hutcheson was not taking hi stand as the opponent of private cap ital in refusing to sign the agreemen but as the opponent of the President the Secretary of the Navy. the genera manager of the Emergency Flet Cor poration, all acting solely as govern ment agents, the president of tn American Federation Of Labor, an the presidents of the other interna tional unions involved
 It was held that Hutcheson's de mand that all grievances concernin conditions of labor which involve tn closed shop be first taken up by tn men with their foreman, and, failin of settlement, with the managemer of the plant, and, as a third recours referred to the president of the union and the Shipping Board, witt out any specific agreement for a def nite means of settlement, was a ste backward which might result in COY tinued unrest and agitation harmfI to rapid construction of ships.
 General increases in wages, a eight-hour day with time and a ha for overtime, free transportatic where an employe is compelled spend more than 10 cents a day carfare, and provision for grievan' committees of employees are autho ized in an award today by the ShiI building Labor Adjustment Board, al plicable to all wooden shipyards sou
 of Newport News on the Atlantic al Gulf Coasts. The decision follows
 principle the award in the Delawa
 and Philadelphia districts, which ga
 labor important concessions for whi
 te workingmen have been fighting
 years.
 The boards decision prohibits al
 discrimination between union al
 non-union men.
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