Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-17
.SH|PYARD STRIKE
APPROACHES END
Officials Declare Delaware River
Award Promises to Lead to
Early Settlement.
PRESIDENT MAY TAKE HAND
Hutchcson Unsupported by Other
Unions. and Government For
swears Use of Coercion.
LIZ Associated Prcss |

( IB" Associated Press
WASHINGTON. February 16.-Enor;s
by the government TO end the strikes
OF carpenters in Eastern shpyards
brought two important Developments
TO day. which. officials declared. prom
Use TO effect an early settlement.
President Wilson prepared to take
some action in the situation. the nature
OF which has not been disclosed. and
the shipbuildina labor adjustment board
handed down a wage award covering
Deia ware River AMI Maryland ship
yards. which form the basis OF a gen
cral Eastern shipbui!dimg wage scale.
The President is expected TO express
definite views on the situation in reply 10
& telegram he received tonight from
William L. Hnschison. president Of the
brotherhood Of Carpenters anu JoinerS.
asking an opportunity personally TO put
the situation before him.
Other developments i'll connection
with the strikes during the day were:
Ind;ca tions that the heads of other
.ition. and assurances from New York
s;;!on,. ard assurances from New York
metal workers that they wilt continue
work awaiting an adjustment by the
wage adjustment board.
A statement by the Shipping Boo rd
tina; no effort Will be made TO coerce
;he strikers by threatening to call
them into the military service.
y declaration by Chairman Fletcher.
Of the Senate Commerce Committee, in
vestisatins shipping. that the govern
ment should take over the operation of
all shipyards and fix general wage
scale.
y request by shipyards that they be
permitted TO crush the strike in their
own way.
No INDICATION GIVEN
Or PRESIDENTS PLAN
There VAS no indication tonight as
20 what measures the President has
in mind. and at the White House 1t was
said no reply would be sent tonight
10 Hutcheson's telegram. The Prcsi-
dent has given his personal attention
TO the situation since yesterday.
! Hutcheson's refusal 10 leave set
tlemcnt TO the labor adjustment board
drew from sofliclals OF the board to-
night The statement that the carpen-
tcrs' organization. alone OF all the
, trades engaged in shipbuildinr has de-
clined 10 let IL adjust difficulties.
Hutchesrn. they said. agreed 10 let
the board fix wages and hours OF labor.
but steadfastly fused TO leave TO il
the question OF conditions OF labor. in
Guiding the question OF the open or
closed shop.
Officers OF the American Federation
OF Labor. it was declared tonight have
little sympathy with Hutcheson's at
iitnde and are likely TO rcpudiate him
Locai organizations OF the carpenters
ON the Tactic and Gulf Coasts aud
; along the South Atlantic. despite or
ders from Hutcheson. are leaving TO
the adjustment board. it's members said
Tonight. all questions affecting their
relations with their employers.
The Delaware River and Maryland
award given out to-day establishes :,
uniform wage scale and WORKING con
ditiona in GO per cent OF the Atlantic
Coast yards. 1t gives carpenters a
minimum wage or $500 Il day. and thc
striking baltimore carpenters al
though not parties 10 the agreement
Will be permitted TO accept its pro-
visions If they so desire. The award
will be used as a basis for Arranging
other agreements. The adjustment
board will go South next week. and
the week after expects TO take up CON
sideration OF New York district scale.
AWARD WILL. put ST0P
TO MOST OF THE UNREST
"o-day's award. By establishing iden-
/ tical conditions in all the yards in
cluded. viii put stop. officials said
Tonight, 10 most Of The unrest Of these
Yards and viii cncck the practice O!
some employers in bringing, awa* each
otho"s men. II establishes an eight
hour day. prohibits more than ton
hours labor creates open-shop crnd;.
tContinucd on Fifth PageD