The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1918-02-16

The workers refused paint blank to
submit conditions" TO arbitration
"Gravely concerned" at the effect
the wood workers strike will have on
public opinion. big labor leaders to.
day started drive on william
Hutoheson, head OF the brotherhood
Of Carpenters and Joiner.
They declared Hutcheson, since the
opening OF the war. has boon the only
labor International president who has
locked the Government. He alone,
they say. refused TO sign tho agree
ment entered into between labor and
the Government last June.
Conscription OF labor alone will not
eolvs the shipbu,ldlng problem, Sec
retary OF Labor Wilson stated to-day.
Il am opposed to drafting labor
for work in private plants regardless
Of whether these plants are working
on Government contracts" said Will
son. 'The whole plant should DO
taken over by tho Government be-
fore conscripting labor"
The Secretary said no immediate
action TO end tho strike Of ship car
penters at New York u planned by
the Labor Department, but that he
was keeping In close touch with the
situation
He refused to comment on the
present necessity OF the Government
taking over the privately owned ship
yards but emphasized that he be-
lievcd that steps should DO taken be-
fore efforts 70 force labor TO work
were taken
Chairman Hurley has sent another
message to William L. Hutcheson.
President of the United Brother
hood Of Carpenters and Joiners.
renewing his demand that striking
shipyard employees DO sent back
20 work pending an adjustment of
their differences. He said In part;
Yours OF the 18th received. You werc
present at the convention Of tho
American Federation OF Labor In
Buffalo on Friday. Nov. -. when. by
a unanimous vote, a resolution was
passed stating that II Is necessary to
the Nations protection, as well as TO
the welfare OF the trade union move
ment, that there should DO no cessa-
ton of work. except as q last resort
and after due hearings"
He thon tells OF an agreement
signed Aug. 90. and continues;
Under this agreement a board was
established composed OF a representa-
tive Of the Navy Department and
Emergency Fleet Corporation. q
representative OF organized labor ap-
pointed by Mr.. Gompers and the
Chairman OF the board appointed by
the President Of the United States.
The agreement provided that all dis
putes as TO wages. hours and con-
ditions OF employment should be sub
mitted to this board for settlement.
The official positions OF the signers
of this agreement are . guarantee OF
Ats fairness.
You are the only international
President OF all crafts working In the
shipyards who has refused TO become
q party TO this agreement Are the
other international Presidents less
patriotic or less careful OF tho inter-
ests OF their crafts than yoursclf2
81 do not question the patriotism OF
your members. and. In fact, have rea-
son TO believe they are az loyal As
members OF other organized crafts.
win you ask the men now para
lyIing tt shipyards and the Nations
war programme TO go back to their
work and trust their Government,
through the Labor Adjustment Board.
10 deal fairly with thom as II has
with every other group OF workersf
VIII you help now when every day's
delay may mean the slaughter OF our
boys7'
Presiden Gompcrs, according to
Shipping Board officials. Is cooper
sung with governmental agencies to
effect a settlement OF the problems
that are pressing.
Rumors OF a break in the ranks OF
the employers. which could not be
verified. had It that a small ship re-
pairing concern at Edgewater. N. j.,
had yielded TO tho demands OF the
fhip carpenters and had taken back
their striking employees at tho rate
OF $3.50, Organizers OF the Brother
hood hailed the news as Indicative
that other and larger plants would
fall shortly into line. but there was
80 oasis for this optimism that was
.-iBcoverable.