Norwich bulletin., 1918-07-26
Lake Searnen Have
 No Cause to Strike.
FINDING OF FEDERAL SHIPPING
 BOARD
STATEMENT TO PUBLIC
Board Finds That the Unions Have No Grievance That Would Justify Strike at This Time-WouId Im- pede War Industries.

Washington, July 25.-In the face of a threatened strike of seamen on the Great Lakes, which would tie up the transportation of iron ore, coal and wheat essential to the war programme the Shipping Board tonight issued a statement informing the public of ev 1 cry step in the controversy and de- claring that the board "does not feel 1 that there are any grievances to jus i tify strike at this time"
 Telegrams were sent to the Sailors Union and the Marine Bremen, Oilers, and Water Tenders Union, pointing out the disastrous effects which l strike would have upon the country l and it's consequent effect on the prose cution of the war.
 Chairman Hurley signed the state ment because the strike resolution
 was so worded as to make the board a
 party to the controversy.
 Statement by Hurley.
 'Tn issuing this statement" Mir. | Hurley said "the Shipping Board has gone fully into the grievances men toned in the joint resolution because
 of the grave menace to the national I safety involved in a strike on the
 Great Lakes. A stoppage of the
 movement of the lake vessels would
 cut off the supply of ore needed in
 the manufacture of steel plates for
 shipbuilding and many other essentials
 of war, and would jeopardize the move |, ment of wheat to our army abroad and to our allies. No strike should be called which might be based upon a misunderstanding of what has hap pened, or which is capable of differ Lent solution"
 The first reason given for striking | NOTnnn1 tla alSn (FarriprC AC- sociation to cooperate with the gov
 ernment in training seamen.
 'The board has not decided to use
 the Great Lakes for training and re- , cruiting mariners, as it has used the : coast, but has left that field largely : to the navy the board declared il reply.
 No Patriotic Reasons I However periodically conceived ,, , this part of the resolution may be, i . cannot constitute ground for
 strike
 Refusal of the Lake Carriers As
 sociation to send representatives to the National Marine Conference her < .siHees May since such attendane I would be recognition that organize
 labor represented their employees
 which thev dened, was made the sec : ond ground for striking.
 : ''The Shipping Board regrets the at : titude of the Lake Carriers Associ V ation in this respect" MT. Hurley's a statement said but in view of tn a national labor. policy promulgated b d the presidents proclamation of Apr d 8. 1918, (which provided that the wa 1t should not. be used to force change i r labor relations) it did not feel that e would be justified in forcing the lak
 carriers tc meet with representative II of the unions.'
 1T Cause of Bitterness. y; Much of the bitterness between tn Il seamen and their employers has aris U en over the welfare plan dischars
 book" adopted by the association a
 a means of keeping a record of eac = mans service, and objected to by tn e unions because of the alleged use ( IS the books to bl9 .klist men active ,f organized labor. The Shipping Boar l. ordered the abolishment of the book l. and the substitution of certificate h and it's statement today said the Lax ,f Carriers Association have take e steps to comply with the orders, an d the decisions have met all the reason d able objectors of the union.
 Demands for increased pay wei le made in the strike resolution whic h nevertheless, suggested that they b 1t arbitrated The Shipping Boal le pointed out that last September whe I'd similar demands were referred to u is board an order was issued with of three days granting the union d. r. mands in full.