New-York tribune., 1918-02-14
Ship Strike
Is Lukewarm.
Officials Saw
Board Says Many Carpen-
tiers Do Not Favor
Action Taken

Although there was no step in tn,
direction of a settlement of the strik
of the shipbuilding carpenters in tht
government controlled yards on Slater
Island, representatives Of the United
States Shipping Board expressed them
selves as convinced that the nations
emergency shipbuilding programme
would not be delayed day by the labo,
difficulty.
The number of carpenters out yester
day was variously estimated at from
800 men-the figure named by govern
ment otficials-to 200. as estimated by
! the men. The cause of the strike, which
was not preceded by any formal de-
mand upon the shxrbuilders, still is
more or less of a mystery, since Off
Gals of the union refused to announce
their work when approached by rep
resentatlve of the board yesterday.
Can't Ascertain Demands
Board the following statement was
made during the afternoon, after an
unsuccessful effort to learn what the
strikers sought. 1t says, in part:
"The New York Office of the United
States Shipping Board states that it is
unable to obtain definite information
from the leaders of this movement as
to just what, the demands of the United
brotherhood of Carpenters are. The
walkout has been handled by John Rice,
general organizer of the brotherhood;
William Hollands, the local organizer,
and Mr.. Cozzcns, delegate of the House
Carpenters Union, of Staten Island.
None OF these men would acknowledge
that the walkout had been ordered, and
claim that the men quit work on their
own initiative. This does not seem to
be borne out by the fact that most of
the men expressed themselves to their
employers as against a strike, and a
large proportion have stated that it is
their intention to return to work re-
gardless Of the instructions Of their
organizers
Get Sass Daily Wage
"Thc ship carpenters in the Yards on
Staten island engaged in government
work are paid SASS a day of eight
hours, III agreement with the maxi
mum rate paid for similar work in the
Brooklyn navy yard.
The disinclination of the men to
obey the strike order which they re-
celved is due not only to their loss Of
wages, but quite generally to the re-
oii~e'' 'lOH tIldC tnlS Emergency Fleet
work is something that they are quite
vltally interested in. They appreciate
the requirements of the nation and are
unwilling to be placed by their leaders
IN IN position which subjects them to
the criticism of retarding the progress
OF the Emergency Fleet
!, ne younger element, particularly !
.hoSe OF foreign birth, who are natural
y !o less influenced by these considera-
cons, are averse to strike because
"hlie they are employed en- shipyard
work they are exempt from the draft,
10 10 winch they are Immediately subject
"hen their connection with the govern
ment work ceases" Q
6 James Davidson, of the Staten Island
Company, said that no
effort was being made to replace the
men men who are on strike and that all ef
Iorts to placatc them was being left to
the Shipping Board officials
IL was lntimated that the men were
attempting to make use Of the present
emergency to force through a closed
shop agreement, but the officials Of the
union offered no such explanation.