Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-03-08
HUTCHINSON FINDS
W ASHINGTON DEAF
TO STRIKE THREAT

Washington, March THE intima-
ton by William L. HUtcheson, presi-
dent, of the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners of America,
that refusal to grant his demands for
special privileges might precipitate
strikes in the shipyards employing
woodworkers, failed to cause even a
furry yesterday among officials of the
Emergency Fleet Corporation. and the
representatives of other branches of
organized labor, loaded by Samuel
Gompers, who are standing behind the
government.
1t can be stated authoritarfvelv that
Mr.. Hutcheson's demands will not be
granted by the Fleet Corporation and
that his present attitude will receive
no support from the American FEEDER
alton 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 unalterab1y opposed to his present
actions in face of the emergency con-
fronting the nation.
Mr.. Hutchinson, 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 AMIGA
BILE 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 fer 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 he i reoeded from that at
titude. Apparently the doors of the
White House will remain closed to
Hutcheson unless he meets Mr.. Will
sons terms.
Investigation today brought out the
fact that Mr.. Gompers and the repre-
sentahves of labor other than Hutche-
son were solidly lined up against the
demands and believed that organized
labor had received many of it's great
est benefits as result of the rulings
which have been made by the Ship
building Labor Adjustment Board.
| HNbo1y told NJ H,,4o Of
days conference that they were op-
posed to any effort on his part to en-
barrass the government by attempting
to use the war emergency as weapon
to force the principle of the closed
shop.
It was represented to Hutchinson
also that the government had taken
control of the dealings between CAPT.
tai and labor in the shipbuilding in
dustry to assure labor against exploit
alton by the formation of the Ship
building Labor Adjustment Board i'm
der authority granted by President
Wilson and subscribed to by Mr.
Gompers as president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor. Despite
such arguments Mr.. Hutcheson re-
fused to give up his demands for spe-
cial privilege.
| Government officials and represen-
tatives of labor were satisfied last
night that as a result of the circum-
stances surrounding Hutcheson's re-
fusal to join in the general agreement
there was no danger of members Of
the Carpenters union going on strike
on even a small scale. 1t was pointed
out that President Wilson had prom
Used the carpenters fair dealings anG
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 tina
Mr.. Hutchinson was not taking hi
stand as the opponent of private cap
ita1 in refusing to sign the agreemen
but as the opponent of the President
the Secretary of the Navy, the genera
manager of the Emergency FLEET Cor
poration, all acting solely as govern
ment agents, the president of tn,
American Federation of Labor, ant
the presidents of the other interna
tional unions involved.
It was held that Hutcheson's de
mand that all grievances concerning
cOndltlOnS OIL LABOR winch involve TIT
closed shop be first taken UP by tn,
men with their foreman, and, failins
of settlement, with the management
of the plant, and, as a third recourse
referred to the president of thei
union and the Shipping Board, with
out any specific agreement for a def
mite means of settlement, was a stel
backward which might result in con
tinued unrest and agitation harmful
, to rapid construction of ships.
General increases in wages, al
eight-hour day with time and a hal
for overtime, free transportation
where an employe is compelled t
spend more than 10 cents a day il
carfare, and provision for grievanc
committees of employees are author
lied in an award today by the Ship
building Labor Adjustment Board, ap
plicable to all wooden shipyards soutl
of Newport News on the Atlantic an
Gulf Coasts. The decision follows il
principle the award in the Delawar
and Philadelphia districts, which CAV
labor important concessions for whicl
tie working1nen have been fighting 70
years.
The boards decision prohibits an,
: discrimination between union AM
non-union men.