New-York tribune., 1918-02-18

affairs. But with the men at work
such an agreement is said to he ot
minor Importance. Even if Hutcheson
continues to withhold his signature 1t
is believed that the differences here,
which consist chiefly of the wage diff
ference. will be amicably adjusted.
Various union leaders said that the
men here would be willing to accept
fair compromise between the figures
originally demanded-S6G0 a day. as
is paid on the Pacific Coast, and the
SASS they are now receiving here.
They looked with favor upon the $3.50
agreed upon III the settlement with
shipbuilders in the Delaware district
on Saturday.
In Washington it was said that the
Presidents vigorous message to the
striking carpenters had the complete
Endorsement of Samuel Gompers, of the
American Federation of Labor, and
other high officials of the Central Labor
executive committee. Every effort had
been made by President Gompers and
other national labor officials dcring the
last week to induce the head Of the
carpenters union to order nus men
back to work and await the decision OF
the Labor Adjustment Board.
The head of the striking carpenters.
however, represents an anti-Gompers
group within the ranks of labor. and Is
credited with disposition to adopt
militant means IN driving the sharpest
possible bargain with both employers
and the government, regardless or the
existing emergency.
HutchesOn Called Radical
Hutcheson is the head OF the radical
group, it is said, which th~atened to
upset the programme of the Buffalo
Convention, but was effectively quashed
by the Overwhelmingly patriotic stand
taken by the great majority OF the Ia
Dor delegates to the convention. 1T IS
strongly intimated IN labor circles that
Hutcheson aspires to succeed Samuel
Gompers as head of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. and that his present
tactics are based on the mistaken be-
lief that the mass OF the workers are
ready to forsake Mr.. Gompers and sup.
port an anti-government programme, II
that becomes necessary to secure thelr
ends.
The chief plank in the Hutcheson la
Dor platform is the closed shop. W hile
there is no disposition on the part OF
the government TO restrict the rights Of
the unions to organize during the war,
officials from the President down and
influential heads of the American red
Grafton are agreed that the exclusive
recognition CT union labor IS out OF the
question.
That the head of the striking car
renters represents a contingent WITHIN
the ranks of labor that must be count
ed with is evidenced in his selection
as representative of the American
Federation of Labor in the forthcom,
ing capital and labor conference called
by Secretary Wilson to formulate a
national labor policy. Il is not CON
sidered, however, that Hutchinson Is
strong enough with his followers to
hold them in line in their strike stand
in the face of the Presidents virtual
command that they return TO work IN
the shipyards.
Hutcheson is expected to return to
Washington this morning. He was kept
in touch with the days Developments
by Secretary Duffy, of the brother
hood, who had heen in all-day confer
ences with other labor leaders
Had the head of the carpenters or
ganization persisted in his obstructive
tactics it is believed the President was
prepared to carry the matter directly
to the workers.