New-York tribune., 1918-10-27
Pressmen Ordered
B a ck, but Await
HearingTo-morrow
Should Return to Jobs
Monday, National
Leader Says
Presidents Wish Cited
Strikers Determined to Note
Result of Inquiry
First

Major George L. Berry, president of
'he international Printing Pressmen's
and Assistants Union of North Amer
lca, issued statement last night ac-
ceptlng, on behalf of the striking or
carnations in this city the decision
OF the War Labor Board ordering the
pressmen and feeders to return to work
pending arbitration. Major Berry's
plea, however, does not terminate the
strikc, which threatens to cause week
ly magazines and trade papers in New
York city to miss an issue. Represent
satives of Franklin Union, No. 23, stated
definitely last night that no cessation
of the strike would be ordered pend
ing the decision of the examiner Of
the War Labor Board, who viii conduct
a hearing into the differences of the
strikers and employers, at City Hall
tomorrow morning.
Following the receipt by James j.
Baglcy, president of the Franklin
Union, No. 23, of telegram from the
War Labor Board, signed by William
IL. Taft and Frank H. Walsh. calling
upon the striking presmen and feeders
to return to work pending arbitration
Major Berry interviewed representa-
tivcs of the striking local and the AS
soclation for Employing Printers. At
the close of the conferences he issued
statement to members of the Frank
lin Union and the New York Press
mems Union, No. 81. 1t said in part;
Berry Issues Order
The international Printing Press
mems and Assistants Union of North
America accepts, on behalf Of it's SUBJ
ordinate unions, the Franklin and New
York Pressmen's Union, No. 23, the
unanimous decision of the War Labor
Board wherein they direct the return
OF the pressmcn, assistants and feeders
to their respective positions immedi-
atcly
"Thc War Labor Board, in deter
mining this issue, is performing a gen
uinc service to the members of the
New York union and the employers and
pert forming q patriotic service in car
rylng out the proclamation of Presi-
cent Wilson, wherein he urged that in
dustrlal disputes should not abrdge
IN the slightest manner, the prosecu-
ton Of the war.
every member, therefore. should.
without hesitation return immediately
to his employment not later than Mon
day, October %, 1918. Any failure on
t the part Of members to comply with
the direction of the War Labor Board
is in direct contradiction to the wishes
of the President of the United States,
the War Labor Board and the Inter
national Printing Pressmen's and AS
sistants' Union.
Union Men Accused.
The telegram to Mr.. Bagley sent by
Messrs. Taft and Walsh, charges that
the union men failed to answer a sum
mons of the War Labor Board to place
their grievances before it, and directs
them to submit evidence of any alleged
injustice to the examiner tomorrow.
The Association for Employing Print
ers, in their appeal to the War Labor
BOARD for Intervention, according to
f. q. Wilder secretary of the associa-
ton, claimed that the pressmen and
feeders had agreed at the time of their
last salary increase to make no further
demands until the end of January, 1919.
He made fiat charges that the union
men violated the agreement.
President Bagley of the Franklin
Union, in response to these charges
yesterday, put the responsibility for
the strike up to the employers, making
counter claims that they broke the
contract
when We entered into an agreement
with the Printers League Section" said
Mn. Bagley, both parties agreed that
demands made by the men should be
considered and discussed by the con-
tracing parties whenever they were
made
Demands Explained
"The feeders last week asked for an
increase in wages from $24 to $50
week, feeling that the increased cost
pressmen asked for a 35 per cent in
crease, from $31 to S41.S5. After we
had requested a conference on the de-
mands and were awaiting a reply from
the employers we were suddenly con-
fronted by summons from Washing
ton to state our grievances. The en-
ployers had not accorded us the court
esy of conference, which might have
avoided a strike. -
Mr.. Bagley announced that about
nine hundred men have returned to
work, after having their demands
granted. The Martin B. Brown Com
pany the Isaac Goldman Company and
Langer's, three of the largest concerns
of the city. capitulated to the strikers
demands yesterday, he announced.
Mr.. Bagley emphatically denied that
the strikers were impeding war work
None of the publishers has acceded
to the demands of the men. 1t is be-
lieved that about 1000 men are still