Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-19
Strikers Are Not Affected
BY Increase, But They
May Accept Terms By
Waving Of Special De-
mands.
EMPLOYERS WOULD
BATTLE TO FINISH

up large part OF the ship building IN.
dustry Of the east.
A direct appeal to the president to
intervene was made today by officers
of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joine1s, approximately so per cent of
whose members In the New York dis.
trict are out today, demanding imme-
date assurances Of higher wages and
closed shop conditions.
WAGE INCREASE ARRANGED
The shipping boards wage adjust
Haent board today agreed on an in
crease In wages, definite working con-
dittons and overtime pay for all ship
yard workers in the so-called Dele
wa1e yards, comprising about 60 per
cent o( the shipworkers on the At
lant3c coast. 1t does not include the
striking carpenters but Is expected to
a0ea their strike.
Many Of the striking carpenters,
however, despite the advice of their
Hnfon officials, have sigutfied their in
tention of accepting the award. The
strikers IN the New York district have
not done % but it is hoped they will.
The new wage scale is not so high as
the Pacific coast rate nor so high as
the New York strikers demand, but it
will be the model for settlements in
other districts on the South Atlantic
and Gulf coasts.
The boards decision was perfected
after conferences today between Act
ing Secretary Roosevelt of the navy,
Chairman Hurley Of the shipping
board. General Manager Piez of the
emergency feet corporation and Chair
man Macy of the adjustment board
1t does not take in the striking
carpenters at New York, 1t was said,
because they have insisted on being
dealt with specially, which the ship
ping board has been unwilling to do.
The strikers, however, are perfectly
free to avail themselves OF the in
creases and improved conditions
which the adjustment board proposes.
EMPLOYERS WOULD FIGHT
Managers of ship yards in the New
York district and Baltimore where
the carpenters are on strike, have
asked the shipping board to let them
fight the strikes, declaring the time
has come for the issue. to be settled.
Thus far Chairman Hurley has re.
fused to permit this.
Shipping board officials today said
that heads of other unions engaged in
ship building have given assurance
that the related trades would not be
called out in sympathetic strike.
RIVALRY BETWEEN LEADERS
Rivalry between Hutcheson and
heads of the American Federation Of
Labor, some officials charged today, is
at the bottom of much OF the trouble.
Hutcheson, it is declared, declined to
enter the agreement calling for settle.
ment of differences by the adjustment
board despite the fact that he was
urged to do SO by federation chiefs.
APPEAL TO WILSON
New York, Feb. 16.-An appeal d.
Soct to President Wilson to intervene
A the strike Of ship yard workers
engaged on government contracts was
made today by the United Brother
hood Of Carpenters and Joiners, it was
announced by officials Of the organ
ization here this morning.
I Approximately 50 per cent of the
ship yard workers in the New York
district are on strike today, accord
ing to claims made by the brother
hood oflicials, including T. NJ. Guerin,
member Of the executive committee.
Contrary to the claims OF the
brotherhood leaders, information
reaching shipping board officials here
at noon indicated that fewer than L.
100 ship yards workers were on strike
today in the New York district.
PREDICTS STRIKES SPREAD
The strike will spread from New
York to other cities along the At
lantic coast, they said, unless wage
demands are granted. The number
OF men out here was declared to be
between 1000 and 5000.
The government has rejected a
proposition by the carpenters broth
erhood, that ship workers be allowed
to place a representative on the labor
adjustment board Of the emergency
fleet corporation to settle the present
wage controversy, it was announced
by Guerin. The ship workers wanted
to appoint such representative with
the right to vote and with powers
equal to those held by government
The appeal to the president. Mr..
Guerin said, suggested compromise
similar to that which was affected last
October between the government and
navy yard carpenters who were threat
ening to strike At that time the navy
yard workers wanted $3.50 day, sim
liar to the wage which ship yard work
FRS are receiving on the Pacific coast
Today. Secretary Daniels and Assist
mt Secretary Roosevelt called the
heads of the carpenters union into
conference at Washington, Mr.. Guerin
,aid, and an agreement was reached
liking an eight-hour day, a wage of
ASS, a per cent bonus under certain
conditions and two weeks vacation
md all holidays with pay--equivalent
a al! to $500 day.
INVOLVES 5000 MEN
Such a compromise now would be
acceptable, Mr.. Guerin declared.