New-York tribune., 1919-03-17
Boat Owners
Plan to Meet
Workers Fails
Union Leaders Appear at
Meeting Called to Make
Terms With Individuals
Assembly Room Picketed
Threat Made to Call Out
Longshoremen if Employ
ers Try to Deal With Men

An attempt by the private boat own
ers to split the ranks of the harbor
strikers by inviting certain classes of
workers to make individual settlements
yesterday morning proved a fiasco.
Instead of the captains, pilots and
engineers, who had been asked to meet
their former employers at the Mari
time Exchange, the boat owners were
faced by the union leaders and an
escort of fifty pickets who went to the
place to "see what was going to hap
pen." Although few of those invited
were present, not one volunteered to
negotiate with the owners as an in
dividual.
The affair ended in a war of words
between w. S. Holbrook, spokesman for
the employers, and the union officials.
When Holbrook, standing just inside
the door of the assembly room with
ready to deal with the men they had
invited as individuals, Thomas l.. Della
hunty, head of the Marine Workers
Affiliation, pushed forward and
shouted:
~ see you want personal bargaining
It's an unfair way to deal. l want to
serve an ultimatum on you gentlemen
through with this individual proposi-
tion we will call out the international
'Longshoremen's Association and not
a bit of cargo will be touched on any
craft with which you are in any way
connected. You may as we'll make up
your mind to settle with the men col
lectively."
Verbal Battle Is Brief
"But we didn't invite you here"
retorted Holbrook eve want to talk
with our pilots, captains and engineers
The main committee of our organiza-
tion is treating with you"
When nobody offered to negotiate
with the employers, one of the boat
owners took a parting shot at the
strike leader with the remark: "You
have lived off the fat of these men
long enough. Why don't you leave
them alone with u.s."
To which Delahunty replied: "You
have lived off the fat of the land
through these men for over fifty
years."
When the strikefs returned to their
headquarters it was stated that a mes
sage had been received from Paul
Bonynge, counsel for the employers
that the boat owners had agreed to
meet committee of the union men
to-day.
Yesterdays meeting was brought
about by half dozen towboat owners
whose craft are engaged principally
in handling transatlantic steamships.
Among these We're W. S. Holbrook, of
the Holbrook Towing Company; Fred
erick B. Dalzell, of the Dalzell Towing
Line; William Moore, of the New York
Harbor Towboat Company; Edward
Barrett, of the Barrett Towing Line:
Gerard Keller, manager of the New
YORK Towboat Exchange. and George
Evans. of the Scully Towboat Line.
Workers Picket Meeting Place
kilograms had been sent by these
men Saturday to their captains and en-
Maritime Exchange at 10:30 a. m. Ap-
prlsed OF the move of the owners to
draw off their "key" men, about fiftv
Of the workers gathered in front Of so
Broad Street to meet any men who
might have been induced to accept the
invitation.
For half an hour the pickets trudged
up and down in front of the exchange.
At 10:45 the boat owners appeared.
The assembly room, however, was
empty. Then one Of the employers
suggested that the men outside ought
to come in.
Headed by their union leaders-Del-
ehunty, William Maher, Stephen Con
don and Alfred Sarrell-the workers
surged up to the open doors of the
chamber. Speaking for the employers,
Mr.. Holbrook said they didn't want to
see any deck hands or lightermen, and
they would have nothing to do with
the union leaders. A dispute followed,
after which Mr.. SarrelJ, business agent
Of the Steam and Hosting Engineers,
shouted: care there any scabs here
who want job? 2"
All remained silent. Captain Maher,
vice-president of the Marine Workers.
Affiliation, then shouted: "Come on.
we will have real meeting"
The workers gradually drifted out,
leaving the owners in heated discus
sion as to the reason for the fizzle
One OF their number stated they were
prepared to meet the men on fair
compromise.
Increase in Pay Suggested
We were ready to give the men
from 10 to Is per cent increase in nav
for twelve-hour day" he said. "If
the men insisted on a ten-hour day,
that would mean an automatic in
crease of 16 per cent in pay. We were
even prepared to compromise on an
increase with the reduced hours" The
str1kers, however, insist on an eight
hour day as first condition.
At union headquarters President
Deiahunty warned the men against in
dlviduai bargaining. He said this
move was only one of dozen or more
meetings which the boat owners are
arranging to break their strike.
Never before" he asserted. "has
tne pay OF men been reduced on gov
s1hmenc award, and yet that is what
happened to some classes of our work
ers: The men have reaffirmed their
aas.itude to stand pat on the eight
.'.n n9nr aay and not to deal individually
WIFE the boat owners.
We must have union officials et all
ne9otiatIons. The boat owners shorld
DC careful, for. because Of their atti-
.uae, the men are thinking Of stand-
ing amg 1or their full original demands
Inc iongshcremen viii handle aJs, an,v
boats that have signed un with my ny
union. II a man is found ~ 'n tne
who, should not be there. he a" x;l, E Tug hse
lonely after this is over.~ 40 WAL De
The railroad administration vo..
day announced that lighterave svsser ~ SI
n,estic carload freight will be- resr,eas ~ "o,
within the limits Of New YORK. hsrhoa arhsa
under the permit system on Anrii
Applications showing snec;fc 49,