New-York tribune., 1919-09-29
Big o. Won't
Strike; May Be
"Locked Out
Action of Pressnlen i'm
Book and Job Offices Ex-
pected TO Prevent Work
of a ii the Employees

Radical members of big s. were de-
feated yesterday afternoon. when it
was agreed that there should be no
strike to enforce the union demand
for forty fourhour week in the book
. and job printing shops of the city.
Ihls action was taken without the
tormaliLy of q strike vote. There we're
hints that the men might be locked out
on October | by strikes OF unions that
already >havc broken with their inter
national bodies. But this is declared to
be the only way members Of big g.
will be prevented from working as
usual after next Wednesday.
Yesterdays meeting at the New
Star Casino. 107th Street and Park
Avenue. was unusual in that members
of many Of the radical organizations
that have seeded from their national
bodies were admitted to take part.
Pressmen, feeders and other union men
voted as freely as did members Of
Big g."
Leo< II. Rouse president Of the or
anization. spent practically all the time
the meeting was in session telling of
his efforts to bring about peaceful
settlement with the Printers League,
the organization of employers, without
rcsorting to arbitration A reading of
tho minutes of these meetings showed
that he had repeatedly refused to arbi-
tratc the 4I-hour week. At the union
meeting he again said he would not
arbitratc hat question.
1t VAS admitted. however. that to
strike would result in It break with
the international Typographical Union.
"} OIL may be certain [ am not going
20 ask you to vote TO 20 out OF the
International" said Rouse. 81 want to
keep my card in the International, aud
| am not going to have you men jcop-
ardize your cards, either
"But there are millions Of ways of
doing this thing without striking. All
[ ask you to do is to leave it in my
hands and take my advice. If you do
that there is not the slightest posi-
bility Of a break with the Intcrna-
tional."
Two resolutions then were intro
duccd by Sigmund Oppenheimer, a
member of the executive committee,
which were intended to leave Rouse 8
power such as to permit him TO carry
out any programme he might deem ad-
visable. The tirst provided for the
complete support by the union Of all
! organizations in the fight for forty
four-hour week. 1t was stipulated
however, that the support should be
! by illegal means" This stipulation
precluded the possibility of strike
however, since legal strike would dc
mand the sanction of the international
union.
The second resolution provided for
the appointment OF committee of five
to send propaganda throughout the
country to tell of the fight OF the New
York local against International Pres
ident Marsdcn &. Scott, who opposed
strike here until every effort has
been exhausted to settle the differ
ences between employers and mon by
arbitration.
Both measures were carried by what
was declared to be a unanimous vote
everybody present, regardless of Nom.
bership in the union, voting on them
a third resolution. introduced BY
Thomas Dobbs, provided for an ex
preston of the unions intention tc
remain in the -internstional organiza
ton ard to abide by all Of its laws
and resolutions. 1t was greeted witt
.eers, however, and was tabled witt
but few votes in its favor. .