Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-11
PRESIDENT ADVISES
ON HARBOR STRIKE
Cables War Labor Board to
Take Up TangIe in New
York Again.

An official request has been sent
to the striking harbor boatmen
of New York to return to work
pending action by the War Labor
Board, which President Wilson
asked by cable today to decide the
controversy. officials think the
strike will be over before night.
Representatives of the War aud
Navy Departments, the railroad
administration and the shipping
board decided upon this policy and
communicated their decision to A.
H. Smith, regional director Of rail-
roads, who was asked to advise the
strikers.
President Wilson today cabled a re-
quest to the War Labor Board to take
up again the case Of the marine work
ers' strike in New York and proceed to
make finding.
Basil NJ. Manly, joint chairman of
the War Labor Board, with William
81. Taft, said today the board would
take up the Presidents request at
once, but he was not sure a quorum
could be mustered for action before
Monday.
The President said he was sure the
War and Navy departments. the ship
ping board and railroad administra-
tion would use every power to make
the finding effective and that he was
confident also that private boat own
ers would feel constrained by patriot
ism to accept the boards recommenda-
tions.
The board also was requested by the
President to use all means within It's
powers to stabilize conditions gem
orally during the present period Of
Industrial transition arising from the
war.
Text Of Cahlegram.
The Presidents cablegram follows:
have been informed by the Sec
retary of Labor as to the serious
situation which has developed in
the port OF New York and the
strike OF marine workers which
seriously crippled the movements
OF troops and supplies. Consider
this a very grave emergency and
understand that 1t has arisen be-
cause the parties to the controversy
failed to make a joint submission
to the National War Labor Board.
earnestly request that you take
up this case again and proceed to
make finding. I appreciate the
honesty and sincerity of the board
in announcing on Wednesday that
1t could not promise a final deci-
sion in the controversy without a
formal submission from all parties.
But I am sure that the War and
Navy, departments. the shipping
board and railroad administration
and any other governmental agen-
cies interested in the controversy
will use all the power which they
possess to make your finding effec-
tive. and I also believe that pri-
vate boat owners will feel con-
strained by every consideration of
patriotism In the present emer-
gency to accept any recommends
ton which your board may make.
Although the National War
Labor Board. up to the signing of
the armistice, was concerned sole
~ with the preventing OF stoppage
OF war work and the maintenance
of production of materials essen
tial to the conduct Of the war, I
take this opportunity also Of say
ing that it is my earnest hope that
in the present period of industrial
the board should use all means
within its power to stabilize con-
ditions and to prevent industrial
dislocation and warfare.
Mr.. Manley's first step was to ask
the War and Navy departments, the
shipping board and the railroad adj
ministration what would be their at
titude toward any decisions made by
the board in accordance with the
Presidents request. He was informed
promptly that all four Of the govern
ment agencies would abide by such
decisions.