New-York tribune., 1919-07-13
Federal Board Men Fail to
Get Any Concessions From
Private Owners; Vessels
in u. S. Control Affected
Piers Are Being Picketed
Conference To Be Held in
Washington To-day and
Policy Outlined Monday


Shipping Board met with representa-
tives of the shpiowners and their
striking employees yesterday in an ef-
fort to bring about an adjustment OF
the trouble, but failed to make any
appreciable headway. To-day the full
membership Of the board will l/meet in
Washington and on Monday is expected
to define it's position as regards the
men employed on ships in its control.
In the meantime the strike, begun
on Thursday by firemen, water tenders
and oilers on ships owned by members
and since extended to the deck crews
on these vessels, has spread to vessels
controlled by the shipping board. To
date the masters, mates. and pilots on
these ships have struck to their posts
except where attempts have been made
to use strike breakers, but these are
ready to quit at the word of their
leaders.
Piers Are Picketed
The effect on shipping was more
noticeable yesterday than on preceding
days. Not all Of the coasting lines
were able to keep to their schedules,
while numerous freighters ready to sail
remained at their piers. The owners
and agents of these vessels were not
prepared to admit that the strike was
responsible for their remaining. Hun
dreds of pickets along the piers ind;-
Gated that the>> strike was at least
factor.
The net result of the visit of the
shipping boards representatives to the
city was repetition of the offer of a
10 per cent increase to men employed
below decks by the American Steam.
chin AccoCiottO1 with tho nrnVicO that
the men agree to reasonable working
conditions" and with the additional
reservation that the members of the
association be free to hire whoever
they pleased. This offer was not new
and left the situation where it was.
It also developed that the shipping
board is not in full accord with the
private owners. Some of the members
of the board, it is stated on excellent
authority, are in favor of granting the
demands of the seamen for preference
for union men, leaving the question Of
wages and other working conditions to
be threshed out later.
Stevens and Owners Differ
The granting of this demand, Mr..
Stevens explained yesterday, would not
involve the closed shop, though the
private ship owners insi4 that it would.
According to Mr.. Stevens, it would
mean as matters now stand that non
union men would have to be employed
for the supply OF union men is not in
excess OF so per cent of the number of
men required.
At a meeting with representatives OF
the private ship owners Mr.. Stevens,
it is understood, sought to have this
agreed to, but met with q point blank
refusal. At this meeting the sentiment
was expressed by some of the ship
owners that rather than agree to any
thing resembling preference for union
men they would tie their ships to their
piers indefinitely.
Subsequently G. II. Brown, OF the
seamen, headed delegation of union
men who met with Mr.. Stevens and his
associates at the Pennsylvania Hotel.
At this meeting Mr.. Stevens told the
union men the best he had been able
to secure from the private owners was
the 10 per cent offer previously made.
This, he was told, could not be accept
ed by the men.
Board Will Go Further
So far as the Shipping Board itself
is concerned he said the board was
prepared to go further than the pri-
vate owners. To-day. he said, there
on Monday the position Of the board
would be made public. In advance of
a decision by the full board he was not
prepared to say what this position
would be.
Leaving the conference, Mr.. Brown
said the situation had not been i'm
proved by the visit of the Shipping
Board representatives.
"The situation is. if anything, more
serious than it has been," he said. "Ths
fact is. that the men, after waiting
for some weeks, have now taken tn.
situation into their own hands. Thei
officers cannot control them. We ca,
so back and tell them that the boart
is friendly. but wants more time, bu
they have got beyond the point wher'
they will listen to advice to wait.
I'VE have tried to keep the men oil
Shipping Board vessels, but Pm afrai.
1t is no use. The order to strike OF
these boats went out this morning, bu
has been held up pending this meet
ing. Now | believe the men will d.
as they please"
Leaders Not Responsible
In q talk with the reporters afte
this meeting Mr.. Stevens said it wa
only fair to the union leaders to sa
that they were not responsible for tn
strike.
"Thesc men," said he, "have don
their best to hold things in statu gu
uhtb tHe pnlpptHS poaru COuto Wor
out an adjustment. l believe that tn
matter may be amicably adjusted.
ut is incorrect to say that the me
are demanding the closed shop. Whs
they ask is the preferential shop treat
ment. They realize that they cannc
supply all of the men needed and tina
the employers should and must be a
lowed to get non-union men when tn
union men are not available"
Speaking for the licensed officer
Thomas l.. Delahunty, Of the engineer
aid last night that he doubted th
ability of anybody to hold the etrik
IN check if it is not soon settled.
There is" he said, absolutely n
question as to where the engineer
stand. We stand squarely with the sea
men. This is not the position Of sc
called leaders alone. We are doing q
we are told. Our men ara ready to g
90 bat now, and 1t il no easy tas
keeping them on the Job.
No Surplus of Engineers
make no mistake, there is no su,
plus OF engineers. Before this troubl
broke there we're ships held oil tn
~ay south from Montreal because eng
neegs we're not available. The same
tr1s Of competent help in all OF tn
departme IL is also true that tn