New-York tribune., 1919-10-18
Shipping Board, Stirred
by Y iolation Of
Agreement, Takes a
Defiant Attitud G
Saws Conditions
Must Be Ended
Points to "Appalling
Economic Waste'' and
Great Inconvenience
of the Public

Despite assertions of union officials
that the longshoremen's strike was
practically over and that majority Of
the strikers had voted to return to
work, the situation in the harbor has
become so acute that it has forced the
authorities at Washington into action.
The United States Shipping Board
yesterday issued a statement in effect
warning the longshorcmen that steps
are being considered to operate Ship
ping Board vessels without them 1t
was understood that troops would be
employed to handle the ships in port, a.
in the case of transports, and to guard
such longshoremen as are willing to
work at the rate awarded by the Ma
tional Adjustment Commission.
Shipping Board Aroused
The Shipping Boards statement
reads:
"The delay on the part of the long
shoremen on the Atlantic coast in
abandoning their unauthorized strike
in violation of their agreement to
abide by the awards of the National
Adjustment Commission makes it nee
essary for the United States Shipping
Board TO give immediate consideration
TO the working Of the ships under it's
control.
This delay is resulting in great in
convenience to the public, in a seri-
M inf ,y,4i ho of
the merchant marine and in an appal-
ling economic waste. This is condi-
tion that can not be permitted to con-
tinue, and a remedy must be found at
once to sustain these awards and carry
on the business of the country"
While no officials of the division of
operations here have yet received any
explicit instructions on the matter,
Major +. Ormonde Power, in charge
of labor supply at the Port of Embark
alton in Hoboken, said yesterday that
the army heads stood ready to protect,
feed and provide sleeping quarters if
necessary for any of the longshoremen
who arc willing to resume work on the
government transports. SO far none
Of the men have come back and the
government ships are still being
handled by soldiers and sailors
Shipowners Want Troops
Independent shipowncrs declared that
as soon as they have established that
the ma jorty of the longshOrcmen really
want to return to work they will ask
the government authorities to extend
the contemplated protection to their
lines. 1t was explained that the use
of troops for this purpose would have
to be sanctioned by the Secretary Of
War.
There are at present Approximately
$50 large cargo carriers lying idle in
the port, LAT of which are Shipping
Board vessels and thirty-tive the prop
erty of the International Mercantile
Marine. 1t was said on all sides that
the preponderance of the pier men
want to come back. but that they are
being intimidated by armed bands of
radicals, who have been carrying on
a guerrilla warfare with the locals that
have voted to return to work.
T. V. O'Conner, president of the IN
ternational Longshoremen's Associa-
tion, announced that the following
locals lad voted so far to go back: S74
975, OFT (disputed), 908, COL S56 (dis-
These, he said. had Il combined mem
bcrship of over $4,000, but he was con-
vinCed that the actual number of men
who want to go back exceeds this by
| far.
Foresee Long Struggle
Local 791, the largest in the Inter
national, with membership of 3,10C
voted last night to remain on strike
The vote stood 70S against 1856. max
ing total of 894 ballots cast The
decision Of this body has been awaited
! by many of the smaller locals and its
stand has invariably indicated the
course they were likely to take. I'm
der the cirtum stances, shipping mer
predict long drawn out struggle with
a large number of the longshorcmcr
and that the government Will so aheat
with its plans to handle the vessels IL
the port with troops.
When appriscd of the action taker
by Local 1911, O'Conner said: 81
every one of the 1000 longshoremer
in the port of New York voted to re
to indorsc or support their action il
any manner
Aggressive steps were taken by thu
police to prevent any further violenc,
among the strikers. Deadlincs have
been established about piers on the
East River between BurIng Slip an'
Maiden Lane, and the entire area pa
trolled in an effort TO keep disturber
away from willing workers. Two men
w lliiuiH NHulitltI, Ol lO4 W lfIc
Street, and Carmelo Fele, of 272 Ctrys
tie Street both of Manhattan. were ar
rested in Brooklyn for interfering Will
other longshorcmcn and carrying con
ccalcd weapons.
Wage Increase Granted
The National Adjustment Commits
sion announced yesterday that 1t hat
awarded the bull stallers, known oitcl
allv us steam4hjD cattl le and hOrS
filters, and grain seolers, an increns
Of ten cents an hour in wages. The.
formerly received eighty cents nj
hour. They wanted SO "A day for al
eight-hour day.
The case Of ! 500 steamship clerk
MISC was heard. These men have bec1
work ing on II sliding wage scale tha
has never beer -.aoilizcd They wan
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