New-York tribune., 1919-07-17
Agents of Port Unions Say
They May Not Be Able to
Stop Workers Joining
Deep Water Mems Fight
Shipping Board Appeals
Volunteers Asked to Help
Government Transport
Milch Cattle to France

The seamen's strike enters upon its
second week this morning with ap-
proximateIy 500 deep-water ships tied
I'D in this port alone and members of
the local harbor unions threatening to
strike in sympathy with the deep
water men. Representatives of the
harbor men, while insisting that they
intend to keep the recently made
contract with the towing com
panies, yesterday admitted there is
grave danger that the situation Will
get beyond their control.
I'VE hope to keep our contract" said
Thomas L. Delahunty, business man
ager of the Engineers and president of
the Marine Workers Afiliation, which
conducted the recent harbor strike,
4but there is going to be difficulty in
compelling men 10 work with nom
unionists. contracts or no contracts.
That is the situation and we might IS
well face IL Personally, | do not wish
to see this port tied up and en-
bargoed as it was early in the year
We want to keep our contract, and l
there is no denying that our men will
not care 30 tow or otherwise assist
ships operated by strike breakers.
Riggers Cut Non-Union Ships
Delahunty. it developed yesterday,
had a hard fight at a meeting OF his
union Tuesday night to prevent an or
der prohibiting its members towing
non-union ships being issued The prop
ositon failed of passage. but 1t is ex-
pected that il Will come up again later.
He was to have gone 10 Washington
last night to confer with the Shipping
Board Instead he remained in town
to sit on the lid.
Delahunty's organization controls the
men in the engine rooms OF the tugs
The Longshoremen's Association con-
trols the firemen and the deckhands.
Already one of the longshoremen' s
unons-the riggers-has voted not to
work on non-union ships, and there is
movement among members of the
other local unions TO take similar ac-
ton In line with this, request was
last night wired to the convention OF
the longshoremen in Galveston, Tex.
asking for Endorsement of the sea
mems strike.
The chief development locally yes
terdav was an appeal issued last night
from the local Offices of the Shipping
Board for men to operate cattle boats.
II was emphasized that the board has
contracted TO transport mich cattle to
France, that many hundred head are
now here and in Norfolk awaiting
shipment. and the statement was
made that the government is in
honor bound TO keep its contract
the existence OF which, the appeal
states. the men must have been igno.
rant Of when they struck.
Ten Per Cent Increase Offered
To man the ships assigned to this
work-six in all-the shipping board
asks for volunteers, union or non
unon-to whom is offered the 10 pei
cent increase IN wages recently an
nounced by the board. Union leaders
predicted last night that there woulc
be small response TO the appeal.
This appeal for volunteers followed E
semi-official statement issued earlier
in the day that the Shipping Boarc
would tie up all of its vessels pending
settlement with the men, and that tht
American Steamship Association nigh
be expected TO 90 likewise.
II" said G. H. Brown, Of the sea
men, 'the Shipping Board announces {
tie-up OF all Of It's vessels, it will bt
making virtue Of necessity, for at The
rate the strike Is spreading they vii
soon De all tied up anyway"
According 10 Brown, the end of the
strike IS not N sight.
III looks 70 me- said he, chat We
are IN for long struggle OF the out
come We have no doubt. Some of th'
shrewdest men in the shipping gam.
are now negotiating contracts with Us
They are not doing this through an,
love OF the seamen."
No formal statement was issued b,
the American Steamship Association
yesterday Ope of its representative
unofficially Endorsed what Brown ha.
said Of the prospect Of a long strike
bur predicted the men would lose.
Could Get Men in South
Given time" said ne, 1--WE can get al
of the men we want from Souther,
ports"
The suspicion that non-union me.
were being brought north as pas
sengers on some Of the coast lines wa
the incentive Of the raid on severa
o. me piers by strike p3ckets Tues
day night. According to the report
in union circles, the steamship com
panies are not confning their recruit
ing of strike breakers 20 Souther
ports, but are bringing West India
negroes and Spaniards north as pas
sengers TO take the places Of men o
strike.
To prevent further raids the polio
forces on duty along the water from
were doubled last night. During th