The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-17
HARBOR STRIKE
OFF 4S HOURS;
U. S. STEPS IN
Conciliator From Washing
ton Obtains Delay for
Conference To-day.
BIG OFFICIALS COMING
Secretary Wilson and Army
and Navy Chiefs to
Take Hand.
NOT TO HALT FERRIES
Municipal Employees Promise
to Ignore Walkout Order AZ
ter Prosecution Threat.
NOT TO HALT FERRIES

James L. Hughes. a conciliator from
the United States Department of La
Dor, succeeded last night in securing
postponement Of the threatened
harbor strike for forty-eight hours
from o'clock to-day, during which
time he will renew his efforts to
mediate the complications that have
arisen in the last week.
When Mr.. Hughes reached New
York yesterday he called UP Paul
Bonynge, counsel for the private boat
owners. and asked when the boat own
ers could meet Secretary Of Labor
William 3. Wilson and prominent Of
ficials OF the United States army and
navy to discuss the harbor strike. He
also called up the Railroad Admins
tration.
He was told that the owners of
craft would be glad to meet Mr.. VIII
son or the other Government repre-
sentatives any time to-day, and he
said they would come here.
"If Secretary Wilson comes here and
with the other representatives Of the
Government invite us to discuss the situ-
alton with him we will enter the meet
ing. said Mr.. Bonynge. But II this is
trap to 30 ovcr the negotiations again
would as soon jump Off Brooklyn
Bridge. We don't intend to treat any
more with Delahunty and his group.
We're operating our boats without them
and II they see ut to reject the liberal
offers We have made the boatmen that
ends the matter for u.s. We are through
with them"
Likewise Mr.. Smith has made his posi-
lion perfectly clear to the labor leaders.
Boat Owners stand Rat.
The efforts to settle the dispute are
being made solely by the workers. The
Railroad Administration and the private
boat owners are standing pat. Mr..
Delahunty appealed to Peter J. Brady,
Gov. Smiths labor representative on the
Reconstruction Commission, to inform
the Governor of the workers case Mr.,
Brady called up the boat owners and
suggested a conference; but he was in
formed that the Fedora! Government was
taking hand in the situation, and go
he will likely refrain from interfering
until the efforts of the United States
Labor Department fail.s
Paul Vaccarelli, one OF tho strike COM
nittee. said on behalf of the workers
that Mr.. Hughes brought In a general
proposition for the settlement of the
harbor stfike-that the proposition was
on behalf Of the Railroad Administra-
ton and the private boat owners, and
that the acceptance OF the proposition
would mean settlement of the entire
strike. So far as could be learned
las. night, Mr.. Hughes had no authority
Cor making any proposition. II he did
make one. At least Mr.. Bonynge and
Mr. Smith denied they had seen him.
The Marine Affiliation will meet to-
day at o'clock to hear Mr.. Hughes.
He has no proposals from the private
boat owners to offer. although the strike
committee was OF tho opinion he would
have somo plan of settlement to place
before the men.
Franklin D. Roosevelt. Assistant Sec
retary OF the Navy, upon hearing Of
Mr.. Delahunty's threat promptly said
boats would dock IL 1t took the whole
United States Navy to do the job. And
while Mr., Roosevelt was saying this.
Joseph IL Moran, chairman of the New
York Tow Boat Exchange assured the
families of returning soldiers that Mr..
Uelahunty's order was purely BLUM. and
placed at the disposal of the army and
navy 100 tugs Of private owners that
are now belrg operated by marine work.
ers who broke away from the union.
Shortly after these statements were
issued, Mr.. Delahunty called at the
headquarters OF the Army Transport
Service. IS Broadway. and told the
army officials that he had decided to
exempt army and navy tugs engaged
ir transport service from the general
strike order. AS a matter of fact word
reached strike headquarters that the
crews of some of the army boats were
against striking.
No Delay for Transports.
Army and Navy transports will move
In and out of this harbor. rain or shine.
strike or no strike. We have navy
Grey In readiness to man our boats II
the marine workers go on strike" That
was the announcement handed out at
the office OF the Transport Service after
Mr.. Delahunty left.
Mr.. Moran said:
"Mr. Delahuntys tender hearted
threat that in the new reign OF terror
about to he inaugurated In this port he
will not allow any transports bearing
wounded soldiers to be docked should
rot frighten anybody. The private own
Prs now have about 100 tugs and steam
lighters in operation. They are manned
ky men who take their orders from their
Employers and not from Park Place and
all continue To run, strike or no strike.
While the attitude OF the Government In
his controversy has not at all times
commanded our unreserved approval. we
cannot overlook the fact that wounded
soldiers have a special claim TO recogni-
lion and attention. Our equipment Is
entirely at their service. and no hard
skip will be suffered by them as a re-