The sun., 1919-10-01
PRESSMEN REVOLTS
MAY CRUSH STRIKE
Workers In Several Shops Bolt
to Newly Chartered
Union.
WILL RETURN TO JOBS
Plants to Close To-day So EN-
ployees Can Adjust Labor
Affiliations.

pressmen's and feeders unions OF this
city threatened death to the strike which
those organizations have called in all
book and job printing plants for to-day.
At late hour, when employers had
completed arrangements for shutdown
of all establishments until the troublous
unions shall have been subdued, IL was
learned that pressmen and feeders In
two of the largest houses of this city
and In several smaller ones had decided
to bolt the striking organizations and
Join the union which has been newly
chartered by the International Printing
Pressmen's and Assistants Union OF
North America, under whose banner they
will return to the Jobs.
This news was thought last night to
sound the doom of the movement insti-
gated by James ]. Bagley and Bernard
Nolan, leaders of the strike who some
time ago lured their unions away from
the international fold.
In quitting Bagley and Nolan, the
pressmen and feeders are taking advan-
tage of an offer extended by Major
George L. Berry, president of the inter-
national, who announced the secession
lists might return individually and with
out penalty, provided they have not par
tIcipated in the activities of the ultra
radical group which has influenced their
affairs of late. The break was taken as
an indication that the majority of men
in the pressmens and feeders unions
are not in sympathy with the radical
movement.
shop Shutdown Ordered.
This development, according to Col
William Green, chairman of the special
committee of the Printers League, which
Is combating the strike, will not prevent
the closing of the plants to-day. The
Printers League issued a set of instruc-
tons to its members yesterday inform
ing them that they were to close press
rooms beginning this morning "irrespec-
tive of any and all Developments"
The procedure to be adopted by the
shops whose employees have decided not
to strike is to wait until those men
Rave been properly installed as members
of the newly chartered union In good
standing with the International. This
will be quickly attended to excepting In
the cases of such workmen as may have
been guiltyo serious offences.
The Printers League also instructed
It's members that they were to keep en-
ployees in composing rooms, foundries,
binderies and mailing rooms at work as
long as they have anything for them
to do.
According to the strike order of the
local unions, the followers of Bagley and
Nolan were to quit work as they finished
their jobs Members of the night forces
were instructed to work the full time
Notwithstanding these orders the men,
bers of the pressmen's and feeders
unions quit work in two establishments
yesterday before their time had expired
About 200 walked out Of the plant Of
the Federal Printing Company upon OBJ
serving a notice posted on the time clock
informing ,workmen that in the future
only persons In good standing with the
1nterna tionals affiliated with the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor would be en-
ployed in the establishment.
Another premature walkout was
staged in the plant of the Carey Press.
No Compromise, Says Berry.
Major Berry, the International pres
ident, who has come to this city to crush
the secessionist unions and build up the
new International in their stead, issued
a statement at his headquarters in the
Hotel Knickerbocker last night announc-
ing that he would give mo quarter to
the acknowledged Bolshevists'' in the
local unions. and would make mo COM
promise with those that follow the
course of anarchy and Industrial disrup-
ton"
Major Berry, II was learned, has re-
ceived several appeals from agents of
the striking pressmen and feeders for
reinstatement of those unions In the
International it appearing now that the
men see their folly and are willing to
submit Internationally to the jurisdic-
ton of the big organization.
at is not the pressmen and feeders
that are held responsible" he said. but
It is the leadership that has repudiated
every principle OF not only trades union
logic, but has repudiated every prac-
teal thought that has been worked out
in the years OF experience between en-
ployers and employees of this country.
'4This is a time for every man who
believes In genuine democracy in the
industry, as well as in the conduct of
our Government. TO stand together"
Declaring the ideas of the strike lead
ers would, II carried out mean the
Sovletizing of the printing industry, he
said: 1.-THE situation in New York, be-
cause of its far reaching Importance to
the welfare of the printing industry of
this city and of the continent, and be-
cause of its direct inevitable effect upon
the entire Industrial situation of the
country, makes 1t obligatory upon the
part of not only labor representatives,
but every other person who believes in
combating this vicious, irresponsible
and destructive scheme that strikes at
the very roots OF industrial democracy"
Major Berry remarked the leaders of
the striking unions have committed
themselves to various Bolshevik princi-
pies.
"Chronologically." he said. "the posi-
tons of some of the local leaders might
be summed up as follows:
''First-Advocacy of revolution made
before the meeting OF the central body
of New York city some months ago.
"SecOnd-Disregard of contracts
''Third-The precipitation OF a strike
IN the industry In violation OF the laws
OF the international union, of existing
contracts. and I'm violation OF the prln-
ciples ofttiInes enunciated b. the labor
movement for Cancellation and arbitra-
tion.
''Fourth-The declaration that no con-
tractual relationship was desired. Decla-
ration that local unions wish to be In
a position TO strike at any time. to en-
force any contention that they might
conclude to be just, irrespective of the
facts.
''Fifth-The proposition OF controlling
arbitrarily the industry and accepting
for themselves the responsibility of de-
terInining the course that the industry
should be required 10 take, notwith-
standing the rights of other units and
interests In the Industry"
Col, Green announced last night that
conference between the employing
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