New-York tribune., 1919-10-23
Port Workers Fail to Go
Back to Work, in Spite
of Prediction of Union
President T. V. O'Conner
Insurgents M e e t Hylan
Mayor Asked to Submit
Dollar-an-Hour Demands
10 Shipping Interests

The longshoremen's strike did not
end yesterday in accordance with the
prediction of T. V. O'Conner, president
OF the international Longshoremen's
Association. The insurgent faction oe
the strikers met the Mayor and the
two other members Of the conciliation
commission in City Hall last night in
another effort to settle the controversy.
This faction, with representatives
present from 20 Of the 53 locals, and
headed by Richard j. Butler, submitted
new set of demands, including 81 an
hour for regular time and So for over
time, and an eight-hour day. They an
nounccd they would have no further
dealings with. the National Adjustment
Commission, and empowered Mayor
Hylan to submit their demands di-
rectly to the steamship companies for
arbitration.
The Mayor stated he would try to
arrange a conference between the
owners and the workers to-day. He
suggested that il the conference can be
arranged the strikers return TO work
pending the negotiations.
Men Eager to Return
The delegates voted to bring the sug-
gestion before the various locals and
to inform the Mayor of their verdict
within day or two. The men indi-
Gated that they were eager to return.
Tho increasing seriousness of the
situation in the harbor has forced ship
ping men to act. After Il conference of
officia Of the United States Shipping
Board, the international Mercantile
Marine and other shipping interests il
was stated yesterday that the 400 yes
sells in the harbor would be moved to-
day at all costs.
Acting under instructions from Wash
ington, it was said that definite policy
Of operation would be adopted. J. is
understood that among the means dis
cussed to obtain labor 10 move the yes
sels was the assurance Of protection to
such of the longshorcmen as were will
ing to work and the employment of
troops TO assist in loading and unload
ing Of government vessels, at least.
10 Cents an Hour Is Limit.
It was also pointed out that the
private ship owners may obtain skilled
workers through employing steve
dores. but under no circumstances,
government officials explained. viii the
workers be paid any more than the 70
cents an hour rate awarded by the
National Adjustment Commission. To
this policy, it was pointed out, both
the private owners and the Federal
officials are committed
The matter has been placed in the
hands OF Darragh De Lancey, of the
Labor Adjustment Board, who went
to Washington to lay the plan before
the War Department and to obtain
such assistance as may be necessary
Frederic Toppin, president OF
the international Mercantile Marine,
said at the close OF the conference:
THE company fully intends TO operate
its ships and work the cargoes. We
the use of the word strike breaker
1t is inAammatory and frequently
keeps men from returning to work
who might otherwise be disposed to
come back. Our old men are welcome
# they want to come back Although
they have broken their contracts we
would regard them as prodigal sons"
Demand O'Conner Resign
Earlier in the day more than 300 of
the insurgents met at the headquarters
of Local 866, Twenty yfourth Street and
Thirteenth Avenue, and adopted reso-
lutiOns demanding the resignation of
O'Conner The resolutions were sent
to the headquarters Of the executive
committee Of the international at Buff
falo. They also express Willingness to
return to work under any award other
thnn that obstained by O'Conner.
The president Of the international
was also hotly denounced at the night
meeting in City Hall. Patrick Nc
Nicholas, referring to the fracas in
Hoboken, said: "Any man that can't
face the public without paid gunmen
isn't fit to lead decent men" BuHer
said: This isn't a strike. 1t is pro
test against the deceiving methods of
certain union officials
When President O'Connor was told