New-York tribune., 1919-07-22
Big Strike Is Again in Dead.
lock, With $50 Vessels
Tied Up in This Port and
$4,000 Seamen Kept Idle
Next Move Is Uncertain
Seventeen More Boats Ar
rive and 1000 Work
ers Join in the Walk Out

Members Of the American Steamship
Association sat in executive session
yesterday and decided to offer no con-
cessions to the International Seamen's
Union.
This leaves the strike situation at
deadlock. With 25O loaded ships under
the American flag tied up in this port
and $4,000 marine workers idle, the
ship owners declare the next nova
must come from the seamen. Union
officials said the dispute might have
to go to the Mediation and Cancellation
Division of the Department Of Labor
for settlement
1--WE are through. We are willing to
adjust wages, hours and working CON
ditions, but we will not submit to the
demands of the union. which are moth
ing but an attempt to force US into a
closed shop agreement. We will tie up
the ships and wait"
This statement was made by Fl. n.
Raym ond, president Of the association
and of the Clyde line, who was chair
man Of the meeting.
Mr.. Raymond admitted that the
owners would be willing to proceed on
a basis of giving first preference to
American seamen, union or non-union,
with the union seamen to have second
choice and the non-union aliens third.
But he declared this proposition, which
merely camoufage
Only so Per Cent Organized
"The union is only so per cent or
ganlzcd on its own admission" he
said. II doubt if it has half of the men
signed up. Its demands that we re
cognlze the union mean that we must
organize the men for it. Its delegates ,
have passes to the piers. They can
organize the seamcn AS far as Amer
lcan seamen are concerned, we would
hlre them, but there are few Of them.
"lf we should sail with non-union
memoers IN a crew we would be
obliged to discharge them when we
returned to port and take on whatever
union men were avilable, even though
these men we're satisfactory and were
responsible citizens with families on
shore"
Gus H. Brown, leader of the strik-
ing seamcn, said Mr. RAYMOND waa
wrong in charging the union with
camouhage in the preferential idea for
Americans.
noth sides seemed to be uncertain
as 70 definite move. The ship own
crs dld not adjourn to a set day. but
ahpounced that they would be "subicct
20 .. ca not earlier than two days hence. =
ar. brown said the strikers would
meet nj once and discuss matters. Mr..
Raymond said the loss due to the tie-
up was negligible. and the strikers in
sisted they could remain out for
months Meanwhile freight has been
/ days. '''
More Trouble In Sight
More trouble was forecast Yesterday
"hen Thomas l.. Delahunty announced
'ne text OF letter to all members Of
suooroinate associations of tho Ma
l'onal Marine Engineers Beneficial A.
sociation '
We are going to 90 to bat August
for what will mean $3b increase
unless the Shipping Board and the ship
o%ners settle the wage question and
other working rules which were adopt
cd ~ this association and left to a
committee for final Adjustment" he
Tho order allows until July 81 as a
period Of grace. 1t states:
Members Of the NJ r. B. A. shall
sign no ships articles on or after
August /. 1919. that do not provide .