The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-17
$4,000 THREATEN
TO TIE UP HARBOR
Longshoremen Demand That
Boat Owners Deal Only
With the Unions.
MEETING IS INVADED
Delahunty Tells Heads ofTow-
ing Companies to Cease
Separate Bargaining.

Efforts Of private boat owners to
make individual bargains with striking
harbor workers brought out q threat
yesterday Of q strike Of $4,000 long
shoremen II the boat owners ala not con-
fine their negotiations to ne officers Of
the unions. Thomas L. DeiAhunty. presi-
dent. and other oficers Of the Marine
Affiliatlon announced that this course
would be taken II the efforts continued
at a meeting of boat owners to which
they had invited their captains.
Mr.. Delahunty. with Vice-President
Maher and other leaders, walked into the
meeting. which was held in the MARI
time Exchange Building, rs Broadway.
without invitation. They were accom-
panied by about fifty union men who
had gathered about the place, some Of
them in response to the invitations OF
the owners.
IT want to serve an ultimatum on you
gentlemen" shouted Delahunty. This is
an unfair way to deal. II you attempt
individual bargaining with the men we
will call out the International Long
shoremen's Union
I'VE invited our captains here and
we want nothing to do with you lead
ers." said one OF the owners. You
have lived on the fat OF the land on these
men long enough"
Yes. and you have lived on the fat
OF the land of these men for fifty
years." replied Delahunty.
After Delahunty had delivered his
ultlmatum Alfred NJ. Sorrell, president of
the Hosting Engineers Union. shouted.
Are there any scabs here? II there are
We will give them jobs"
Come on, boys. let's go up to head
quarters and have a real meeting" in
vited William A. Maher. viec-president
of the Marine Afiliation. Tho crowd
thereupon left the building.
The boat owners then withdrew to an
adjoining room and after a brief con-
sultation abandoned the attempt TO hold
a meeting and left the place. The union
leaders established pickets in front OF
the building and in front of the Offices OF
invited their captains to meet them
privately.
Later at a meeting of the strikers at
their headquarters, rs Park Place, at
which Delahunty addressed them on the
| virtues Of collective bargaining. a vote
OF confidence In the Marine Ahiliation
| officers was adopted unanimously.
James L. Hughes, the Federal con-
| ciliator who has been working on the
strike for the last ten days. 10 expected
to return to New York to-day from
end, and renew his attempts to bring
about a compromise agreement
Delahunty said last night that the
strikers would meet committee Of
boat owners to-day, II requested to do
so by Mr.. Hughes. provided only that
Paul Bonynge, counsel for the owners,
was not there. The boat owners are
also willing to attend the meeting, but
neither side will admit there Is the
slightest chance Of compromise on
the eight hour day issue.
Tho boat owners who attended the
meeting in the Maritime Exchange yes
terday included w. 8. Holbrook of the
Holbrook Towing Company, Fred B..
Dalzell Jr., Of the DalEell Towing Line.
William Moore OF the New York Harbor
Towboat Company. Edward Barrett OF
the Barrett Towing Line. Gerard Kel-
lar, secretary Of the New York Tow
boat Exchange and proprietor OF the
Hudson Towboat Line. and George
Evans OF the Scully Towboat Line.
Nearly all are men whose boats are
engaged principally in handling trans
Atlantic steamships
Union leaders asserted last night that
false propaganda against the strikers
hid been spread among the soldiers AT
Camp Mills. Camp Merritt and other
cantonments. Delahunty said last night