New-York tribune., 1919-07-03
Ready to Ask That Only
Americans Man u. S.
Ships if Shipping Board
Fails to Meet Proposition
Today
sNot Move for Unionism'
Big Private Owners Deemed
Stumbling Block; Strike
Not Planned Immediately

Unless an agreement is reached to-
day between the United States Ship
ping Board and the American Steam
ship Association on the one hand and
the several marine unions on the other,
an immediate appeal will be made to
Congress to compel the Shipping
Board, and. If possible, private ship
owners, to give preference in employ
meat to American citizens on all ships
flying the American flag.
This statement was authorized last
night by Andrew Furuseth, president
of the international Seamen's Union;
John H. Pruett, PR sident of the Ameri-
can Association of Masters, Mates and
Pilots, and William H. Brown, presi-
dent of the National Marine Engineers
Benevolent Association. These leaders.
who, with their executive boards, have
been in session here for ten DAYS in
an effort to secure such an agreement,
will hold final conference this morn
ing. Should the deadlock then continue
arrangements will be made for an ap-
real to Congress and the country.
This is not question OF union
ism" said Mr.. Furuseth in expressing
the determination to appeal to Con-
gress. ut is a question of whether
or not we are to have American sailors
in American ships. If ships are good
enough to put American dollars into,
boys on. The country is spending
hundreds of millions for ships. Amer
leans should man those ships. We
don't ask that they be union men,
SO long as they are Americans. The
only preference we ask is that. as be-
tween aliens, those with union cards
be preferred"
Conferences Futile
R. B. Stevens, of the Shipping Board,
cancelled his vacation to come to New
an agreement. He held several con-
ferences during the day with repre-
sentatives of the unions and the ship
ping interests, but reached no agree
ment so far as could be learned last
night. Beyond admitting that he is
in connection with the discussion, Mr..
Stevens declined to talk.
Should the conference to-day break
up without an agreement being
reached, it is probable that an attempt
will be made to amend the bill
carrying an appropriation for the
Shipping Board so as to compel recog-
milton of the principle demanded by
the unions. This bill, carrying ap-
prOAimatelV SIUU,UUU,UUU Tor the board
is now in conference. Just what form
the amendment sought will take has
not been decided upon. 1t may apply
only to ships of the United States
Shipping Board, or it may be made to
apply to all ships now under the
American flag.
According to a member of the confer
ence, the real difficulty in reaching an
agreement for preference to Americans
is due to some of the large private ship
owners who wish to officer their ships
with American citizens, but insist on
hiring their crews wherever they can
get them the cheapest. The Shippil 2
Board, 1t is understood, is inclined to
agree to the proposition, as are some
OF the private owners.
Union Men Confident
Among the union leaders the impress
sion is general that the private owners
who are opposed to giving preference
to Americans hope, by decYfnfng the
proposition, to force strike, on the
theory that with vessels of the United
States Shipping Board involved, mem
bers of the naval reserve would be used
as strike breakers.
Because of this belief it is not prob
able that any strike will be ordered
until after Congress has had an op-
portunlty to act. In the meantime
such private ship owners as are in
elined to give Americans the prefer
ence will probably have an opportunity