New-York tribune., 1919-07-23
Union Leaders Deny Their
Men Are Wavering; Say
Spirit Is Better Than
When They Left Ships
Soup Kitchens Opened
Steamer Association Meeting
To-day May Bring New
Offers From Both Sides

Franklin D. Mooney, chairman Of the
wage committee of the American Steam
ship Association, declared yesterday
that many of the $1,000 striking men,
bers of the International Seamen's
Union had begun to weaken and were
applying to the ship owners for work.
This statement was denied by Gus II.
Brown, leader Of the seamen in this
port. Mr.. Brown said: "The organiza
tion throughout the country IS prepar-
ing for a strike that could last year
as far as we are concerned. The strike
spirit is stronger than it was fourteen
days ago, when the men quit the ships.
Our fellows can stick it out and they
will. They are used to privation. They
can live on an oily rag, and we will not
recede one point from our demand for
recognition of the union.'
The union has established three soup
kitchens for the strikers. They are at
164 Eleventh Avenue and 40 Burling
Slip, Manhattan, and at 40 Hamilton
Avenue, Brooklyn. Living quarters are
being obtained for the striking seamen
in various halls and buildings near the
waterfronts.
No Settlement in Sight
With both sides baking at being the
first to offer concessions of any kind,
still to be far from settlement of
their dispute. The union seamen have
been holding meetings at various head
quarters here, and hundreds are picket
ing wharves and securing the Bay and
rivers for strike-breaking crews.
The American Steamship Associa-
tion will meet again to-day in the
Whitehall Building. This session may
result in tentative offers from both
sides.
Mr.. Mooney said eve are positive
men to work within few days. Even
at our disadvantage we have been
paying higher salary than the men
received on foreign ships, and we Of
fer the men still more" Union Of
ficials reply to this statement by de-
claring they are not fighting as much
for increased wages as they are for
union recognition.
Member companies Of the steamship
association sent oral and printed in
structions to licensed officers on
board the idle boats asking them to
indicate whether or not they would
sail with the ship in case a crew of
non union men could be obtained,
professional strike breakers. In cases
where the officers refused it was said
they would be discharged.
Called a "Lock-Out"
Thomas L. Delahunty, head Of the
Marine Engineers Beneficial Associa
ton, interpreted this as lock out Of
loyal officers OH the part of the ship
owners, and he issued instructions ad-
vising the officers not to agree tc
such proposition.
H. II. Raymond, president of the as
sociation sof ship owners, said: eve
have been paying the officers their sal
aries since the ships have been tied
up. They are doing nothing now. The
companies merely want to know if the
officers are willing to work in case we
ret crews for the ships. If not they
will be removed from the payroll, be
cause there will not be any reason fol
holding them. 1t is not lockout; the
men locked themselves out"
At the Office of the Lamport & Holt
Line it was announced that the steame,
Tennyson, bound for South America
had left yesterday after remaining i.
the harbor for a week. Cooks ant
stewards striking on this ship arrived
last night at the office Of S. B. Axtell
counsel for the union, and complained
that they had been refused month
pay. Mr.. Axtell said he would start al
action against the ship and place
United States marshal on board if sh.
is still in the bay. Union men doubtot
that the ship would proceed beyond tn
bay.
Members of the Marine Engineers
Beneficial Association met last nigh
to prepare advance plans for the strik
scheduled for August l. 1t was pro
posed that MIR. Dclehunty represent tn
association before a national commit
tee in Washington. Should the strik
be called, the union officials say 1t vii
, hc directed from the capital, to be IL
touch with the Department of Labor.