New-York tribune., 1919-10-27
Radicals Also Declare
They Will Join Move
ment of Rail Workers
and Miners in Big Tieup
Situation Better.
O'Conner Insists
More Men to Go to Work
To-day, He Says; Half
of Force Now on Piers

The insurgent longshoremen who
have refused to return to work on the
orders of T. V. O'Conner, president of
the International Longshoremen's As
sociation, yesterday issued a formal
call for strike. They claim to repre-
sent twenty-four of the ffty-three
locals in the international, with COM
bined membership of $4,000. One OF
their organizers said last night the
pier men were contemplating an alli-
anee with the miners and railway
workers
Following meeting of insurgents
at its headquarters, at Twenty-fourth
Street and Thirteenth Avenue, William
J. Smith, the secretary, announced that
up to the present the walkout has "only
been q vacation" From now on, he
said. it will be "a little war"
The men intend to fight to enforce
their demands, and it will BE- fight
to the finish, ,"he said He added that
the men are prepared to adopt the
most energetic methods" to attain their
ends.
The 125 men who voted on the strike
question left the hall shouting: "It's q
fight. fellows! It's fight! Don't for
get your hooks, fellows! Don't forget
your hooks!"
From union officials, however. came
reports that $4,000 longshoremen had
gone back to work up to date, and that
about $4,000, or half the usual number
employed along the piers, would be at
their posts this morning
Mayor Issues Statement
At the same time the Mayor, as chair
man of the Cancellation commission
appointed by Secretary Of Labor Will
son to mediate the controversy, issued
a statement setting forth in great de-
tail all the facts of the controversy as
he understands them.
The action of the insurgents is be-
lieved to have been brought about by
the refusal of the steamship interests
to parley with them further. George
McQuade, a stevedore, had been asked
on Saturday to find out if the ship
owners would meet the strikers. Smith
said yesterday that "McQuade spilled
the beans" and that there would be no
meeting with the steamship men this
morning
The men then took vote on the
was ordered
IT'S war now" said Smith "You
know what war is, don't you? Well,
that's what it is from now on. We've
got twenty-four locals with $4,000
members with us, and it's going to be
lively fight. What's more, 1t may
mean the amalgamation of these locals
With the miners and railway workers.
We are going to send delegates to
their conference at Scranton next
Thursday"
Not Bothered by Union Law
Smith and Richard ]. Butler. chair
man OF the insurgents, were not con-
eerned with the legality of their strike
order. They said the ajority of the
iongsnoremsn wanted it that way, and
the strike was fact. They were sure
the order would tie up all the docks
N Brooklyn, Staten Island, Jersey
City, Hoboken and Manhattan and
would cripple alike both the private
lines and the United States Shipping
Board vessels.
CConner. on the other hand, says
sne response to the whistles along the
piers yesterday was very encouraging.
II am not prepared to say what the
men will do tomorrow" he said, "but
everything looks immeasurably better
today than it did since the beginning
Of the walk out"
John F. Riley, head Of the. strike
Committee Of the O'Conner faction,
,aid he led fifteen gangs to their places
on me Chelsea pier section during the
morning and started them working on
TIE Cunard, White Star and French
ine ships.
THE entire organization at this
pcrt," said Riley. "still stands by
vConner az the leader. The men
nave begun TO tire of the false and
golden promises made by Vaccarelh,
me mayor and Dick Butler. l predict
shat half the men will be back on
'assr Jobs by 7 a. m. tomorrow"
shipowners Won't Meet Them
Comments Of representatives Of the
sNanship interests confirmed the be-
.la Of the strikers that no confer
encs with their employers could be ex-
geeted this morning. P. A. s. Frank
hn, president Of the international Mer-
eantile Marine, said he hadn't been
ssxsd 10 any joint meeting and knew
nothing about 1t.
n. T. Raymond. head OF tho Clyde
shd Mallory lines, declared no had
aeard nothing about 1t, while Fred
TT1eS .Toppin, ysce-president Of the
sa'p owners. said he had not been
sssksd 70 guch conference, nor would
ne attend IL requested.
insre is nothing to discuss any
more" said Mr. Toppin. Owe have ex~
nSasssd every channel through which
Hs might settlc the strike, now in It's
.Ssnticth day, and get the men to
.aIrI out their agreement. For some
..ssason they have refused 70 do It, Nov
shs ZINE for discussion Is over and we
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