Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-01-09
New York Port Tied Up
By Strike of the Marine
Workers Affiliation
Food And Fuel Famine Threat
ens.---Returning Soldiers
Unable To Land.

New York, Jan. 9.-The Port of New
York was tied up today when $4,000
members of the Marine Workers Affil-
iation struck at a. m.
There were no ferries running to New
Jersey or Staten Island. Persons liv-
ing at the latter place were isolated.
Tubes carried all Jersey residents
having business in New York. The
trains were taxed to capacity.
The strike also cut off the railway
terminals on the Jersey side of the Hud-
son river.
The strike was expected to spread
rapidly to other marine workers. The
International Longshoremen $ Associa-
tion met early today to take steps in
sympathy with the Marine Workers AT
filiation. 1t was estimated that unless
some measure was taken within a short
time, about 10000 men might be idle.
A serious fuel and food famine was
threatened.
Supplies Held Up.
Supplies from the interior Of the
United States for export and from
abroad were expected to be held up.
Returning soldiers also faced the pros
pect Of being unable to land from ships
The only boats exempted from the
strike order were those operated BY the
federal government carrying wounded
and sick soldiers between hospitals and
the port of debarkation at Hoboken.
The Pennsylvania Railway company
ferries were operating in desultory
manner.
The Fort Lee ferries, used by thous
ands Of soldiers travelling between
Camp Merritt and Manhattan Island
shut down at 6 a. m. The Central Of
New Jersey and other downtown ferries
suspended at a. m. Signs were posted
warning commuters.
Ocean Liners AfrecycuI
Ocean liners were affected by the or
der. Instructions were issued that nj
member of the union was to give a tow
The strike is the result Of the refus
al OF employers to agree to an award
made some time ago ny rne war fabol
board. An eight hour day and inereast
in pay was granted the men. The board
yesterday announced its inability Il
bring about agreement and the strike
order came shortly afterward.
D. T. Lelahunty, president Of thu
Marine Workers Affiliation, said thai
80 per cent of the workcrp .aa Isft
their work at 8 o. clock, leaving theil
boats as they reached shore, tying theIr
up, banking their fires and reporting
on strike.
Dclahunty said there was no indica
ton that there would be any violence
but gathered ount the ferry slips al
the Manhattan snd Dtaten Island ter
minals were long crowds Of workmen.
Delahunty declared the only way the
strike \can I {, settled is for board tt
undertake arbitration with power to en-
force les awards.
At he office of the marine director
for the United States railroad admin
istratlon it was stated that Lackawanna
railroad b rats were running to Jersey
under operation of non-union crews
These, it was stated, probably would be
discontinued when Pennsylvania boats
were removed.
1t was declared that no protection
from troops or naval forces had been
asked and it was deemed unlikely that
it would be. The strikers controlled
the situation with no trouble.
"There probably will be hell to pay
very shortly" was the comment at the
marine director IS offices.