The sun., 1919-10-09
STRIKE ON DOCKS
HOLDS UP FOODS
Perishable Supplies Rotting
on Ships Because of Long
shoremen's Walkout.
JERSEY PIERS INVOLVED
10000 Stevedores and 12,000
Checkers Have Left Jobs
lo4 Demanding More Pay.

Tons of perishabie foodstdffs consigned
to New York and Its vicinity is standing
unioaded on vessels at various piers OF
the water front awaiting the outcome Of
the longshoremen's strike. The strike
spfsad yesterday to BROOKLYN and New
Jersey and involves. II IL said, at least
$4,000 stevedores, besides checkers. NUM-
berins $4,000 to 10000, who walked out
Yesterday, and several thousands OF In
boring men. who though not striking. are
cut Of work because OF the strike.
following a meeting of the Transatlan-
tic. Steamship Conference at 80 Pearl
street yesterday afternoon, at which rep
resentatives of forty steamship lines
were present, st was indicated By ship
ping men that efforts would be made to
employ non-unioH Jon ngshoremen unless
the strike ends s9rtly. Police protec-
tion will be askedt4A committee was ap-
pointed, with Frederick Toppin. vice.
presadent OF the International Mercantile
Marine, chairman, to handle the situa-
tiou, "a ,s....-
II was said that OF the hundreds OF
loaded many have cargoes OF fruit.
vegetables and meat Others were be-
ir1 loaded with food and supplies for
countries of Europe Officials OF some
, OF the lines declared, however, they were
not greatly hampered because Of the fact
that few of their ships are In port. Al
the, United Fruit Company's piers. for
instance. there are only four ocean go
int vessels. II was said also last night
that steamship officials look for an early
collapse of the strike, because the men
ars, without leader.
Unions Denounce walkout.
Cfficers OF the international union and
of, virtually all the locals steadily have
refused to sanction the walkout In
stead they are doing everything possible
tol-prevail on the longshoreinen to re-
turn to their work. On the other hand.
the strikers, exceedingly bitter at the
finding OF the National Adjustment Com
naisSion of the Timed States Shipping
Board. denounce th<fr representatives on
the board for accepting the cent an
hour increase and 10 cents for overtime.
7. " OConnor, president of the inter-
national union, and Joseph Ryan. vice.
president. were the representatives.
II was rumored around the waterfront
yesterday that the loneshorernen have
nnder consideration a plan to secede
ft'om the international organisation and
fcrm a new fraternity. Throughout the
afternoon efforts were made at the
headquarters of the union at Eleventh
avenue and Twenty second street to OBJ
tnin hall whore the situation could be
threshed out. It was stated at the hall
last night. however. that no meeting was
peing held.
report in afternoon newspapers that
John F. Riley. business agent of Local
391. had been brutaily assaulted by
lcnsshoremen was ridiculed by several
Of the strikers who claimed TO have seen
the incident.
Intimidation Is Charged.
officials OF the International Mercan.
tile Marine say the strikers were at the
piers OF the Carmania and Baltic, which
sailed yesterday, and that they not only
attempted to intimidate members OF the
ONCE force who were loading passenger
baggage on the vessels but actually at
tackled two of them, knocking one down
Otherwise, the strike yesterday was at
tended with no disorder.
II was announced last night that 1870
steamship office employees had gone or
strike, These include receiving, deliy-
cry and purchasing clerks and time
ksepers on the ptsrs They are demand
Ing a, minimum Of $40 and a ma aximuu
lofls50 a week. At present they receive
from $2s to $40 weekly
The checkers who struck yesterday
morning demanded an increase in wages
from $3.50 day to 81. with $50 ar
hour for overtime instead OF the $l.10 ar
hour they now receive. Twelve hundred
Of them belong to the Commercial Check.
ere Union. Local No. S74, which is at
rifated with the longshoremen's union.
1t was asserted last night that a pay.
master from the French Line, visiting
the hesdquartersf the stevedores, of.
rered a comprou4 scale OF S5 cents al
hour with 31.25 overtime. This wa.
satisfactory, It was said, but when the
delegation OF strikers arrived at the
Office Of the company TO give formal ac
ceptance the officials had changed theii
minds.
\ The strikers claimed that the tieup a
Hoboken will be made complete to-mor
row. when all longshoremen will b,
called out at the Scandinavian piers ant
the army base.
Forty five to fifty office employees ant
officials OF the International Mercantil.
Marine. including David Lindsay. heac
Of the passenger department, and r. w
Tsidgway, manager OF the steamship de
partment. loaded baggage on the Baltic
all day yesterday and got It underwa,
Tor Liverpool on the time which hac
been set for its Departure o'clock
The Cunarder Carmanis, bound for tn,
same port, got underway shortly after