New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-15
Clash Innp!ends
OverOpen, Shop
On u. S, Ships
admiral Benson, Head of
Shipping Board, Says
Equal Opportunity for
All Is Its Fixed Policy
L ongshoremen Protest
O'Connor Declares Union
Intends to Keep Closed
Shop; Goes to Capital

a sharp conflict between the United
States Shipping Board and the Inter
national Longshoremen's Association
over the issue of the open shop on ali
Shipping Board vessels is in sight. T
v. O'Connor. president of the Inter
national Longshoremen's Association
departed last night for Washington
where he is to confer with representa-
tiyes of the board on matters affecting
sea longshoremen. Representatives OF
the I. L. A. from ports along the entire
Atlantic Coast also will attend.
That conflict is impending was
evidenced yesterday from statements
made by Mr.. O'Connor and Rear Ad-
miral Benson, head of the Shipping
Board. Admiral Benson was in the
city to address meeting of publishers
end shipping men on the plans of the
board for the extension of an American
merchant marine.
Admiral for Open Shop
When asked what the attitude Of the
Admiral Benson said:
1.-The policy Of the board as regards
labor conditions will be that of equal
opportunity for all. This policy will
prevail as long as am connected with
the board"
This statement was taken as de-
claration in favor of the open shop. par
ticularly because the board has put its
stamp of approval on the action of the
Oriental Navigation Company in refus-
ing to comply with demands made by
1900 of its longshorement not to
handle non-union goods.
Mr.. O'Connor, on the other hand,
said:
I'VE are not going to accept the at
titude of the Shipping Board on the
open shop. We have closed shop now
and we intend to keep it. We are en-
tering negotiations with the board with
this end in view
Shipping Board officials havs con-
sistently denied that there was a closed
shop agreement between the board and
the International Longshoremen's Asso-
citation. The latter organization, how
ever, interprets the preferential agree
ment, following the award Of the ma
tional adjustment commission of the
Shipping Board last October, as tanta-
mount to closed shop. The agreement
expires October l next, when negotia-
tions for new contract will be opened.
Demands to Be Made
Persons conversant with the situa-
ton declared that the officials Of the
International Longshoremen's Associa-
ton, in maintaining that the present
agreement implies the closed shop, are
attempting to take time by the fore
lock in preparation for a closed shop
demand to be presented next October
Demands for wage increases, it is I'M
derstood, will also be presented by the
deep sea longshoremen. In event of
their refusal it is believed the long
shoremen will attempt to tie up every
port along the Atlantic Coast.
Flat refusal to take a hand in the
settlement of the local waterfront and
harbor strikes, involving the coastwise
1ongshoremen, transfers and the Marine
day by Admiral Benson when asked
whether the Shipping Board would &C
cede to the request of local shipping
men to do so.
eve have nothing to do with settling
industrial disputes between shipping
companies and their employees" said
Admiral Benson. 1.-THE Shipping Board
IS not bureau for industrial con-
Citation"
Conditions on Waterfront
Tho local waterfront strike situation
continued practically unchanged yes
terday. Some of the coastwise shipping
companies who had suspended or par.
tally suspended operations as re-
suit of the strikes, however, are slowly
struggling to resume more or less nor
NAL operations. The Mallory Line
which partially suspended operations
two weeks ago, will resume sailings TO,
Galveston and Key West next week
Sailings to Mobile will not be resumed
The company is maintaining sailings
to Savannah and Galveston.
The Clyde Line, it was declared al
the Offices of the company, is operating
80 per cent Of normal.
The Ocean Line will resume norma
sailings of two ships q week to-day
The company's service was entirel,
suspended during March and the frs,
part of April.
The Southern Pacific Line is operat
ing about 20 per cent Of normal. Since
the beginning Of the waterfront labor
troubles only fourteen of the company's
ships reached this port. The norma
number should have been sixty-five
The last sailings on this line were
July 3, 10 and IS.
Hudson Tube Fare Raises