New-York tribune., 1920-05-28
Action of Merchants in
Issuing Ultimatum Is
Expected To Be Met
by Sharp Resistance
Union Leaders See
Tie-Up of Harbor
Marling Says Policy Emu
merated Will Govern
All Future Agreements

The breach between the CONNER
cial interests and unionized water
front workers, growing out of the
transportation troubles in the port,
was split wide open last night with
| the issuance by the merchants of a
declaration Of open-shop principles.
In an effort to settle once and for
ell the interminablc labor troubles
which have paralyzed the business
Of the port, the declaration In effect
expresses the firm determination of
the tradesmen to have their goods
moved with union or non-union men.
and insists that there shall be no
discrimination against any merchan-
disc whether made or handled by or
ganlzed or unorganized workers.
Labor War Predicted
Judging from the expressions of vari-
GUS labor leaders who learned of the
business mems action, the move is cx-
pected 10 preciptato labor war of
chiefs announced they would never sub
scribe to the open shop principles. and
that if the plans were carried out they
would result in the complete tic-up of
the harbor
The declaration is modelled after the
uitmatum issued in 1915 by the San
Francisco law and order committee.
when similar situation threatened
the commerce Of that port. 1t reads as
follows:
The Welfare Of the community be-
1As dependent on impartial and unih-
iefrupted transportation service, all
classes OF people and merchandise
sAo"ia be served by transportation and
'fuchIAG facilities without discrimina
non. and there should be no interrun-
N'o 10 Such service through industrial
warfare. except as a last resort. when
al eHortS OF adjustment have failed
Ahq mere is no impartial tribunal avail
aoIe to the parties presenting d griev-
Employees on piers. docks, railroads
SsefnlShip pS, lighters. tugs and trucks
snoG5o perform their usual service. re-
2aEdieAs of whether the connectine
points which they serve or the facil;.
lieS or vehlc!es through which the
merchandlse IS received or delivered
ire manned by union or non-union men.
Impartial Service Demanded
impartial service should be extended
% all merchandise, regardless Of
Whetner 1t has been worked upon or
landed by union or non-union men"
ne declaration was made public bv
Alfred L. Marlinc. chairman of the
Nlt'zcns' transportation Committee,
representing the business organizations
o. 'he hVe boroughs which have bandeo
,osctheH to restore normal traffic con
0uons along the water front
Nr. Mar!ing said that the PRINCIPLES
would be the basis for all present and
iuture arrangements between the mer-
chah' nd tabor bodies for the trans
hoFtatcn OF their goods, and that the
comm tee would be ready to see them
through with an independent trucking
sYs TEN and fund of more than $500
GOO f'0V'
If they try to 90 through with this
I'ol osltlon, declared T. V. O'Connor.
president of the international Long
loe complete tieup of New York
haroor: We do not believe there is
any Widespread demand for an open
mop IN transportation lines in this
port We have not been officially in
.ofmed OF the open shop stand of The
MERCHANTS or steamship lines aud
snail wait for Developments"
Hugh Frayne, organizer for the
Amencan Federation Of Labor in New
Nork state, was deeply chagrined at
the move, saying: "Instead of curing
me evils which the merchants declare
they arc trying to do, they are ag-
SfaTanng the situation. AS a matter
- TACT, there are no non-unlon men
IN the Industries referred to. Is it
ne purpose of the business men to
NS-unlonlze the present workers or to
-flng into the city non-union men
onder any circumstances, organized
:abor VIII stand up for its rights, but
N defending those rights will not in
'rnge upon the rights of others"
Move Not Unexpected
,, Feter }. Brady head of the Allied
Printing Trades Council, who has been
acting IN an ADJ lsory capacity to the
longshoremen and truckmen, said:
We have been looking for something
IKE tins. 1t shows them up in their
true colors. They are not on the
ieVel They said they wanted peace
and an amicable settlement. We of
iefed them arbitration and they reply
with challenge. 1t will probably be
accepted in appropriate fashion"
The issuance of the declaration fol-
IoNed a conference between the Citi-
zens transportation Committee and
several Of the coastwse steamship
owners and leaders of the striking
iohgShoremen in an effort to settle
the coastwise strike and the sympa-
tnetic walkout of truckmen.
OConnor and Joseph 7. Ryan, vice
president of the |. l.. A, represented
'he workers, with II. II. Raymond, of