New-York tribune., 1920-05-30
Smith Confers
On Dock Strike:
Hope for Truce
Marling Presents Side of
transportation Interests
and Governor Next Will
See Longshoremen's Head
Compers Also i'm Parlevs
Stale Official Reluctant 10
Favor Higher Freight, !,
towering Pay Increase

covering E&V increase
Ihe intervention Of Governor Smith
and Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor in the
waterfront strike situation has so far
given little promise of an early settle
ment.
The Governor yesterday conferred
with Alfred Z. Marhng, chairman of the
CITIZENS transportation Committee
representing the commercial interests
of the city, and announced that 'prcc
ress was being made" He said he would
try to get into touch with T. V. OCon-
nor, president of the international
Longshoremen's Association to-day or
tomorrow in an effort to effect a truce
Mr.. Marling declared the situation
"hopeful.''
"As the Chief Executive Of the state
it IS my duty to see that the business
OF tie port IS restored to normal con-
dltlons,' commented the Governor. Il
hold that the immediate need is to get
the men back to work, and ! shall make
every effort to bring this about" The
question Of the open shop principle
recently promulgated by the mer-
chants, he said, did not enter into the
discussion.
Details Given Governor
81 have outlined to the Governor"
said Mr.. Marling, "as fully and fairly
as could, the whole situation with
regard to the freight tie-up in the
port. Members of the citizens trans
portation committee are considering a
n a n "a IL, r
creased freight rates to the coastwise
steamship Companies The question
has not yet been passed upon by the
committee as a whole.
ne granting Of the increase would
enable the shipowners to meet th, de-
mands Of the workers for the same
wages as the deep sea longshoremen.
who now get IS cents moro an hour
! than do the coastwise workers."
Inc Governor was reluctant to touch
on the matter of a possible raise in
freight rates as the basis of an in
crease in wages, but said that if a
communication of his to the Interstate
Commerce Commission on the ques-
ton would do any good he would be
glad to send it. Mr.. O'Connoy said
! that formal request by the Governor
that the men return to work pending
the settlement of the freight rate
question would be helpful. There viii
be no meeting of the workers. how
ever, before Tuesday, he said
Both Sides Adamant
While optimistic reports on the de-
velopments in the controversy were
current during the day, it is learned
from the merchants and union men
themselves that both sides are ada
mant and refuse to recede from their
original stand.
The coastwise shipowners insist that
they cannot afford 10 increase the pay
Of their employees until they have been
permitted by the Interstate Commerce
Commission to boost their freight rates.
The longshoremen, whose leaders have
been processing publicly to be willing to
submit their grievances to arbitration,
still stand by their original demand for
an immediate increase in pay.
1t is also reported that the leaders
have lost their grip on the men; that
many have sought other occupations
and that comparatively small num-
Der of the dockmen would return to
their jobs if peace were effected under
the most favorable conditions
Unions Wish Early Decision
The union chiefs, however, are anx-
ious to obtain a settlement before the
tradesmen attempt to cal y out their
open shop principles. Leaders on both
sides, therefore, are of the opinion that
O'Connor will urge the men to return
to work provid ed their wage demands
will be fairly considered when the in
creases in freight rates are granted.
Mr.. Gompers, however, who is now IN
charge of the situation for the union
lists, has made no further move other
than his offer of arbitration.
With respect to the preparations be-
ing made by the commercial interests
to carry out their open shop policy,
it was said the unionists would take no
counter measure until the program was
actually put into effect.
Dealers report that supplies of rosin
have almost entirely disappeared from
the market because of the coastwise
tie-up. Turpentine, too; it was said, is
becoming scarce, most of this com
modify being brought from the South
in coastwise vessels. One ship, with 200
barrels of rosin in her hold, had to
carry it back and forth seven times
because it could not be unloaded here