New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-06-04
Merchants Ask Huge Sum
to Establish Trucking
Business ON Open Shop
Basis; Appeal TO People
I1niOn Leaders See
Industrial War
Business Men Will Carry
Out Plans Regardless
of Longslloremen's Act

The commercial interests of the city
IGNORING the pending decision of
waterfront strikers on Governor
Smiths proposals to return to work,
Yesterday announced they were col
lscting fund of not less than $4,000
900 to establish the transportation ia
cilties Of the port on the open shop
principles recently promulgated.
I. was explained that the s50O,OOO
fund originally aimed at was intended
for an independent trucking system to
solve only one phase of the transport
tation troubles crippling the business
Of the port. The new sum, it was said,
will cover a much wider field and will
be employed not only to remedy the
present situation but to prevent the
recurrence OF similar conditions.
Bombshell for Unions
The move fell like bombshell
among union leaders, who believed
;hat the possible decision of the strik-
ing longshoremen to go back to work
tomorrow night would automatically
emcve the silent boycott" of team
sters, and so result in clearing 10 a.
condition that appeared to be the
greatest cause OF complaint.
7. Y. 0'Connor, president Of the In
ternational Longshoremen's Associa-
tion, when apprised of the mer
chants latest move, said: well, this
certainly does look serious. When
body Of man get together and decide
10 buck the unions with S5,0OO,OOO
there certainly is trouble in the air.
1t looks like war. Il certainly won't
help get the men back to work"
Edward McCafFrey, chairman of the
Transportation Trades Council, in
cluding al. transportation workers,
faid; 1T is menace to union labor
And may lead to an industrial war
that will result in tying up all the
transportation facilities of the city. I
d oubt whether the. council will be able
3 plan what action to take in answer
% the merchants until the end OF this
month. Most OF the leaders are away
At conventions. and practically all OF
hem will be in Montreal. We may
get together there and consider the
problem with Mr.. Gompers"
Letter to Citizens
Ine new plans Of the business men
we're made public in an open letter to
the citizens of New York by William
tetlowes Morgan, the new chairman of
the Citizens transportation Commit
tee, replacing Alfred Z. Marling. MIR.
a,lafllng, it was explained, is going to
Europe on June 26, to remain away the
ha 10 =,
membership on the committee. Mr..
Morgan, who is president of the Mer-
chants Association, was TO have gone
As delegate to the first meeting of
the International Chamber of Com
nerce in Paris, but declared that, in
view Of the Importance of the work of
the committee, ne decided to remain
mere. The letter reads:
lne Citizens Transportation Com
mlttee has effected q permanent organi-
cation
Regardless of the attitude Of the
striking longshoremel and other en-
p-oyees Of the coastwise shipping lines
ana the sympathetic efforts of team
te'efs, It's work will continue in order to
keep the channels Of commerce free Of
al distractions and maintain to our
e'.zens the rights guaranteed to them
uHoer the Federal and state constitu
tons.
Inc committee purposes 70 secure
70 business men the free flow Of mer-
c'Znd!se through impartial and unin-
tsrr1pted service
II consequence Of the report made
hy Frederick J. Roster. at the Mer-
ehaats' Association luncheon-meeting
o. Say %, concerning the manner in
sa!ch San Franc SEQ handled its prob
len, the committee has broadened its
pans.
Many Subscriptions In
10 execute these plans the commit
zee iS now seeking 70 have underwrit-
zen fund Of al least 100000. Many
corded.
Inc committee urges you TO make
ioar subscription as quickly and in as
i@,ge an amount az possible"
re broader plans referred to, it was
ssia' include river, terminal and other
ssfsiees, IN addition TO trucking. 1t
NsS pointed out, TOO, thae most Of the
hohsy required for the fruilion Of the
s. S.ahs Will merely be pledged, TO be
eS..sd FOR IN emergency.
me Cislzeng' Comm.tte was support
s. e. IN its program by the New York
".1.s Snambcr Of Commerce. which
.;sssnay adopted reeolutions calling
..'h its rner1bcrship 70 lend every
.1s n'srsl ard financial support to the
"'y,i,,shants' movement.
=. I'm regard 70 the possible action
y ne eoastwige longahoremen In their
De..,'ing a. ST. Veronica's Hall to-
lsa'' Dir. O'Connor declared that q
~ proportion Of the workers at last
$500 ss.s meeting were in favor Of re-
s;sA.hg " work. lie believed this sen-
,'ass' ,.~s.' would be generally voiced TO-
{, 1. re most discouraging thing about
,s.s -, ne said, that the men for some
YIN nave sesn ~ ~ ignore the ad-
e@. O thoss VINO know What IL best
me-, Nasm. ] can't zee NON how the
s,y ~ can afford - ignore the Cover
C<.,.s pea, ezpecially in view of the
tns'apfs expressed wiliinYncss to
rs,sa' pfrFona'!y before the Interstatc
kllfs,,sfes kslfa Communion in their be-