New-York tribune., 1920-06-06
Smith Through
With Strikers:
Labor War Near
Union Leaders and Mer-
chants Prepare for
Conflict as Result of
Eongshorcmen's Stand
Decided by So Votes
State Labor Board Steps
Out; Independent Trucks
and Lighters Planned

The threatened industrial war be-
tween the commercial interests of New
York and the transportation unions
over the interminable labor squa bibles
that have been Gripping the business
of the port appeared certain last night.
The merchants announced that the
refusal OF the striking coastwisc long
shoremen to go back to work in COM
plance with the pleas and proposals Of
Governor Smith leaves them no alter
native but to go through with their
s5,O00,0OO opcn-shop plans.
Governor Is "Through"
The Governor, before departing for
French Lick, Ind, last night declared
he was through with the strikers" for
the present. He was deeply chagrined
at the outlook, and felt that "the men,
by their unfortunate decision, have as
sumed a heavy possibility"
The union leaders. while publicly de-
claring they We're standing pat until
the merchants made their first move,
were really actively preparing for the
impending struggle. kilograms were
sent to Montreal, where the American
Federation of Labor will convene to-
nuilOWs Gaining upon lllc ldUOT CllIciS
to place the situation before the con-
vcntion and demand vote of assist
ance from organized workers through
out the country. They predicted that
the conflict would involve industries
and labor throughout the East.
When apprised of the result of the
longshoremen's vote at St. Veronica's
Hall Friday night, the Citizens Trans
portation Committee Immediately went
into session yesterday in the Offices of
the Merchants Association in the
thcr action. At the close of the meet
ing the members came out of the coun-
Gil chamber with grave faces and made
public a statement signed by William
Fellowes Morgan, the chairman of the
committee.
I'VE very much regret" said Mr..
Morgan, "that the coastwise longshore
men have seen fit to refuse the earnest
request made of them by Governor
Smith that they return to work: This
is more regrettable in view Of the fact
that 7. V. O'Connor, president of the
international Longshoreman's Associa-
ton seconded Governor Smiths re-
quest.
53 Votes Decided Question
1T is to be noted that, Of the 637
coastwise longshoremen that voted. 266
wanted to return to work while 371 did
not. In other words, if fifty three of
the longshoremen had voted differently,
the strike would have been declared
off The votes cast by these fifty-three
!ongshoremen may have the most seri-
otcles.s Of the 100000 residents of
New York.
.ias continued failure of existing
agencies 20 perform this service vital
L. The people OF New York makes it
necessary fer US to 60 ahead with our
plans to insure the uninterrupted move
ment OF merchandise"
The, first step in these plans is ex-
pected to be the supplanting of the
present unionized trucking system with
an open shop system, the organized
workers having refused to CARR goods
to and from piers where the longshore
men are on strike. 1t was said that a
large feet Of trucks is being modified
with their drivers and that If the pres
ent truckmen persist in their attitude
these Will be placed in operation, prob
ably early next week
This action, according to union
chiefs, may result in a general strike
OF truckmen throughout the city and
may spread to unionized workers in
other Industries, who will resent the
appearance Of non-union drivers.
IN order to check up the activities
Of the merchants, leaders of the teams
ters' union were busy yesterday can
vassing the entire trucking field, max
ing note of all the available trucks in
the city and the status and intentions
OF the 1000 or more drivers.
At the merchants headquarters, it
was said, however, that the tradesmen
viii have no trouble in getting the
trucks in operation when it is decided
20 do so. In addition, it was said that
preparations are going forward for the
operation Of independent lighters,
barges and tugs to maintain river
traffic in the event of sympathetic