New-York tribune., 1920-06-11

Man Trucks
At City Piers
Continued from gage ens)


for merchandise upon order Of the con-
signee or consignor. Preference is
given to foodstufs and perishables.
The trucks removed about sixty tons
OF merchandise from the piers of the
Clyde and Mallory Line, he Sa7arnan
Line and the Southern Pacific, the
companies affected by the coastwise
strike. Colonel Molitor declared that
ABOUT 5000 tons OF goods were await
ing removal and that this would all be
disposed of in few days.
There was no evidence of trouble ar
the piers as result of the appearance
OF the non union drivers yesterday. It
was learned, however, that Colonel
Molitor had been in conference with
Police Commissioner Enright during
the afternoon, following which the Colo
hel declared that ample police pro.ec-
ton would be given the drivers to-day,
At the Beach Street station it was
said that a large squad of men was
beng held in readiness for any emer-
gency In this connection it was said
Ihat the business men are being guided
by Guy Scull, former Deputy Police
Commissioner, who is known to be as
soc!ated with the n merchants program.
Mr.. Morgan asserted that the busi-
ness men were further reinforced in
1helr efforts to move goods despite the
strikers by the decision of Supreme
court Justice Fawcett, of BROOKLYN. in
which he held that union workmen en-
ployed by common carriers cannot dis
criminate against shippers who con-
duct their business on an open shop
basis, and that steamship companies
that yield to their employees threats
and refuse to carry non-union products
violate the law.
This decision," added Mr.. Morgan,
means that the law is on our side and
that the union workers will hardly 20
through with their threat of a general
strike''
in the meantime leaders of the
marine workers and striking long
shoremen are making feverish efforts to
BRING about an adjustment of their
dlf7culties and get the men back to
their Jobs. Success in this direction
appeared less probable yesterday than
tude of the Erie and other railroads
to Attorney General Palmer's ruling
on the application of the Adamson
elght-hour law to private craft doing
railroad work. This question brought
about the walk-out on the floating
equipment of the railroads on April l.
The marine workers took it for
granted that the railroads would ac-
cept the decision as binding and were
making preparations to return to work
when j. j. Mantell, New York manager
of the Erie, and other officials of the
line announced that they had not ac-
cepted the Attorney Generals ruling
and that "the situa tion was not changed
one iota.' Mr., Mantell said that the
ruling might affect car floats and tugs
which moved them, but that the Erie
conterded that barges and lighters did
not e..Ae under the eight-hour law.
Ml Mantell added that tn company
would stand pat and would oppose the
rulingAf taken to the courts. 1t was
further pointed out by K. S. Parsons,
general manager of the Erie, that the
opinion might affect tugs and barges
which the Erie sold twelve lighters and
tugs, but that the. railroad itself was
not involved.
At local union headquarters it was
said that the marine leaders were still
at Washington in conference with At
torney General Palmer and railroad
heads in an effort to bring about set
tlement.
William Smith and James Reilly, of
the striking coastwise longsh horemen,
left for Washington yesterday to ap-
pear before lne interstate commerce
Commission in an effort to induce that
body TO grant the coastwise steamship
companies an increase in rates so that
they could grant the workers the wave
raises they demand. A vote Of the
20 600 locals along the Atlantic sea
board IN the question of going hack,
until the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion takes action, is now proceeding,
with the indications pointing to a re-
turn to work, according to local lead
ers.
Two of the seven local unions that
have been on strike voted on the ques-
ton last night. Complete results Of
the balloting will not be made known,
it was said, until tomorrow. Labor
leaders SAID earlier in the day that
there was every reason for believing
that the men Will vote TO go back, but
that the appearance of the non-union
trucks may bring about reversal of
feeling.