New-York tribune., 1920-05-27
Merchants Will Declare
Right of Business Men
to Employ Non-Union
Workers as Trslckgnen
Insist Pier Men
Handle All Goods
Labor Leaders Aroused;
See Hope of Ending
Trouble by Agreement

A declaration of open-shop principles
will be promulgated by the merchants
cf the ci.y Of New York to-day in their
efforts 70 r-store normal traffic condi-
tons in the port
Leaders of the various unions Of pier
and harbor workers held to be mainiy
responsible tor the c;ty's traasportc-
ton trouhles viii be asked to subscribe
70 these principles at Q meeting this
afternoon in the Offices of the Mer-
chants Association in the Woolworth
Building.
While little concerning the declara-
ton could be learned at the merchants
HEADQUARTERS yesterday, it is under
stood that it will emphasize the right
Of tradesmen to employ union or non
union truckncn and insist that pier
workers handle all goods impartially,
whether they come from union or non
union shops.
Labor Leaders Aroused
The labor chiefs associated with the
mems Unions were plainly aroused at
the preparations being made by the
business men to supplant the present
union:44d trucking system with an
open-shop service.
7. Y. O'Connor anG Joseph 7. Ryan,
president and vice president of the In
ternatonal Longshoremen's Associa-
ION Inferred with the members of
the Citizens transportation Commit
ice yesterday in an effort to reach a
9ettlement.
1t was said. however. that the plans
Tor the establishment of an independ
ent trucking system would be carried
out, whether the present difficulties
were settled or not. The 100000 fund,
which lne merchants announced they
were collecting for the purpose at a
luncheon on Tuesday last, it was said,
had been assured and it was possible
that the amount might reach $1,000,-
COO
MIR. O'Connor proposed at yesterdays
meeting that the troubles would be set
tied BY arbitration and said he would
agree to decision if the matter was
referred to the National Adjustment
ommission II. II. Raymond, of the
Clyde and Mallory lines, one of the
companies tied up by the coastwse
strike, declared that there was nothing
to arbitrate, that the matter had al
ready been decided by the National
Adjustment Commission and that the
position Of the steamship companies
would remain unchanged.
Boards Ruling Discarded
Il was explained that the longshore-
men on the coastwise lines get 65 cents
,-,.i- = b,.nA he
tor raise of 5 cents to equaliZe their
pay with that of the deep sea long
shoremeu.
The coastwise companies held that
because of competition they could not
grant the raise until they had been
assured of an increase in rates by the
Interstate Commerce Commission. Be
sides, they said the longshoremen
had agreed TO abide by the decision Of
the National Adjustment Comm on,
which had taken up the case and de-
clared against the workers. The long
shoremen said, however, that they did
not agree to stand by this decision.
Representing the Citizens Trans
pcrtauon Committee at yesterdays
meeting were Alfred L. Marling, presi-
dent of the New York State Chamber
OF Commerce; Ii. Pushae Williams,
mead Of the Queensborough Chamber
of Commerce; j. Sherlock Davis, preSi-
dent of the Brooklyn Chamber Of Com
mefce; Frank b. McCord, Colonel f.
A. Moltor, Walter Gordon Merritt and
II. H. Raymond
Mr. O'Connor upon leaving the meet
ing said progress toward a settlement
lad been made and that the situation
looked very hopeful. The negotiations
VIII De continued at q meeting to-day,
at which Will be present, in addition
TO 0'Connor and Ryan, officers of the
transportation Trades Council, includ-
Ng Edward McCatfley, the president,
and Wl.haln +. Achoe, secretary
Inc union leaders for the first time
aamltted that the merchants were not
quitting. Peter j. Brady, Of the Allied
fflntlng Trades, who is acting in an
edTlsory capacity to the unions 10
,oNed, sald, i think 1t is the cold
t!ooded and deliberate intention to
sItit open shop warfare in New York
ana to bring irto the city a gang o.
gunner and guerillas to attain their
vEos. W There are plenty OF men in
fWe&st 81 Virginia waiting for such jobs
Vhey 60 through with their plans
sne workers Involved will certainly
nao tae other trade unionists of the
CITY ready to aid them.
Rate Increase Hinted
The meeting of the Merchants AS
.Dc'a1ioN on Tuesday was rugged up for
we purpose of pulling chestnuts out
" Vhe hre for the coastNise steamship
.,nes and railroads and help them get
al increase in freight rates. They
SSertainly didn't give us square deal,
sor tne labor men present were denied
al al opportunity to give their side of
Tie case. | make this statement from
',e appearance Of the large number
u steamship and railroad representa-
% .heS who were seated at the guest
,"oie me least the merchants can do
10 call another meeting and leS The
'"oor leaders put their case before a
representative body of business men"
Ryan said the leaders wouldn't hesi-
I've Tor a moment to place their side
u nhe case in the hands of Frederick
a. AoSter, formerly of the San Fran
eisco Chamber OF Commerce, who head
W movement in that city to combat
similar situation in 1916 which re
aui'ed IN efecting an open shop diGy-
age system there.
.. Mr. Roster is fair" he said, land
sne problem he handled in San Fran
NSco was not similar to the problem