New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-06-11
Is Non-Union Vehicles
Put Into Operation by
Merchants to Break Tie.
Up of City's Freight
Colonel Hine i'm
Charge of Drivers
Wickersham and Marshall
Retained by Business
Men; No OppositionMet

The commercial interests of the city
put into effect yesterday their $5,00O,-
00G plan to move merchandise in and
principle.
Fifteen trucks. manned by ex-service
men and in charge of colonel Of the
165th Regiment, the old Sixty ninth,
who saw action in France. we're placed
in operation during the afternoon
They Immediately attacked the great
heaps of merchandise that have been
pilng up on the coastwise steamship
piers since the strike of longshoremen
and the sympathetic boycott Of team
sters began on March 6. 1t is planned
to have fifty of these vehicles working
to-day.
War Fails to Materialize
If the labor leaders carry out their
threats, the action of the merchants is
expected to bring on an industrial war
that bids fair to involve the entire
East The union chiefs have inter-
preted the efforts of the merchants to
break through the freight blockade as
an anti-union move, and have an
nounced that the first appearance of
the open shop trucks on the street
would be the signal for finish fight
andsa complete tie-up Of the port.
The war. however, has SO far failed
to materialize. Subordinate leaders of
the longshoremen and teamsters said
that the real heads We're all at the
American Federation of Labor conven,
ton at Montreal, and that no action
would be taken until their return, some
time next week.
The Citizens Transportation Com
mi.tee, acting for the business inter
ests, gave evidence that they recog
nized that its action may result in far
reaching consequences. 1t was de-
clared, however. that an ample portion
Of the 100000 fund had already been
pledged to deal with any eventuality,
and that all the trucks and men neces
1t was announced that George w.
Wickersham, former United States At
torney General and H. Snowden Mar
shall, former United States District At
torney, had accepted appointments to
defend the rights of the commercial in
serests in any legal controversies that
may arise from the impending struggle.
Colonel Hine in Charge
Colonel Frederick A. Molitor, of the
22d Engineers, in charge of the opera
tons committee for the business men,
said that the trucks were under the i'm
mediate managemen mt of Colonel Charles
hlne, Of the 165th Inantry. Colonel
Hine saw service with the 9th Division
beginning of the war, and then led his
regiment through all the famous ac-
ticns of the Rainbow Division.
The drivers, said Colonel Molitor, are
ali ex-service men of the old 69th who
nsd volunteered for the work and were
obtained with the assistance Of the
American Legion. The trucks used in
ms independent service, he declared,
are private five-ton vehicles and are
manned by driver and two assistants
70 handle freight. The men are resi-
dents OF New York and are not armed
In this connection. Hugh W. Robert
son, assistant state commander Of the
american Legion, declared that the or
ganization had not taken any official
nand in the matter. He recalled that
'hree weeks ago an official at Gov
ernor's Island asked him if the Ameri
can Legion would furnish service men
N the event that army trucks were
ased oy the merchants. Mr. Robertson
sidt tne organization would not
40 this, pointing out that, at the re
cent convention at Minneapolis, the
peaey was adopted to refrain from
participation in labor disputes unless
i rle was endangered. He didn't be-
meys, ne said, that the present situa-
aon warranted il.
u was possible, however, he added,
nat the f-egion's employment service,
xnieh went out Of existence May /, may
ave recommended drivers to members
- tae Merchants Association and that
.nese we're beng employed for the pres
IN. emergency.
william Feliowes Morgan, head Of
he citizens committee, wanted the fact
Emphasized that the men are not
snixe-breakers. The committee, he
sia, Is not engaged in breaking a
s.fise. but is merely trying to move
soods WHICH existing agencies have
'ai.ed 70 do.
ne trucks are allotted in a systc-
aaMc manner and travel in conveys or
asess. The vehicles are sent to piers
Continued On esss thirfses)