New-York tribune., 1920-05-29
and
Co1rnpers Act
In Port W ar
Labor Chiefs Admit That
Grave Industrial Crisis
Threatens i'm Merchants
Stand for Open Shop

Governor Smith and Samuel Gompers.
president of the American Federation
of Labor, yesterday took hand in the
threatened industrial war growing out
of the declaration Of the merchants Of
the city for the open shop principle
in port transportation.
The Governor conferred at the Hotel
Biltmore with leaders of the striking
longshoremen and tru>kmen, whose re-
tusal to haul goods to piers where nom
union men are employed resulted in
the announced plan of the commercial
interests to establish an independent
trucking system, and to Aave their
goods moved by union or n~n-union
labor. The union chiefs later went
over the Developments with Mr.. Com
he arrived during the afternoon from
Washington.
Men Ready to Arbtrate
Samuel Gompers, during his debate
with Governor Allen in Carnegie Hall
last night, announced the striking
longshoremen and other workers are
prepared to submit their differences
to arbitration.
They will agree in advance to abide
by the decision of the arbitration
board Mr.. Gompers said. The men
will undertake to return to work
within six hours Of notification that
the arbitration plan has been accepted
by the employers, he added.
Il have had a conference with the
men involved in the controversy on our
authorized by them to say here and
now that they are willing to submit
their matters in controversy to fair
and impartial arbitration, and pledge
themselves in advance to abide by the
award, and that the moment the COM
panies' manageinents agree to that the
men will return to work within six
hours from that notification"
1t was understood that the situation
on the union side will from now on
be handled by Mr.. Gompers. 1t was
said, however, that no definite counter
moves would be made until the bust
ness men actually began to carry out
| their program.
Unionism at Stake
There was no inclination on the part
of the unionists to minimize the sig
nifcance and Importance of the crisis,
feeling, as they do, that the entire
structure Of organized labor is at
stake. While they admit that the
tradesmen are not "blutting,' they as
sert that the attempt of the merchants
to put their open shop principles into
effect will precipitate struggle in
volving the entire East.
Governor Smith explained that he
summoned T. V. O'Connor and Joseph
Ryan, president and vice president re-
spectlvely of the international Long
shoremen's Association, in an effort to
settle the coastwise dock and truck
mems troubles. He declared he also
got in touch with Alfred E. Marling,
chairman of the Citizens Transporta
tion Committee, representing the bust
ness interests, and expected to confer
with him this morning
81 believe this situation can be
cleared up" he said. "O'Connor and
Ryan laid all their cards on the table
and asked me to assist them in set
tling their differences with the steam
ship owners and merchants. | have so
far only heard one side of the story,
and must refrain from making any
further statement until | hear the
other side"
The Governor said that ne had not
heard from or communicated with Mr.
Continued page three)