New-York tribune., 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 s5,000,-
600 plan to move merchandise in and
out Of New York on the open-shop
principle.
Fifteen trucks, manned by ex-service
. men and in charge of a colonel Of the
165th Regiment, the old Sixty-ninth,
who saw action in France. were placed
in operation during the afternoon.
They Immediately attacked the great
heaps of merchandise that have been
piling 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
and 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 ct Montreal, and that no action
would be taken until their return, some
time next week.
The Citizens Transportation Com
mittee, acting for the business inter
ests, gave evidence that they recog
nized that its action may result in far
reaching consequences. 1t was de-
c,ared, however, that an ample portion
Of the S5.000,000 fund had already been
pledged to deal with any eventualty,
and that all the trucks and men neces-
sary could be provided at any moment.
1t was announced that George W.
Wickersham, former United States Al
torney General, and H. Snowden Mar
SHALL former United States District At
torney, had accepted appointments to
defend the rights of the commercial in
tercsts in any legal controversies that
may arise from the impending struggle.
NofOuci IAitc III SNdISc
Colonel Frederick A. Molitor. of the
z2d Engineers, in charge of the opera
ticns committee for the business men,
said that the trucks were under the i'm
mediate management of Colonel Charles
Aine. Of the l65th Inantry. Colonel
hine saw service with the 9th Division
IN command of a division train in the
beginning OF the wer, and then led his
regiment through all the famous &C
tons OF the Rainbow Division.
The drivers, said Colonel Molitor, are
al e1-seryice men of the old 69th who
mad volunteered for the work and were
ootained with the assistance CT the
American Legion. The trucks used in
are private five-tor vehicles and are
manned by driver and two assistants
70 handle freight. The men are resi-
cents OF New York and are not armed.
IN this connection, Hugh w. Robert
soh' assistars state commander of the
american Legion, declared that the or
ganizstion had not taken any official
hand in the matter. He recalled that
'hree weeks ago an official at Gov
efnors Island asked him if the Ameri-
sen Legion would furnish service men
In the event that army trucks were
asea oy the merchants. Mr.. Robertson
ssid tnat the organization would not
90 this. pointing out that, at the re-
sehl convention at Minneapolis, the
poaey vas adopted to refrain from
Ys'ucipatien in labor disputes unless
ne ne was endangered. He didn't be-
.n.ese' ..' ne said, that the present situa-
aon warranted it.
-. vas possible, however, he added,
saat the Legion's employment service,
ssalch went out of existence Nay /, may
asvs recommended drivers to members
tas Merchants Association and that
Mssa were beng employed~for the pres
ens emergency.
,,n William Fellowes Morgan. head o.
ns eiszens committee, wanted the fact
Emphasized that the men are not
20 s.iiilTe-oreskers. The committee, he
.sa, .sae, " not engaged in breaking
.aax' .xe' out Is merely trying to move
kDeas whieh existing agencies have
tailed to do.
1ns trucks are - I'D in. q systc-
saaa saa.c manner and = i in convoys or
'ss@- ihe vehicle r sent, to piers
fcshhsses sa Dass ,hists.sj