New-York tribune., 1921-05-31
Davis visCompromiseAgreed
To by Majority of Engi-
neers; Union Head and
Benson to Ratify for Year
Coast Men Threaten
To Continue Strike
Local Harbor Crews AS
sail Settlement; Owners
Likely Will Make Peace

enncerned. when Admiral Benson.
chairman of the United States Ship
ming Board. and William S. Brown,
president of the Marine Engineers
Beneficial Association, sign an agree
ment binding until May i next year.
Renorts from all parts of the country
last night indicated there would be no
change in this program, as it was gen.
orally shown that the countrywide
referendum on the compromise pro-
posals had majority for acceptance.
The settlement has caused q split in
she local councils of the marine engi-
neers. The referendum vote, which
was held on Sunday, showed that Lo-
eal SS, which is composed of engineers
or harbor craft who are not on strike,
voted 474 to so against accepting the
compromise terms negotiated by Sec
retary of Labor James J. Davis. On
the other hand, Local so, which is
composed of seagoing engineers,
whose members are on strike, voted
2S1 TO 127 in favor Of the compromise.
To Protest at Washington
So bitter has the feeling become To-
eally that there was a mass meeting
held at Webster Hall on East Eleventh
Street yesterday at which Thomas B.
Healey, head cf Local 33, presided. The
meeting was attended by members of
Heaiey's organization and many of the
insurgents from Local so who voted
! against compromise. At the meeting
committee IF six chief engineers,
three from each of the two locals, was
unanimously appointed and ordered to
proceed to Washington, there to pro-
test against William S. Brown, their
national president, signing any agree
ment with the Shipping Board.
Healey has been "bitter ender"
against all compromise ever since the
strike was called on May i. He left
rest OF the strike committee in Wash
iLgton. He is joined in his opposition
BY Ernest Pegg, chairman of the Pa
cifc Coast Council of the Marine En-
gners' Association. Before departing
Healey declared emphatically that he
would not sign the agreement on the
Davis plan under any consideration.
At the time the committee of SIX
chief engineers was appointed, how
ever, it was generally expressed that
their mission would be fruitless be-
cause President Brown would, it was
said, be guided entirely by the ma
jOrity vote of the country. If the
agreement is signed in Washington to-
DAY there is every possibility that the
Pacific Coast branch OF the marine en-
gineers will refuse to ratify it and will
continue the strike alone. Ernest
Pegg, the Pacific Coast leader, has re-
peatediy threatened to take this course
IN the event of any compromise based
upon the 10 per cent reduction in wages
oelng accepted by the marine workers.
Ihere seems to be little doubt about
andrew Furuseth, president of the sea-
men' hremen and stewards organiza-
uons, signing the agreement. His
mems Union, would have been defeated
easily but for the cooperation of the
marine engineers. Representative of
ae wireless operators are also ex-
pected to sign the agreement.
suse wnat effect the ratification of the
SSsteement Will have upon the relations
IetWeen the two marine engineers locals
a. prop1ematlcal, but it was predicted
M a1 complete break might be
.h .he result. There is no secret about
ihe tact that the harbor men are any
ious for the sea-going engineers nee ai't to
t tsmain on strike. This is based upon
sne TACT that the harbor men will have
submit to reduction when their
seseht agreement expires at the end
y the year. and they have believed
aise II the sea-going engineers were
svecesstul their own employers would
s ss oafe to put any REDUCTION info
enect next year. -t''O
Owners in Queer Position
3 Another problem in the situation will
s 81 she attitude of the American Steam
SEP sasp oWners, Association toward the
sretement H. Il. Raymond, president
u the association, has repeatedly, de-
s,aied that he would not sign any
saeement with the unions. He has
Sa Sesn packed up in this stand by the
seiHoers OF the association, who have
'0Seq S unanimously TO uphold him.
.o Mnen the Shipping Board signs the
sseement, however, the marine engi-
t,a. ts.s VIII be in position to concen-
irae their strike against the private
owned American steamships, par
SSuuiariy as the majority of the mem
eers will be engaged on shinpino
noafd vessels, which constitute four.
@Yenths of the American mercantile
naflhe. On the other hand the own
g. 81 pointed out yesterday that If the
sianipplng Board signs the agreement
n,, ~ VIII be IN open competition with
misate o American ships, which will be
sssIg sspeIrat'ng on a slightly lower wage
impartial shipping experts, however.
osaeed that in their opinion the private
owners would quickly follow the lead
ss. = tne Shipping Board in signing the
oavis Thinks Owners VIII Sign
reports from Washington Yesterday
~ SSs5e that Secretary of Labor Davis
su planned to meet representatives
s,.e sne labor organizations to-day, as
I'll az Admiral Benson, for the formal
5sning of the agreement. It was in
sbss sbsa'ed at the Department of Labor
sSs Sas there was every possibility that
steamship owners would also sign
a. ne terms of the agreement include
~ ~ 70 per cent reduction in wages,
az elimination of oyertine and a modi-
sss sass,on OF working conditions and
sss vacation every year. The mat
~. y. oi reinstatement of men who went
sss 49, on strike is to be settled in fair
sass TO all parties.
eAFpnsssst eAFaps nssst writing pnpers are WHITING