The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-03
ARE 175,OOO
SAILORS idle
UNION CLAIMS
Ship Owners Stand by Fifteen
Per Cent Cut.
Acceptance of Slash Must Pre-
cede Any Negotiation.
STRIKERS IN CONFERENCE
Meet With Secretary Davis
Considering Mediation.
Seamen Make Threat of SYM
pathy Walk-Outs.
REAL TEST COMES TODAY
Practically Every Member of
Union ObeyS Orders.
REAL TEST COMES TODAY
Practically Every Member OF
Union Obeys Orders.
Are Now Nearly 175,OO0 Idle
Protesting Wage Cut.

The nationwide seamen's strike
went into its third day with the gen
eral situation as follows:
Representative of the international
Seamens union met in Washington to
confer with Secretary Davis at his re-
quest that they discuss mediation
The American Steamship Owners
association. in reply to Secretary
Hoovers suggestion for mediation for
a commission of three private citizens
intimated it preferred to settle the
dispute itself
Both the owners and the United
States shipping board reiterated that
acceptance of the ! 5 per cent wage re
duction must preface any negotiations
That is the crux of the strike and the
seamen steadfastly refuse to consid
er it.
Seamen's representatives prepared
to meet the towing company workers
officials to urge a sympathetic strike
that would tie up all harbor operations
after the conference scheduled for last
night was postponed.
Owners and seamen continued wide
ly at variance on their estimates of
men and ships affected, the former
contending that only a few hundred
men and a handful of ships were
involved. while the men maintained
that pra actically the entire 175, 900
union membership had responded ami
that virtually all merchant craft now
in port were helpless.
Baltimore. May 3.-The local ma
rine strike situation assumed a serious
aspect this afternoon. twenty members
of the crew of one steamship being
forcibly removed by an armed party.
and a fight was reported in progress
on another vessel. Minor disorders
also were reported by the police.
May Call Naval Reserve.
Washington, May 3.-Chairman
Benson of the shipping board will look
TO naval reservists and discharged
navy seamen to keep American trans
atlantic mail boats in operation dur
ing the present wage dispute between
the board and marine workers, if their
services are necessary.
The chairman announced he asked
the commandant of the navy yard at
New York to lend whatever assistance
he could to move the United States
mails. He said the request was made
especially with reference to the Old
Northstate. due to leave New York
today for London. but that it was not
the plan TO man the government mail
ships with naval Seamen.
He also declared that there was no
intention to use military force in the
controversy, nor was it the plan to ask
the secretary of the navy for assist
auce. There are. the chairman said a
number of naval reserve men and dis
charged navy seamen who could be
used in manning the government mer-
chant craft and the cooperation of the
New York navy commandant was
sought in this direction.
The merchant marine act requires
the shipping board to establish and
maintain merchant ships on trade
routes to all parts of the world.
More Ships Sail.
New York, May 3.-The passenger
liner Sixaola of the United Fruit line
left here for the West Indies a. noon
today-the first American ship to sail
from New York since the wide spread
marine strike was called. The Sixaola
officials of the line said, was able to
recruit sufficient new men to take the
place of those who responded to the
strike call.
The Old Northstate, for London and
Boulogne. and the Potomac. for Dan
zig. would sail on scheduled time il
was said at the offices of the United
States mail steamship company. Union
(Continued on Page six.J