Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-16
PLAN PROPOSED
FOR TEN YEAR
NAVAL HOLIDAY
=. S. Naval Torpedo Station
At Alexandria Will Be
Affected.
MAKE OTHER THINGS
Drive OF Organized Labor To Use
All Such Plants for Manufacture
of Engines of Peace

Washington, D. c., Nov. 16.-A
drive by organized labor was under
way today to convert all Government
naval plants to the manufacture OF
engines of peace" should ten
year naval holiday" be declared.
An army of $4,000 workers and
S250,000,000 worth of equipment are
directly involved in the project. The
"holiday," labor men asserted, would
throw $4,000 men out of work inn
mediately with probably $4,000 more
within year. OF this number 30
600 would lose their positions at
once in private shipbuilding plants
The drive, launched by the Inter
national Association OF Machinists
has already been recognized by the
Government, it was stated. Director
of the Budget Charles c. Dawes, it
was pointed out, has already re-
quested department heads for estl-
mates of work which could be done
for the Government at its own factor
les.
Under the machinists' plan, which
is supported by all labor, the navy
yard plants would be utilized to
manufacture mail trucks, airplanes
dredging machines, and irrigation
engines for reclamation work, as well
as water power machinery.
Private shipbuilding yards would
be struck a crippling blow by the
"naval holiday" according to au-
thorities here. Six private yards
would have to close. throwing 10000
men out of work. These are located
at San Francisco, Tacoma, Quincy,
Mass, Philadelphia, Newport News
Va, and Sparrows Point, Md.
Fourteen Government plants, all
employed now on instruments of
war" could be Immediately used III
fashioning engines of peace" Five
yards now making fighting equip
ment have machinery ready for IN
stant use in peace service. These
are lovated at Charleston, ". Va;
Waterviet, n. Y; Newport, R. l.;
Alexandria, Va, and Washington,
They now make heavy guns, torpe-
does and armor plate. :,
Seven great battleship yards could
be ready for peace work III a
short while. These are the navy
wards at Portsmouth, y. H.; Nor
folk. Va; Boston, New York, Mare
Island. Cal; Philadelphia and Char
lesion, s. c. These yards, It was
stated, would concentrate first on
dismantling the battleships SCRAP
ned" but would also be utilized un-
der labor's plan in building tractors;
steam shovels, irrigation engines and
the like.
could be made at Mare Island, Wash
inoton, Newport, and Alexandria.
The same plants could manufacture
car wheels, axles, and even air
planes. with slight changes in pres
ent equipment.
The Charleston, ". Va, plant
would devote its whole personnel TO
making proiectiles. Repairs to mer-
chant marine would also occupy al:
coastal yards.
Government arscnals are included
in the peace plans. These, located
at Rock Island, H.; Frankfort, Pa;
Springfield, Mass; WatervlIct,. \.
Y; Watertown. Mass, and Picatlnny.
n. J.. would add the manufacture OF
mail trucks to their present output.
Steam shovcls for irrigation use
and widening canals and river chan
neIs. machinery for reclalmlng
swamps and similar "heavy work"
could be done at Mare Island,
Charlestown, S. c., Boston, and New
York under labor's plan.
Water power machinery for cstab-
fishing second Niagaras" through
out the whole country could DC
manufactured. without much changSe'
in the plants at Norfolk, Phllade!!--
phia { Hog Island), and Boston, It
was said.