The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-02
u. S. SAILORS OUT
Walk-Out Called Sunday May
Tie All Shipping.
Number Answering Call Grows
HOurly-Both Coasts Hit.
CREWS AT SEA NOTIFIED
Strike Order Followed Fifteen
Per Cent Wage Slash.
Harding May Appoint Board to
Arbitrate Quarrel.

New York, May 2.-Extension of
the seamen's strike to include all har-
Dor workers in the country will be at
tempted tonight.
Officials of the International Sea-
mems union who called strike yes
terday to fight Is per cent wage re-
duction, will ask towing concern en-
pIoyes and affiliated unions to walk
out in sympathy, in an effort to en-
sure complete paralysis of American
shipping.
Andrew Furuseth. president of the
Seamen's union, was reported to be en-
route here from Washington to be
present at the conference which will
determine the question of a sympa-
thetic strike.
May Call Longshorcmen.
At union headquarters. it was said
that no effort would be made to call
out the longshoremen, as they will be
automatically thrown out of employ
ment by the seamen's strike. Union
officials here estimated that 10000
seamen in this port had walked out
shortly before noon and declared that
before nightfall between $4,000 and
$4,000 would be out. They said that
$4,000 were affected on the Atlantic
coast, and that the total expected to
SLrlke on all coasts was l15,U
Winthrop L. Marvin, president oi
the American Steamship Owners as
sociation. said that no estimate as to
the number of men on strike or ships
idle could be made short of two oil
three days He declared. however
that the unions estimate of it's mem
bership was exaggerated" because
thousands of seamen thrown out oi
work by the. slump in shipping had
obtained permanent employment il
other industries.
| Marvin's estimate of the total Amer.
lean merchant tonnage was 13 1000, 900
/ of which 100000 is owned by the
government and 100000 by privat,
| interests.
| Union Claims Lockout.
Union officials claimed the presen
! situation was virtually a lockout. in
tended to enforce the open shop
They said the new contracts, contain
ing the Is pefscent wage cut, hat
| dropped the clause providing that EN-
ployes should be American citizen
and substituted one to the effect tina
| mo discrimination shall be mad
/ against either union or non-unnioI
men"
THE seamen's strike is a blow t,
! the American flag and as such canno
long survive Marvin declared today
Most of the union officials ar,
! foreigners and do not understand th'
Am erican principles of relations be
4 tween employers and workers. II w,
I could deal directly with the men W,
! believe we could obtain their co-opera
ton.
"Seamen's wages in common will
| those in other industries must com,
down if the industry is to survive
| and we and the United States ship
ping board are asking less reductions
! than other industries
when you consider most of th'
| ships affected fly the shipping flag
you can see that the strike is reall.
aimed at the government"
! Was Effective Sunday.
Altho the strike became effectiv
at o'clock yesterday afternoon, it
1 effects were not expected to be ascer
tainable before tonight. If all mem
bers of the International Seamen'
/ (Iontipuei on mage Ski