Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-26

A>e" 1ork' April 25.-LineS tending
toward nationwide strike on May 1
OF more than 175,00O unionized mar
inc engineers, firemen and seamen
were closely drawn here today when
the unions refused to consider a new
contract, proposed by the owners,
carrying wage cuts averaging rs to
per cent.
The engineers, through their ma
tional president, William r. Brown,
followed their refusal by issuing a
strike order effective that date, if the
cut is put into effect. The firemen
and seamen. through Andrew Furu-
seth, president of the International
Seamen's Union. said their men al
ready had voted on the matter and
they too would quit work if the wage
cut was made effective.
overseas and coaStwise American
ships on the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexica
and Pacific will be involved unless
the differences are adjusted.
AT the close of the conferences to-
day. it was announced that Admiral
Benson, chairman of the United
States Shipping Board, had called a
conference of representatives of the
owners and the unions next Wednes-
day at Washington. This announce
ment was made by Darragh Delaney,
head of the boards department of in
dustrial relations. 1t was indicated
that federal influence would be used
tc bring about an agreement and pre-
vent strike.
The conferences today were the re-
suit of a series of meetings between
representatives of the unions and the
owners. The engineers last week an
nOunced that a wage cut would not
be accepted, and today the declara-
ton was reiterated. At previous con-
ferences, the firemen and seamen in
sisted that wage questions be made
secondary to enforcement of alleged
violations of the LaFollette law.
adjustment of the Shipping Boards
sea service bureau. and preference in
employment of union men. The an
swer of the owners today was that
the LaFollette seamen's law was a
federal statute, and the sea service
bureau was governmental agency.
1t was further stated that this bureau
was furnishing American ships with
seamen so per cent. of whom were
American citizens, while the Sea-
mems unions were furnished a neg
ligible percentage of Americans. Pre-
ference in employment of union men
was declared to be discriminatory
against Americans and the demands
were refused.
AS result of the refusal Mr.
Furuseth and his associates left the
meeting and declared that the men
would refuse to work after May 1 if
the wage reduction was put into eff
feet.
Ships on the great lakes. and tugs.
barges and other craft employed in
harbor transportation would not be
affected by the strike. union leaders
said, as they are under separate con-
tracts.
A tie-up Of deep sea and coastwise
ships would be felt by several hun
bred thousand men.
Recent reports of American ship
ping show that the United States
Shipping Board owns 1878 ocean go
ing ships. of 7,790,736 gross tons, the
majority in the hands of private OPP
orators. In addition there are 1917
ships of 5,125.273 gross tons owned
by private companies. OF these ap-
proximately fifty per cent. of the
Shipping board tonnage, and IS per
cent. of the privately owned ships are
now tied up. due the owners and OPP
orators said, to a lack of cargo. Am
erican flag passenger vessels which
possibly would be affected by strike
include those of the International
Mercantile Marine, Hamburg and
Antwerp services. the United States
Mail Steamship Company and United
American Lines in the European
trade and all coastwise lines operated
on the Atlantic and Pacific coast,
and between cities on the Atlantic
and Gulf coast.