New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-01
no Engineers Anticipate
Strike Order as Lead
!crs Continue Efforts to
Avoid General Tie-Up.
j. S. and Owners
Order Wage Cut
100000 Men Will Be
Affected in Two Weeks
gIf Farley Is Failure

MANY marine workers here took mat
ars into their own hands last night,
Ind began their long-heralded strike
mich they describe merely as quitting,
kaile leaders OF their unions were still
i work IL Washington seeking a basis
Of edmprc'aise.
FiSe hundred marine engineers
vslked out early last evening, though
10 fenerai order for the strike was
ssued from union headquarters.
c the time they quit, their repre-
sntzsivs at Washington. William S.
,rowu, Of the Marine Engineers Bene-
cisl Association, was comforting with
seretaty of Commerce Hoover, Secre-
ar 81 Labor Davis and Andrew
uruskth, president of the Interna-
isEsd Seamen's Union, in an effort to
wt nationwide walkout.
Whether the seamen, cooks and
ts@ards in port here will follow the
rema&ure action of the engineers de-
kkdB IA large part on the news of the
Washington conference.
EUuiess checked by q settlement the
eoTike is destined eventually to tie up
Every vessel sailing the seven seas
RHder the American flag. More than
NS000,00O tons of shipping are involved,
ind upward of 10000 men.
I At late hour last night Bert L.
rodd, secretary of the Ocean Associa-
sidn of Marine Engineers, announced
that 800 marine engineers had already
iuit theh ships. He stated that an
'quaJ usialoer would stop work before
o-rnDffow morning. T.is action oc the
marine engineers. he said, came as a
iirect result of the new schedule OF
wages put into effect by the American
Steamship Owners Association at mid.
night, in which \ general reduction OF
Is per cent was made.
"A reduction OF Is per cent in wages
vas also ordered last night by Admiral
Benson, chairman of the United States
Shipping Board, in an order sent out
0all operators of government-owned
raft.
Effective at Midnight
Thomas B. Hea)ey, chairman of the
ciat council Of the Atlantic and
Pacific Of the Marine Engineers Bene-
lcisI Association said last night that
he strike order would go into effect at
aidnight $50 far as the engineers are
soneerned.' he said, "they are not
striking. They cannot strike on ac-
sount Of their licenses. They are sim
siy leaving their vessels.
In cases where vessels have steam
Up the engineers are giving twenty
bur hours notice of their intention to
cave their ships in accordance with
The conditions of their licenses"
The strike wils extend to steam ships
low at sea as soon as they arrive in
II American port. At the present time
irlly 46 per cent of the ocean-going
sessels owned by the United States
shipping Board are laid up in Ameri-
an ports because of the existing busi-
sess conditions and the general slump
world trade. In addition to this,
approximately rs per cent of the pri-
ately owned ships of American steam
hip companies are also tied up in port
or the same reasons.
teamer flying the American flag will
hsn two weeks. The principal lines
nternational Mercantile Marine, the
any, the Agwi Lines and the Munson
dnes.
Many Under Foreign Flags
l0f the International Mercantile Ma
Inc Company's feet, the majority fly
areign flags. Those flying the Ameri-
p flag include the New York, St.
hul and st. Louis, which are now ly-
IS up in port. Three other passenger
sssels are in the New York Hamburg
fsde. They are the Manchuria, Mon
plia and Minnekahda. ali Of which are
w at sea.
representatives. of the ship owners
we stated that the strike at this
Ne would probably kill the newly
Wmed American merchant marine,
Mch is already struggling against an
mumulatlon of difficulties.
9he new schedule of wages was
9Asmitted to every American steam
tcentlaued On page thFseS