The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-04-29
sEAMEN EXPECT
TO STRIKE SOON
Refuse to Consider New Contract
Votes Are Taken.

ms toward a StIIhe "oS
1 of more than 175,000 unionized
marine engineers and iremen were
closely drawn here today when the
unions refused to consider a new
contract, proposd by the owners,
carrying wage cuts averaging rs to
IS per cent.
The engineers, through their ma
tional president, William B. Brown,
followed their refusal by issuing a
strike order effective that date, if
the cut is put into effect. The fire
re- and seamen, through Andrew
Furusetth, president of the Interna-
tional Seamen's union, said their
men already had voted on the mat
ter and they too would quit work if
the wage cut was made effective.
At the close of the conference to-
day, it was announced that Admiral
Benton, chairman Of the United
States shipping board, had called a
conference Of representatives of the
owners and the unions Wednesday
at Washington. This announcement
was made by Darragh Delaney,
head of the boards department of
industrial relations. 1t was indicated
that federal influence will be used
to bring about an agreement and
prevent a strike.
The conferences today were the
elimination of a series of meetings
between representatives of the
unions and the owners. The engi-
nsers last week announced that a
wage cut would not be accepted, and
today the declaration was reiterated
At previous conferences, the firemen
and seamen insisted that wage ques-
ton be made secondary to enforce
sment of alleged violations Of the "a
Toilette law, adjustment of the
shipping boards sea service bureau,
and preference in employment of
union men.
The answer to the owners today
was that the LaFolette seamen's Law
was a federal statute, and the sea
service bureau was a governmental
agency. It was further stated that
this bureau was furnishing Ameri-
can ships with seamen, 80 per cent
of whom were American citizens,
while the seamen's unions were fur
nishing a negligible percentage Of
Americans. Preference in employ
ment Of union men was declared to
be discrimination against Americans
and the demands were refused.
As a result of the refusal, Mr.. Flu
russeth and his associates left this
meeting and declared the men would
refuse to work after May l if the
wage reduction was put into effect.
Ships on the Great Lakes and
tugs, barges and other craft employ
ed in harbor transportation would
not be affected by the strike, union
leaders said as they are under sepa-
rate contracts.
Recent reports Of American ship
ping shows that the United States
shipping board owns 1,773 ocean-ge-
ing ships, of 7,79O,736 gross tons
the majority in the hands of private
operators.
In addition LOTT ships of 5.125,-
273 gross tons are owned by private
companies. OF these approximately
so per cent. of the shipping board
tonnage and 70 per cent of the prl-
vately owned ships already are tied
up, due, the owners and operators
said to lack of cargo. American flag
passenger vessels which possibly
would be affected by a strike in
clude those of the International
Mercantile Marine, Hamburg and
Antwerp service, the United States
Mail Ship company and the United
American lines in the European and
all coastwise lines operated on the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts. and be.
tween cities on the Atlantic and
Gulf coasts.