The New York herald., 1921-11-03
Death of Union or Ruin of
Distributors, View OF
Both Sides.
COPELAND PLAN FAILS
Asked Dropping OF Open
Shop Plea; Urged Wage
Conference.
MEN READY TO ACCEPT
Nathan Straus Pleads, Calling
Walkout Murder-Sabo-
tage Reported.
COPELAND PLAN FAILS
MEN READY TO ACCEPT

A fight to the finish for the open
shop in the milk industry of this city
and nearby territory, even at the
cost of continued discomfort for sew.
eral days, was announced last night
by the New York Milk Conference
Board in a letter to DR.. Royal s.
Copeland, Health Commissioner, who
earlier in the evening believed he
bad succeeded in ending the strike.
Representatives of the milk dis.
tributers and the labor unions, at a
meeting in Commissioner Copeland's
office late In the afternoon, heard his
proposal that the men go back to
work at the old wages-without their
So increase and two weeks vacations
and remain at work for at least
three months, by which time the en-
ployers and the men would be ex-
rected to have settled their differ
ences. The final decision was to
have been made retroactive to No.
vember /.
Union leaders said they would
recommend such a settlement to their
men at meeting last night In Madi-
son Square Garden. That the men
would have accepted the proposal is
certain.
/. Elkin Nathans. secretary Of the
New York Milk Conference Board,
who has been described by the union
leaders as "a dumbbell and the reason
why we can't settle this strilse,' took
the proposition in silence and said he
| would submit 1t to the distributors.
Earlier in. the meeting he had told
Commissioner Copeland and the union
leaders that so far as he knew the de-
cision for an open shop was ire
vocable.
Refusal by Distributors.
When Mr. Nathans handed the pro-
posal to the distributors at their head
| quarters in the Fiatiron Building he
found them adamsnt They immedi-
ately began drafting a letter to Com
missioner Copeland. politely but firmly
| informing him that his proposed basis
of settlement was unsound and that
in reality IL did not settle anything,
simply postponing the conflict three
months.
Hope of a settlement OF the strike
now is regarded as virtually impossi-
BILE. It is fight either for the death
of the union or the ruin OF the dis
| tributers. according TO the represen-
tation of both sides to the controversy.
And the distributors. having taken
/ care of one-third OF their demands
| yesterday and with their position
| growing stronger ali the time. ex-
| pressed confidence last night that VIC
tory would be theirs.
The decision of the employers caused
anger and CONSERVATION among the
strikers assembled in Madison Square
| Garden. They realize that the longer
the settlement is postponed the weaker
will their position become. Commits
sioner Copeland also was angry. Ho
turned 10 several Of the employers 81
| he was leaving the Flatiron Building
| and told them that he would have his
! inspectors out working this morning.
and that "sorne of you may be ar
rested" Then he went TO the strikcrr
meeting
Drivers Applaud Copeland.
| Commissioner Copeland, amid ap-
plause from the 10000 strikers. rsid
that tho blame for the continued tie-up
OF the milk supply rested upon tho Now
| York MIX Conference Board. He pledged
the support of himself and Mayor Hylan
| TO the Mil; Drivers Union. Tho Com
missioner appeared deeply irccEsod at
the employers for refusing 20 comply
with his proposal. and declared that the
| milk drivers ha his entire sympathy"
| He said that he would have nothing fur
ther TO do with the board. but tina, he
might call some OF the individual EN-
/ ployers into his office FOR a conference
to-day.
1T Is not the business Of the milk In
dus.ry. serving babies and invulids."
said Commissioner Copeland. 80 seek
a ght for the open shop. a principle In
! economies cannot take precedence over
human life. IL the drivers made hasty
9 scssion at first. they now have cheer
fully offered to deliver milk The en-
ployers refuse to meet this offer"
The stage at the Garden had been
carefully set for Hylan rally. Com
missioner Copeland. feeling sure that he
had as good as settled the strike. had
arranged to give the word to Mayor
Hylan. who was then TO appear dremat-
ically and modestly claim the credit for
settling the trouble. But the scheme
fell through.
The letter OF tho Milk Conference
Board. setting forth it's position on the
proposed strike settlement follows:
Dear Commissioner Copeland.
mo one could appreciate moro thar,
the milk distributors your own interest
| and efforts In this crisis which now con-
fronts u.. After full consider alton.