The Connecticut labor news. (New Haven, Conn.) 1921-1925, 1921-04-01
NAVY DEPARTMENT
TO PROBE STRIKE
AT CRAMP YARD

Philadelphia, April An invcstiga-
ton has been promised by the navy de
partment into conditions in the shipyard
OF the VIM. Cramp Ship & Engine Co.,
OF this city, whose employees numbering
over 1000 men and embracing IA differ
cnt trades have been on strike for the
past ~ weeks to preserve the right of
collective bargaining Won through or
ganlzatiOr during the war. The interest
OF the navy department in the conditions
growing out Of this strike is paramount
due to the fact that 90 per cent. of the
contracts upon which the Cramp Co. is
WORKING is for that department Of the
ployes and their advisors We're in con
ference with Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Roosevelt at which time they were
assured that the government expected
that tull Voluc would be returned by the
Cramp Co. for every dollar of govern
ment funds expended and that no effort
on the part of the company to saddle the
expense of breaking the strike would be
tolerated. The strikers are hopeful that
a fair and thorough investigation may
result in just settlement.
In the meantime the strikers are main
tanning the same wonderful solidarity
that has existed through the entire
struggle. The wholesale arrning OF
strike breakers has been encouraged by
breakers were recently surrounded bv
the strikers and disarmed with the result
that some 80 reviewers and other weapons
were taken from the scabs. The follow
ing day squads Of police invaded the
strike meetings and searched every
striker present, looking for concealed
weapons y CGdlcSS no
found The hand of the Cra1np Co is
seen daily in the acts Of the police auth
critics who have endeavOrcd to frame up
the strikers, incite them to riot, Spying
on strike meetings, etc. Due to the
splendid discipline maintained by the
strikers all these efforts have thus far
tailed Even bandits from the under
world cOrralled by the police and brought
before magistrates after weapons were
found in their possession have been dis
charged from custody upon the bare
statement that they were employed as
strike breakers at Cramps While
strikers have been held up and searched
Tor concealed weapons, street cars con-
tanning the sCabs together with the office
forces, all OF whom are heavily armed.
travel the streets under the direct pro-
| lection of the police.
Due largely to the wide publicity given
the strike by the labor press the i1npor-
tation Of strike breakers has been un-
successful and the shops and yards are
practically depleted of workmen. Of the
1000 men who came out on strike 10
weeks ago there have been but 25 de
scrters and by actual at the end
Of last week there were a total force of
$50 employed most OF whom are negroes
imported from St. Louis and Chicago.
A commissary has been established
and hundreds of orders for rations are
being filled each week. In addition free
medical service is provided by the CEN
trail strike committee for sick strikers
and their families. Relief committees
are engaged daily in preventing evictions
of the strikers and their families.
1t is agreed that if the same measure
Of financial support which the strikers
have received in the past from other local
unions and syrnpatfizers not involved.
continues for a short time longer. ulti-
mate victory will be assured. All con-
trlbutlonS, large or small, should be sent
to H. /. harrington, treasurer, relief
section general strike committee Room
S25. Heed building, Philadelphia Pa