The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-08
BOARDS POSITION
 ON MARINE STRIKE
 GIVEN BY BENSON
Three Vessels Sail From New Orleans With on-Union Crews and Strikers En-
 joined By Court
By Associated Press

By Associated Press
 Washington, May 7.--Admiral w. 5. Benson, chairman of the United States shipping board. today ,issued statement addressed to the officers and men of the American merchant marine giving the boards position on the present marine strike in the hope" he said, that the friendly relations which have heretofore existed between employees and their em- ployers may be again resumed
 The admiral said that a review of the developments of "the regrettable marine labor controversy which now cenfronts this country would convince all unbiased r,inds that the course pursued by the United States shipping board is a sound one and fair one, that the existing economic conditions fully justify their readjustment oe wage scales and working conditions on the basis announced by the board" Admiral Benson further stat ed that it would be indeed unfortunate if the personnel of the merchant marine persists in refusing to do their part in the labor liquidation of the marine in- dustry while benefited by the labor li- quidation in other industrial fields.
  to the policy of the board during the war in advancing wages to the men. This policy, the admiral said, pursued in order that the increase in wages might make up the difference in the deprecia- tion in the value of the dollar.
 AS trustee of the money of the peo- ple," the admiral concluded, "the ship ping board cannot compromise a vital principle, and I make an earnest appeal to all of you who have the interests of our merchant marine at heart to come with me and the shipping board in mak- ing the readjustments effective in line with those of other American industries"
 THREE SHIPS SAIL
 New Orleans, May 7.-Coupled with the announcement that three vessels with non-union crews had sailed from this port today was the statement that Judge Rufus E. Foster of United States dis trict court, had issued an injunction re- straining officials of union marine work CTS from interfering in any way with the functioning of non-union seamen on United States shipping board vessels.
 The shipping board steamer Westford which last night figured in a series of disorders and resulted in non-union sea- men being chased from the decks, left with 9, Ilon-union crew for Germany.
 The Bowden, United Fruit steamer under Norwegian registry, and the Atenas, American, also a United Fruit vessel, left for the mouth of the river Because of a strike of tugboat engineers the Bowden for short time was in trou ble in naidstream but assumed her course and according to late reports, was pro- ceeding safely down the river.
 Tugboat owners announced they had made preparations to man their tugs with non-union foremen Monday, their former crews having refused to move steamships carrying non-union crews.
 Several smaller tugs were in service. engaged principally in moving barges. STRIKERS BARRED FROM DOCKS Mobile, May 7-Orders prohibiting striking marine workers from going on the docks of the waterfront without per- nlits are being strictly enforced by the police here. Six seamen were taken into custody late today by the police on charges of refusing to move on and dis orderly conduct
 Between 300 and 400 striking marine workers with a large American flag at their head paraded the principal streets of the city today. A number of the work CTS carried banners asking the support or the public in their demands and urging non-union men not to take their places. The parade was orderly.
 MANY SEEK WORK
 Baltimore, May 7.-More men applied today at the office of the sea service bureau for work on American vessels than on any day since the marine strike became effective a week ago, according to Capt. F. H. Harris, in charge of the bureau.
 On the other hand, large number Of the engineers on tugboats in port walked out to further hamper the steamship owners in getting out their vessels.
 An injunction issued by Judge Heufsler, in the circuit court on behalf of the Cur tis Bay Towing company, ordered busi- ness agents and delegates of the unions not to induce the engineers on the tugboats of that company to strike. Other developments were:
 Police Commissioner Gather denied the charges of police inefficiency made by Admiral Benson, chairman of the United States shipping board.
 ' Crews walked off the vessels Lake Treba, Pachet and Munsoma.