New-York tribune., 1921-05-18
Marine StrilS e
To Be I4O st or
I w on This w eek
Ships al Sea When Men
Quit Are Back, and if
Owners Can Get Crews
Struggle Will BE Over
ITugn,ensForl,idden TO Aid
Open Shop To BE Sole Pol.
icy, Whatever Outcome
May BE, u. S. Board Says

The crisis that will decide the ma
tion-wide shipping strike wiA be
reached during this week. The result
will depend upon the ability Of the
steamship companies and the Shipping
Board to obtain crews for the steamers
which have arrived in American ports
since the strike against the 10 per cent
reduction in marine wages went into
effect on May ! last.
As an instance of the difficulties con-
fronting the steamship operators the
Marine Engineers Beneficial Associa-
tion said yesterday that nine ships ar
rived in this port Monday, and that the
engineers on every one of them re-
signed as fast as their ships were
docked. Among these nine vessels was
the Minnekahds, of the Atlantic Trans
port Line, liner which carries twenty
five engineers.
Showdown at Hand
1t was genefally conceded yesterday
that sufficient American ships, which
were at sea or in foreign ports when
the strike was called, have now reached
home ports to test the strength of the
operators. If they succeed in keeping
edly collapse. On the other hand, it
was stated should the operators get
less than 80 per cent of them to sea, the
struggle may continue many more
weeks.
Captain Irving l.. Evans, director OF
the sea service bureau of the United
States Shipping Board, the organiza-
tion which recruits crews for Shipping
Board vessels, declared yesterday that,
irrespective of the outcome OF the
strike, the Shipping Board would oper-
ate an open shop principle on its yes
sells. He stated that the board would
recognize the right OF collective bar
gaining with its employees, but would
deny preference to union men
"The straight out-and-out open shop
system is now and hereafter the policy
of the Shipping Board" said Captain
Evans. "0nly one vessel of the Ship
ping Board remains tied up in New
! ork lIarbor as result of the strike,
and it is steamer OF the. small Lake
type.
Closed Shop Gone, He Says
Gall other craft have sailed with full
crews and the majority of the engineers
We're members of the union. We recog-
nize the right Of the men for collective
bargaining, but will not again recog-
nize the closed shop, and the men know
that their Jobs are steady and that they
Will be fully protected in them"
The fact that the strike is by no
means over was reflected in a report
from Baltimore yesterday which said
that the aid Of four courts there was
being sought TO get the ships in that
port to sea. The aid sought is in the
form of. injunctions restraining the
unions from Interfering with strike
breakers.
The Joint Harbor Arbitration Board
of NeW York yesterday refused to per-
NIT sympathetic assistance to be given
the striking engineers and seamen by
+ the crews. OF harborz tugboats. The
question was put before the board by
Thomas B. Healey, head Of the harbo1
engineers, on the ground that The own
ers had violated the agreement. The
action was in the form of q resolu-
ton, which was passed by Vote OF
s to d, The dissenting votes were
those of three engineers and one pilot
who are members of the board. The
resolution follows:
"Be it resolved, that the agreement
entered into on December 81, 1920, has
not been violated and has no bearing
on the present controversy between
the steamship owners and their en-
ployees, and that it is a matter over
which the New Yorl, Harpor Arbitra
! tion Board has no jurisdiction"
! G. a. Mason, manager Of the Tow
hoat Owners Association, of II Moore
Street. where the meeting was held
said the arbitration board consisted
| Of six employers and six employees
He stated that if the crews of tug
boats operating in the harbor qul
their vessels now it would constitut,
a violation of the agreement and othel
men would be obtained to fiji thei1
places.
Six American steamers left this por
during the twenty-four-hour periot
ending at o'clock last night. On,
of them, the Jefferson, for Norfolk, il
sailing under agreement with tht
unions. The others were City of Mont