The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-30
GENERAL TIE-UP OF
 SHIPPING AT J. s.
 PORTS|S IMMINENT
Both Sides Lay Cases Before President In Last Effort to Avert Final Breach and
 Strike May 1
By Associated Press

Washington, April 29.-A general tie-up of all shipping in American ports except on the Great Lakes on May l appeared imminent tonight after negotiations between the ship ping board, steamship owners and ma rine workers had been abandoned as a result of thes refusal of employees to accept Is per cent wage reduc- tion.
 A last effort to avert a final breach between the employers and marine workers was made late today when Chairman Benson of the shipping board and representatives of the marine unions called separately at the White House to lay their case before the President. Previously the chairman and the shipcwners had rejected proposal by Andrew Furuseth presi- dent of thet international Seamen's 74aieff; ts1--sh bnit the MhoIs ausst iG1 TTeSIdent Harding for arbitration. 5s Chairman Benson declined to discuss his visit at the White House. but the union representatives in the absence ot the President left a report and a prayer" in behalf of all the workers submitting the matter to him. They later announced that they would re- turn to the White House tomorrow in an effort to see the President in person. Tie union representatives also called on Secretary Hoover, but received, they say, no assurances of action on his part.
 PROPOSAL REJECTED
 The break in negotiations came after a final conference cared by Chairman Benson to consider new wage and working agreements. The chairman's proposal for Is per cent wage cut was rejected for the engineers on the ground that it was not justified by living costs or necessary as an economy in operating expenses. II. Ii. Griffith, for the cooks and stewards, declared that the proposed wage cut was il sign of the dotted line propositon,' and asked that the controversy be submitted to disinterested party
 Mir. Furuseth asked for assurance that certain conditions would be made part of any new agreement inelud- ing preference for American citizens in employment, enforcement of the sea mems act, and recognition of the unions right to act for the men. Chairman Benson replied that he in dorsed the idea of preference for Amer ican citizens and would carry out those parts of the law under his Jurisdiction, but that the other points were mat
  termined later.
 WANT HARDING TO DECIDE
 Mir. Furuaeth then offered his plan Tor arbitration by the President. We are wiling" he said, ito submit this whole thing in it's absolute entirety, without reservation, to rne President of the United States and we will adopt lis decision as organizations and will go to every one of our members and plead with them to Loyalty abide by anything that he decides and that is all we can do."
 The offer was rejected by the chair man and by w. A. Thompson for the steamship owners.
 Men of America, men of the United States" Chairman Benson said, i've are supposed to be the supporters and aid of the President of the United States. We are supposed not only to carry our own burdens but to help him carry his l, for one, will not add one iota to the burden he is already carrying. We are responsible citizens, l trust all of us are of America And it is for us to aid the President. In at tempting to carry this question to him, which you should decide and which is your responsibility, you are shi~king your responsibilities as American cit!- l zens."
 ONLY COURSE LEFT
 Upon the rejection of his proposal Mir. Furuseth declared there was noth- ing more to do but appeal to the Presi- dent and the conference came to an abrupt end.
 In a statement tonight Chairman Benson said:
 The efforts of the United States shipping board and the steamship in terests to avert break with marine labor have come to naught. The re- of fp "a fnr readjustment on reasonable basis has l ended prolonged negotiations. The shipping board has endeavored to meet the men in the fairest and most con ci.iatory spirit. It is, however, deeply 1 conscious of it's obligations to the pee pie of the United States to protect their interests in the merchant marine Ii is reluctantly compelled to meet with all the resources at it's command the situation which confronts it.n