New-York tribune., 1921-05-02
j 500 Government Ships
and Private Craft in
Atlantic, Pacific and
Gulf TO Be Affected
Seanen Ignore
Mediation Plans
Warrington Reports That
Appeal Of Men Is Still
II Hands of President

sAiytesu million tons Of American
aispins, embracing $500 ships Of the
lInitsd States Shipping Board and all
,dvstely owned American vessels in
&, Atlsntic. Gulf and Pacific ports,
~ ordered deserted by their union
7sws yesterday ~ result Of de-
1,ion Of the marine workers to walk
a rather than accept = is per cent
eut IN wages.
Nst sn American ship will set sail
"a she Stars and Stripes will disap-
~ isom foreign ports until the wage
aispuss = settled. according to union
saselsIn
As Warrington yesterday Secretary
q IAbo. Davis conferred with union
hsads On the wage controversy, but
sypassntly no definite decision was
usshsd. It was indicated at the De-
pessment Of Labor that the appoint
nent Of commission to adjust differ
suees wss still in the hands Of Presi-
disut Harding. The appointment Of
saeA commission was requested by
union heads.
Six thousand marine engineers, at q
needing held 1t rs Park Place yester-
day afternoon, decided to "resign" Inn
mediatsly. The International Seamen's
Union. the Marine Firemen's. Oilers
and Watertsnders' Union and the
Marine Cooks and Stewards Associa-
tion, st conferences at 70 South Street,
50 Front Street and in Brooklyn, took
similar action. Reports received at
unien headquarters asserted that the
workers. at al the Atlantic. Gulf and
facide ports had decided to quit.
Failure to Mediate Starts Strike
Union officials attributed the decision
te walk out, which had been threatened
for more than . month, to the failure
Of their international officers to effect
msdiation at Washington. William
Brown, president Of the Marine Engin-
ssrs Beneficial Association, and
Andrew Furuseth. head Of the Interna-
tional Seamen's Union, had been in
Warrington conferrinr with Secretary
q Labor Davis, in the hope that Presi-
dent Harding might be induced to pre-
vent the ship owners from enforcing
ne wage reductions, or at least that
the American Ship Owners Association,
which includes the Shipping Board.
xonld agree to mediate, meantime al
loving the old wage scale to continue.
Word was received by Thomas b.
heaiy, head Of the local engineers
union, that the negotiations at Wash
neton had failed and the men at once
voted 70 quit. Mr.. Healy insisted that
sne men were not striking but were be-
lne locked out on account Of the offer OF
"a unacceptable wage scale, which was
intended to supplant the one that ex-
pired yesterday. The union men say
@e 10 per cent wage reduction is not
saeir only grievance, because the new
sea!e calls for abolition Of overtime
pay and . cut In the subsistence al
seeNaRce Tor the men while they are on
Million Loss Daily Seen
Estimates were made that the suspen-
non Of American Shipping will cause
|, daily J. loss Of $1,000, 900. @ Aitogether ether
.e.vp0 engineers and 10000 other ma
naS s.uS workers are directly involved,
saiie an unknown number Of long
sao!emen, tfuckmen and helpers Of
tsstlous kinds are indirectly affected.
nSUut 60 per cent Of the ships involved
Mli not be Immediately affected be.
ssuse they had been tied up owing to
s,scsness in business. American ships
ss divided among eighty lines.
asports Of union officials indicated
: aAt the marine workers at the follow
Sc ports had Joined In the walk-out:
IsSn. ISealon. New Orleans, Philadelphia,
IIoeaie, Bridgeport, Conn; Tampa,
ssss..sSonv1iie. Pensacola, San francisco,
ssassle, - Portland. Galveston, Whining
~ ~ e.; Key West, Norfolk. Balboa,
ass~A ~.-t-