Evening star., 1934-04-19
MARINE WORKERS
MARCH|NGONC|TY
Will Protest Change in Bal.
timore Water Front
Relief Program.

Approximately 80 representatives Of
the Marine Workers Industrial Union
were marching on Washington today
to outline their grievances to President
Roosevelt and Harry L. Hopkins,
Federal relief administrator.
The marchers left their headquar-
ters in Baltimore at 3 pm. yesterday,
after meeting at which they voted
to protest the plan to take the ad-
ministration Of relief along the Monu-
mental City water front out of their
control.
They reached Laurel, Md, shortly
before midnight, digging in" on the
roadside about 5 miles this side of
the town. They were on the march
leaders said they probably would reach
washington some time between 3 and
S pm"
Had Handled Problem.
For several months, leaders said, the
marine workers have administered
their own relief program through an
organization set up by themselves.
Recently, however, they were notified
by Harry Greenstein, Maryland relief
administrator, that the program would
be taken over today by members of
his staff.
Francis M. Little, Maryland transient
director, informed the marine workers
yesterday that merchants and house
keepers along the Baltimore water
front. who have been feeding and
housing the men, have been notified
the Government would discontinue
paying the bills.
Little's announcement precipitated
the meeting, which was attended by
several hundred members of the
union and unorganized Baltimore sea-
men. 1t was decided to send a dele
cation to the Capital and to ap-
point groups to act in the event of
trouble along the beach"
Treated to Coffee.
About 9 pm, the marchers halted
in a field between Kennel Garden
and Laurel, where several men in an
automobile treated them to coffee and
cigarettes. Soon after they passed
through Laurel, two men in a car
sought shelter for them at the race
track
The request was denied, however,
and the marchers decided to spend
the remainder of the night on the
roadside.
Walter Spack. a union represent
ative, who preceded the marchers
here, said:
IF the boys arrive early enough,
we'll try to see the President and
Mr.. Hopkins today. Otherwise, we'll
ask the Government to provide food
and lodging for us and then try to
file our protest the first thing in the
morning"
Meanwhile, a delegation from the
shipyards of the New York Ship
building Co., at Camden, N. j., where
the Navy has seven cruisers and de-
stroyers under construction, were in
Washington today to lay their case
before Government officials in an ef-
fort to obtain Is per cent increase
in their wage scales.
Headed by P. H. van Gelder, Or
ganizer Of the Industrial Union of
Marine and Ship Workers of Amer
lea, and Francis x. McCann and
David Cole Of the Negotiating Com
mittee, the group has called upon
several cabinet members and other
officials in an effort to force recog-
milton Of the union and to bring
about an investigation of working
conditions at Camden.
Seven Ships Delayed.
Approximately 5000 men are on
strike, and the new U. s. S. Tusca-
loosa, almost complete, and two other
rious stages of construction are being
delayed, The Navy's contract calls
for $4,000, 900 worth of new work.
Secretary Of Labor Perkins inter-
vened for the workers long enough
to have Clinton L. Bardo, president
Of the New York Shipbuilding Co.,
agree to repone negotiations. Bardo
offered 10 per cent increase, but
the men turned it down. Their con-
tention is that they are being paid
from 80 to 721a cents an hour as
compared to Sc to SO cents at the
Philadelphia Navy Yard. The work
ers also want a closed shop which
Bardo Is said to have rejected.
Refers Them to Navy.
The delegation also called upon
Secretary Ickes under whose admin
istration the money for the new
boats was allotted from public works
funds. Ickes referred them to the Navy
Department. They asked the Navy
either to. investigate to ascertain If
Bardo can pay the higher rates, or
else reopen the contracts so he can
be paid enough money to allow the
higher rates.
Senator Wagner, chairman of the
National Labor Board, has also agreed
to- intervene for the strikers to see
what can be done to end the dispute.