The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-06-23
OPERATORS ASK FOR HELP FROM
 THE PRESIDENT
Alaska Companies Declare Unions Break Contract
 Without Reason

Seattle steamship companies op- erating vessels on Alaska routes yesterday appealed to President Roosevelt and other officials to intervene in the strike orders which have again tied up Terri torial shipping in violation of the agreement signed on June 8, which released that shipping from the general Pacific Coast strike.
 In addition to the President, the operators wired Secretary Ickes Secretary Perkins, Gov. Clarence D. Martin, William Green, Presi- dent of the American Federation of Labor, and Joseph Ryan, Presi- dent of the International Long, shoremen's Association.
 Text of Message
 The text of the message, iden- tical to all of them, is as follows
 "On June 8th all Alaska steam ship operators, acting as a group, executed formal written contract with International Longshoremens Association signed by Joseph P. Ryan, international president, and J. c. Bjorklund, district secretary and witnessed by the Mayor of Seattle. The contract was execut- ed after several weeks negotiation and after submission to an ap- proyal by entire Pacific Northwest membership of Union and was effective from date until Septem- Der 30, neither party having any right of cancellation during such period and arbitration clause being included as basis of settlement of any dispute.
 Contract was limited to loading and discharging cargo of Alaska vessels and for purpose of reliev- ing critical emergency existing in Alaska, which is entirely depen- dent upon water transportation for food supplies, necessities of life and supplies to canning, fish ing, mining and other essential industries of Territory. Recogniz- ing Alaska's acute distress due to complete stoppage of commerce which had then existed for thirty days, Alaska operators conceded to substantially all International Longshoremen's demands, recog- nizing union and employing ex- clusively members thereof.
 General Strike Unaffected
 Agreement in no way affected general coastwise longshoremen and maritime workers strike, it being expressly provided that coastwise settlement terms would apply to and supercede above agreement and, further, that agree ments satisfactory to these Unions should be made with sailors, ma rine cooks and stewards, marine fire m e n, oilers, water tenders, wipers' association, all of which are affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. Such agree ments were negotiated and signed by highest local officials of these unions on June 9th and with mas ters, mates and pilots, affiliated with American Federation, and marine engineers not so affiliated.
 Since June 9th Alaska operators, langshoremen and ships off shore employees have been operating un- der these agreements without dis putes until last night at which time without notice to Alaska op- orators, without complaint or justi- fication of any kind, International Longshoremen withdrew and all off shore unlicensed employees be- longing to unions affiliated with American Federation were with drawn from Alaska ships. Ma rine engineers, however, not affi- Hated agreed to stand by contract. Longshoremen and other union S through press publicity stated in- tention repudiate agreement Alas ka operators and again tie up AL aska shipping
 Urge Sanctity of Contract
 ''Only reason given is that May or furnished police protection to certain foreign and coastwise ves- sells discharging here. These ves- sells not in Alaska trade and not covered by any agreement. All ef-