The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-03
Garrison Admits
Strong Strike Tide
BY MARGUERITE YOUNG

I. S. U. only perhaps 2,OOO2" Gar
rison was asked.
That's what the M. w I. U.
says he replied. But that is
thoroughly disputed"
Sure of Complete Tie-Up
Several months ago we heard
there was likelihood of a strike on
the Atlantic and Gulf Coast" Gar
rison related, obviously referring to
the united front Baltimore strike
conference. "Since there was no
code directly applicable to the ship
ping industry, our board had no
power to act, but we thought that
under our instructions to investi-
gate disputes threatening to burden
interstate commerce we should at
least find out what was happening
when the I.S.U. strike call came,
we became convinced that the
strike would come and would result
in paralysis, a complete tie-up Of
the industry"
Didn't you know that the strike
in fact had been under prepara-
ton long before the I.SU. issued
a call, and didn't you have scouts
out to find out about the strength
not Of this union, but Of the NV.
IU.?" Garrison was asked. This
too, he admitted, nodding and con-
tinued:
Owners Asked Secret Talk
az went to New York on Wednes-
day and on Thursday had two con-
ferences with ship owners. They,
of their own volition, asked for a
conference with Mr.. Olander [vic-
tor J. Olander, secretary treasurer
Of the IS.U., who came to Wash
ington and, according to the word
of MIRA. officials given direct to
this reporter, begged officials to help
him avert the strike which he had
just called, and thereupon agreed
to negotiate. This was the first time
since the war that the ship owners
had looked at the face of a union
man."
But there was no public an
nouncement of any of this?" Gar
rison was queried. He replied, mo"
and continued, Mr.. Olander and
the ship owners had a frank dis
cussion, and Mr.. Olander made an
excellent impression personally.
They agreed to a further confer
ence on Monday, at which more
shipowners could be drawn in.
"They had this other conference
and there the representatives of a
total of % companies operating $50
ships in all important lines agreed
to recognize the I.S.U. and nego-
tate, and the IS.U. leaders agreed
to call off the strike"
Hitches Already"
Here Garrison indicated that
bitches are already developing in
the scheme, for he said he prepared
a 'phantasmagorial press state
ment, to which the IS.U. leaders
and the ship owners agreed" to be
issued from New York, but that
somehow it seems to have evapor-
ated overnight" Obviously the
IS.U. became fearful of the effect
of the badness of the sell-out on
its rank and file, or the shipowners
decided to back water, and there
fore Garrison fastened to make the
announcement here.
There is another union in the
field" Garrison said. The Marine
Workers Industrial Union. I met
) the Joint Strike Committee organ
; lied by them last night" He added
that they Undoubtedly think" that
Garrison pulled off something ir-
regular, but 81 told them I didn't
go to New York to sell the I.S.U
to the shipowners."
Didn't you know that these sea
mems representatives telegraphed
you demanding that they be in
cluded in any negotiations, and
that the top MIRA. officials just
Friday absolutely assured them that
they would be included, and sent
them to your Office here?"
; Garrison Dodges
That's what they said" CARR
son answered, sun1moning innocence
but blushing. But I didn't even
know the name of the official they
said told them that"
THE official was l.. H. PEBBLES
Deputy Administrator of the MIRA
Il hate to embarrass him before
the press" Garrison apologized
but still never heard of him."
Garrison failed to say that he
used deliberate prevarication, say
ing that he "has no jurisdiction in
labor disputes" in shipping, in o-del
to put off meeting the joint Strike
Committee until after he had sealed
the secret pact he was at that mo-
: ment negotiating with I.S.U. Off
Gals and ship owners.
Hadn't you had scouts out fol
, weeks?" he was asked.
Their opinion was that tbs
M.WI.U. is much smaller than the
IS.U."
Whats your opinion about what
the next step will beP"
Il don't know" he sighed, "I'n
through. The IS.U has called of
the strike and there's nothing more
we can do except watch the situa.