Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-30

from the Orient, Alaska and South
America.
Promptly caught in the strike net
were 118 ships. Some are foreign craft.
They probab will leave port with
whatever cargo had been loaded when
the strike call was issued.
Extra Police Guards Called.
Recalling the bloody S3-day mari
time strike of 1884, during which
seven men were killed, police chiefs
Immediately ordered eXtra-duty forces
to the water front and private COM
panies posted their own guards. -Four
hundred police were assigned to duty
in both San Francisco and Los An
geles.
No one would estimate the value Of
trade affected. The San Francisco
Chamber of Commerce Marine Ex-
change said about 100000 tons of
cargo daily pass through West Coast
ports. 1t is destined for all ports
of the world. but mostly to the East
Coast and the Orient.
All of this steady flow was stopped.
1t had been greatly increased in
recent months with heavy fruit ex-
ports to Eastern cities and Europe
and advance shipments in expecta-
ton of the tie-up, three. times de-
layed by the Federal mediators.
This is only part Of the financial
picture. Other industries relying
chiefly on water shipments to move
their products or bring in raw ma
terials, will be forced to close if the
strike lasts. Chief among these are
the sugar industries of California
and the lumber industry of the Pa
cific Northwest.
Negotiations Continued.
Negotiations toward new agree
ments continued today but nom
partisan observers placed their chief
hope of immediate settlement Of the
strike in Intervention by the newly
created Federal Maritime Commission
with jurisdiction over shipping COM
panies and sea-going unions.
1T will be a national strike" pre-
dicted Randolph Meriwether, secre-
tary Of the Marine Engineers Benefi-
cial Association. I'VE have received
hundreds of kilograms from ports all
over America. pledging support"
His prediction found support in the
announcement of T. J. Darcy, New
Orleans longshoremen leader, that
500 water front workers there were
ready to walk out to back up the West
Coast unions.
Move to Water Front.
Union pickets and squads Of police
moved simultaneously onto the Los
Angeles Harbor water front at San
Pedro, where crews of 81 ships were
called off. Police Chief James E.
Davis Cancelled all leaves and ordered
12-hour shifts for the entire force.
Law and order will prevail in
Portland" Mayor Joseph x. Carson
of that city declared.
Officers we're ordered on 12-hour
duty at Honolulu, where six vessels,
with 600 crew members, were idle at
docks.
Immediate effects Of the strike on
industries was indicated. Owners Of
four saw mills at Grays Harbor,
Wash, announced they were closing
down today.
Some 800 warehousemen in San
Francisco, who are affiliated with the
Longshoremen's Union, were called to
strike at 8 am. Ice, cold storage,
feed and milling plants are affected.
First announcement of the strike was
made here by Assistant Secretary of
Labor Edward F. McGrady, after day
long conference with employers and
unions in last-minute efforts to avert
the tie-up..
Peace Efforts to Continue.
McGrady said he would continue
peace efforts. -.-.t.
He termed the strike sheer mad
ness" and declared I'VE will leave no
stone unturned in efforts to reach
speedy settlement"
F. M. Kelly, secretary of the Joint
Union Negotiating Committee, said
the strike vote was unanimous and was
ordered against all shippers.
AS in the 1884 strike, control Of
hiring was the major issue. Long
shoremen won control of their hiring
as a result of the 1884 arbitration
award, but employers want to replace
it with joint control. Seamen seek
to extend union control of hiring to
sailors.
Employers say they get more ef1-
cient men under employer or joint
control Of hiring. Union men object
to this method because, they say,
younger men are always picked, leav-
ing the workers In their late 30s and
4os out Of work for long periods, while
unions dispatch men to jobs in rota-
ton.
The strike call followed by a few
hours an announcement Y the COM