Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-02
II. S. ACTS TO END
MARITIME STRIKE
AS T|E-UP SPREADS
"Sympathy" Blockade De.
cIared Extended to Gulf
and Eastern Ports.
EMPLO OVERS CONSIDER
NAVY "SAFETY CREWS"
Paralysis Moves Inland With
Railroads Rejecting Freight Des.
tined for Reshipment.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, November a.
Federal Intervention in the Pacific
Coast maritime strike appeared in
prospect from three sources today as
seamen spread sympathy blockade
to Eastern and Gulf ports.
Officials of the United States Labor
Department and Maritime Commission
indicated prompt action. Employers
were reported considering a request
for Navy safety crews" on tied-up
merchant ships.
Hearing Called.
Admiral H. G. Hamlet, representing
the Maritime Commission, summoned
both sides to a hearing which twice
previously was postponed.
Assistant Secretary of Labor Edward
F. McGrady declared the Government
must challenge" what he said was
the position taken by those involved
in the dispute.
Every Coast port remained frozen"
tight by the walkout called Thursday
midnight by leaders of $1,000 ship and
dock workers. Vessels arriving since
the strike started fell under the block.
AIDE. The Marine Exchange here re.
ported more than 140 vessels idle at
West Coast ports and Honolulu.
The Seamen's Defense COMMITTEES
in New York, acting in defiance Of mo-
strike orders from officials of the In
ternational Seamen's Union, claimed
81 vessels tied up at East and Gulf
ports in the sympathy "sit downs"
The committee claimed 1890 men at.
fected.
Strategy mapped out by the COM
mittee for New York and the other
ports was to keep men aboard vessels
but refuse any but watch duty.
Ports Reported Tied Up.
At Philadelphia, John j. Egan, sec.
rotary of the Maritime Exchange, re.
ported everything tied up" Other
ports in which the Seamen's Com
mittee claimed one or more ships tied
up were: Baltimore. Newark, POUCH.
keepsie, Charleston, Norfolk, Albany,
New Orleans, Providence, Port Arthur,
Texas City, Mobile and Galveston.
The strike paralysis continued TO
move inland, with railroads rejecting
freight destined for reshipment through
Pacific ports, lumber and other in.
dustries shutting down and ware.
houses closed in San Francisco Bay
cities.
All Western ports remained omi.
nously quiet. Police and union pickets
patrolled waterfronts Four officers
went aboard the freighter Mapele at
San Pedro to protect the captain and
Chief engineer from asserted intimi.
dalton.
The Maritime Unions Joint Strike
Committee debated with Assistant
Secretary of Labor McGrady here the
question of leaving skeleton crews on
vessels to maintain refrigeration and
other necessary equipment.
Safety Crews Considered.
In this connection, informed sources
said the owners were considering the
request for navy safety crews" Adj
miral William H. STANDBY, chief Of
naval operations, answered in re.
Spouse to reporters queries at WASH
ington such crews could be provided
IF President Roosevelt authorized it."
There was no indication any re.
quest for aid had been made to the
President, though he was reported
keeping in close touch with the situa.
| ton.
| McGrady continued efforts toward
| negotiation Of disputed issues, chief
| Of which is the demand of the Sailors
Union of the Pacific for control Of
hiring and overtime pay instead Of
extra time off at sea.
British naval authorities announced
they possessed indisputable proof
that the sailors paid their taxi fare.
Other unions, refusing to break the
united 'front.' of their federation.
are backing the Sailors whose charter
was revoked earlier this year by the
International Seamen's Union Execu-
tive Committee in the East.
In this respect the West Coast sail.
ors, like the Seamen's Defense Com
mittee in New York, are insurgents
from the International's control.
Mayor Angelo j. RoSsi's declaration
of state of emergency" here drew
sharp criticism from the District
Council of the Maritime Unions.
STRIKE SPREADS IN BALTIMORE.