Evening star., 1946-10-23
Z j. 5. Advisers
Strive 10 Settle
Hotel Wa|kout
Both Sides Hastily
Called In as Engineers
Vote Sympathy Move

Two special Government advisers
this afternoon made new effort
to end the city's 13-day-old hotel
strike at hastily called conferences
with representatives of both sides.
Earlier Washington's 600 hotel
operating engineers threw their
support behind the service workers
union demands and took steps
which may result in a sympathy
Walkout.
Adviser Walter White, assistant to
the chairman of the Commerce De-
partment's Business Advisory Coun-
Gil, began covering the points at
issue with Joseph G. McGarraghy,
attorney for the hotel owners. At
the same time, the other adviser,
John B. Haggerty, president of the
International Brotherhood of Book
FLINDERS, met with representatives of
the 5,000-member striking union.
The talks were arranged by Labor
Conciliator Clyde Mills, who has
been attempting to bring the hotel
operators and the union together
ever since the strike forced Is major
hotels here to close their doors to
new guests.
Talks at Labor Department.
Mr.. Mills met with his two special
aides for 21a hours this morning and,
after reviewing the stalemated situa-
ton, called in the principals from
both sides. The talks are under way
at the Labor Department.
In the meantime, the Executive
Committee of Local SO, International
Operating Engineers, planned to get
in touch with Mr.. McGarraghy to
attempt to persuade the operators
to givesin to the unions demand for
arbitration of all issues involved.
Management wants to arbitrate
wages only.
A walkout by the engineers-who
handle furnaces, electricity plants
and other complicated hotel ma
chinery-probably would force clos
ing of the strike-bound hotels.
Jesse West, business agent for the
engineers, said the membership last
night voted to authorize the Execu-
tive Committee to seek permission
from the international union to walk
out in sympathy with the service
workers.
Demands Are Called Just.
ave are going to ask Mr.. Nc
Garraghy to meet with u.s." Mr.
West said. I'VE think this strike
slas gone on long enough and we
feel settlement should be made
now. The service workers wage
demands are just and our CONVEX
sations today with the hotel repre-
sentative will determine our fu-
ture course"
Mr.. McGarraghy said he would
be glad to meet with the engineers
representatives.
Mr.. West Indicated that the Ex-
ecutive Committee would not re-
quest permission to join the strike,
at least until it has discussed the
issues involved with the hotelmen's
attorney. The engineers, it was re-
ported. have contract with the
hotels which does not expire until
December Is.
Meanwhile, the District Commits |
sioners prepared for their meeting
tomorrow with the Central Labor
Union, which urged the city heads
to intervene in the strike. The CLU,
which represents 200 labor unions
and about 10000 workers, has
pledged moral support to the hotel
service employees, but is not empow-
cred either to launch strikes or to
call them off.
Board Meeting Today.
The CLUy Executive Board met
today in the office of Frank
j.. Coleman. CLU secretary, at
Ala Washington Loan & Trust
Building. Mr.. Coleman, with Clem
Preller, president, and Fred S.
Walker, labor editor, are specifically
asked to attend the Commissioners
board meeting tomorrow.
A fourth meeting in connection
with the strike was scheduled to
be held tonight by the Teamsters'
Joint Council, No. SIS, for reitera-
ton of their earlier resolution to
shut off deliveries to the strike
bound hostelries if strike breakers
are brought into use.