Neylan had no trouble convincing General Johnson to denounce the general strike. Johnson recalled (not without some dramatic license) that he had been "physically" shocked by his introduction to the general strike-transportation paralyzed, food supply "practically shut off," "the economic life of the city was being strangled. There was fear that the power, light and water supply would be shut off. A foreign enemy could scarcely threaten more than that." But Johnson also insisted, apparently as a result of his talks with some of the general strike leaders, on including a vigorous defense of the workers' rights to collective bargaining, and specifically in the shipping industry.

Labor is entitled to bargain collectively, he told the "almost full" Greek Theatre audience Tuesday afternoon; "the employer who denies or even obstructs that right is anti-social." In the shipping industry, he went on, "the right has not been justly accorded." "These things" cannot be evaded by "legal cavil. They are necessary to humanity in this age and they will prevail. The whole force of American opinion is behind them .... If the shipping industry does not fully and freely accord these rights, then on its head will lie every ounce of responsibility for whatever may happen here. I think that their personal position is extreme and unreasonable and must be tempered if we are to have peace."