Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-15
FIGHT STEEL TRUST
Labor Leader Issues OeCIara-
ton of War.
DENOUNCED AS OPPRESS0R
Great Wrongs" Brought to Atten.
ton Of Administration.
BATTLE FUND IS DIRECTED
Assessment Of Ten Cents From Ev-
cry Union Man Is Asked for
to Finance War.
BATTLE FUND IS DIRECTED

PITTSBURG, December 15.-War was
| formally declared upon the United States
Steel Corporation by leaders of organized
labor throughout the United States and
Canada at the close of momentous two
day conference yesterday.
| The de- ion to battle long and hard
against stand taken by the steel cor
poration Il its policy of 'open shop"
was rea, led by the labor conferees only
after hours Of debate and a deal Of
trouble. -
| At the conference which passed the
remarkable battle decree Samuel Com
pers. president Of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, presided. Through him
the measure was put upon the record
books Of the executive council OF the
federation.
The grievances of organized labor
against the steel corporation as set forth
in the resolution have been forwarded 10
President Taft and the United States
Senate and House of representatives.
The governors Of the states in which the
United States Steel Corporation owns
plants or has interests will also receive
a copy of the resolution.
The resolution deals principally with the
low wages paid men in the employ or the
steel corporation, the hours of work and
the general condition OF oppression under
which the corporation is alleged to holo
its employees.
Denunciation Of Oppressor.
The resolution in part, follows:
"a crisis in the affairs Of labor has
arisen The gigantic trust. the United
States Steel Corporation. is using its
great wealth and power in an effort to
rob the toilers of their right of American
manhood and Of the opportunity to resist
it's further encroachments. Grown rich
by the consent of the people OF our country.
this corporation, in it's mad greed for sui
greater riches, sweeps aside, makes ana
unmakes law, it's enactors and executors,
and is now engaged in an effort 10 de-
stroy the only factor-the orsanlzatlons
of it's employes-standing between 1t and
unlimited. unchecked and unbridled in
dustrial, political. social and moral
carnage.
IF there exists any virile power in our
time and life to check the absolute auto
cratic domination of civic Industrial ana
political life of our people and our re-
public, it must be found In the IN
domitable will and mission Of the mucn
misunderstood and misrepresenteo Or
ganizationS of labor.
1.-The United States Steel Corporation
has declared war on labor. In its secret
councils this corporation has decreed that
the only obstacle to its complete sway
organized labor-shall be crushed.
'.The labor organizations consist OF It's
EMPLOYEES, the workers (their wives and
little ones), human flesh and blood. 1t
Is by their labor that they live: they have
no purpose other than safeguarding their
lives, their character, their future. the
safety Of the republic and humanity.
In Battle Alignment.
These factors now confront one an
other. BY their purposes. attitude and
actions must they be judged.
ION June 1. 1900. the United States Steel
Corporation proclaimed its decree Of hos
tility toward labor. The right OF the work.
ers to associate for their common protec-
ton was no longer to be recognized or toll
Grated. AS accompanying that decree was
q notice of a further reduction In the
already scant wages of the workers. The
decree went into effect July !, 1909
1--WE therefore urge that an earnest ef-
fort be made to thoroughly organize all
employees in the iron, steel and tin plate
industry and subsidiary correlated trades.
Owing to Immediate pressing necessity
caused by the present strike and the in
defensible hostile attitude Of the United
States Steel Corporation we earnestly call
upon national and international unions Of
America to send at least one organizer to
assist In this work.
1--WE further urge and recommend that
in all places where mills are located the
central labor organizations appoint spe
operate In this work. For educational
purposes we recommend that this mani
festo be made a special order in all Gen.