New-York tribune., 1909-12-15
u. s. STEEL FACES
A WAR OF LABOR
UNIONS THROW DOUN
THE GAUNTLET.
Headed by Gompers. Issue Ap-
peal to President Taft and
State authorities.

Dtdf6 4IUthOr7fI6s.
PtttsburS. Dec. 14-War was formally
declared upon the United states Steel
Corporation BY the leaders OF organized
labor throughout the United States and
Canada at tie close OF a momentous two
days conference to-day.
The decision 20 ight long and hard
against the stand taken by the Steei
Corporation in it's open shop pcIicy
was reached by the labor conferrees only
after hours Of debate.
At the conference. which passed the
battle decree. Samuel Gompers. presi-
dent OF the American Federation OF La
Dor presided. and through him the meas
ure was put upon the record books %
the executive council Of the federation.
The grievances Of organized labor
against the Steel Corporation. as SET
forth in the resolution. have been for
warde- 70 President Taft and the United
states Senate and House OF Representa-
ives The Governors OF the states in
which the United States Steel Corpora
tlon owns plants or has interests will
also receive copy OF the resolution
The resolution deals principally uitr
the low wages paid the men in the en-
ploy OF the Steel Corporation and TIE
hours or work and the general condf-
tlon or oppression under which the cor
poration is alleged 70 hold its employees
organized labor throughout the country
Is called on thoroughly and completely
to organize all employees in the iron. st..r
and tinplste industry and an assessment
or I'D cents member is ordered.
THE RESOLUTION
The resolution. in part. follows
crisis N the affairs OF labor has
arisen The gigantic trust-the. Tinted
states steel CorpOration-is using its
great wealth and power in an EFFORT 20
roo the tOilers OF their right OF Ar1e-f-
can manhood and OF the opportunity 70
resist It's further encroachments. Crow
rich by the consent OF the people OF or,r
country, this corporation. in IT'S mad
greed for still greater riches. sveaps
aside. makes and unmakes laws. fts er-
actors and executors, and is. now en-
gagged IN an effort 70 DESTROY the o,lv
factorTthe organization OF it's employees
standing between IL and unlimited. un-
checked and unbridled industrial politi-
cal. social and moral carnage. ,
II there exists any rfrfIe power N,
cur time and life 20 check the absolur@.
autocratic domination OF civic industrial
and political life of our people and our
Republic, u must be found IN the in
aomirable will and mission OF the rrluch
Hisunderstood and m!srspresentsd or
ganizations of labor.
WAR ON LABOR
The United States steel Corporation
mas aeciared war on labor In its secret
counclis this corporation has decreed
that the only obstacle to its connpIet4
sWay-OrganiZed labor-shaH be crushed
The labor organizations consist OF it=
employees. the workers their wives and
little onesl, human flesh and blood r.
5 by their labor that they live: they
have no purpose other than safeguardinx
their lives. their character. their future.
the safety Of the Republic and humanity
These factors now confront each other
By their purposes. attitude and actions
must they be Judged On June l. 1000
ths United states Steel Corporation pro
claimed its decree OF hostility toward
labor The right OF the workers 90 a.
sociate for their common protection was
No longer 70 be recognized OF tolerated
Accompanying that decree was a notice
OF further reduction in the already
scant wages OF the workers The decree
went into effect on july I. 1909.
The resolution then urges that an
earnest effort be made thoroughly 20 or
ganize all employees in the iron. steel ard
tinplate industry and subsidiary CO.
related trades II continues.
Owing TO immediate pressingsnece.-
sity caused by the present strike and
the indefens ible hostile attitude Of ths
United states Steel Corporation. w.
earnestly call upon all national and IN
ternational unions Of America % send
az least one organizer % assist in this
work
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
We further urge and recommends that
In all places where mills are located
the C"ntral labor organizations appoint
special committees. W-h Instructions -
cooperate in this work. For educa-
tiOnal purposes We recommend that this
manifesto be made a special order in an
central labor organizations at the first
meeting in January 1910.
We recommend that the executive
council "t The American Federation 81
Labor issue circular 20 an unions or
America. an appeal for financial contri-
buttons TO aid the striking iron stesI
and tinplate workers
We further recommend thar ths
amount Of such contribution should no,
be less than 10 cents member
In view Of the great wrongs perpetrafed
by The United states steel Corporation.
not only against the workers but The
public generally. We recommend that a
committee be appointed by this confer
enCe 10 wait upon the President OF rhs
United states. the President OF rhs
'nited States senate the Speaker OF rhe
House Of Representatives and such
members of either house Of Congress Az
may be deemed advisable. for the pur-
pose Of laying before them the griev-
ances from which labor suffers at the