The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-12-18
4 war or GIANTS.
FEDERATION OFFICIALS DE-
eide TO FIGHT STEEL TRUST.
Leaders OF Organized Workers OF
America Call ON Followers for Aid
In Coming Campaign Against Open
Shop Policy.

mally declared upon the United
States Steel corporation by the lead
ers Of organized labor throughout
the United States and Canada at the
close Of a momentous two days con-
ference today. The decision to bat
tie. long and hard. against the stand
taken by the steel corporation in it's
policy Of "open shop" was reached
by the labor conferes only after
hours of debate and a deal of
trouble.
At the conference which passed
the remarkable battle decree. Sam
uel Gompers. president Of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, presided.
The grievances OF organized labor
against the steel corporation. as set
forth In the resolution. have been
forwarded to President Taft and the
United States senate and house of
representatives. The governors Of
the States In which the steel corpor-
alton owns plants or has interests
will also receive q copy of the resolu-
tion.
The resolution in part is as fol-
lows:
"A crisis In the affairs OF labor has
arisen. The gigantic trust, tthe Uni
ted States Steel corporation Is using
Its great wealth and power in an ef-
fort to rob the toilers Of their right
Of American manhood and of the op-
portunity to resist its further en-
croachments. Grown rich by the
consent Of the people Of our count
this corporation in its mad greco ror
still greater riches. sweeps aside.
makes and unmakes law. It's enact
ors and executors. and is now engag-
ed In an effort to destroy the only
factor--the organizations of It's en-
ployes-standing between 1t and un-
|limited, anchecke ked and. nnbridled In.
dustrial. political. social and moral
carnage. II there exists any virile
power in our demand and life to
check the absolute domination of
civil, Industrial and political life of
our people and our republic. 1t must
be found In the indomitable will and
mission Of the misunderstood and
misrepresented organizations of Ia
Dor.
"The United States Steel corpora
tion has declared war on labor. In
Its secret councils this corporation
has decided that the only obstacle
to complete sway-organized-la
shall be brushed aside. 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 safe
guarding their lives their character
their future, the safety Of the repub-
lie and humanity.
These factors now confront each
other. BY their purposes, attitude
and actions must they be judged.
"On June 1. 1909, the United
States Steel corporation proclaimed
Its decree of hostility toward labor.
The right Of the workers to associate
for their common protection was no
longer to be recognized or tolerated.
AS accompanying that decree was a
notice Of further reduction In the
already scant wages of the workers.
THE decree went into effect July
1. 1909. We therefore urge that an
earnest effort be made to thoroughly
organize all employees in the iron.
steel and tin plate industry and subsi-
diary correlated trades. Owing to
immediate pressing necessity caused
by the present strike and the inde-
fensible hostile attitude of the United
States Steel corporation, we earnest
iy call upon national and interna,
tional unions Of Amerca to send at
least one organizer to assist In this
work. We further urge and recon-
mend that in all places where mills
| are located the central labor organi-
zation appoint special committees
with instructions to cooperate i'm
this work. For educational purposes
we recommend that this manifesto
be made special order in all GEN.
trail labor organizations at the first
meeting in January. 1910.
1--WE recommend that the execu-
tive council Of A. Fl. Of l.. issue q cir
cular to all unions Of America, an
appeal for financial contributions to
| aid the striking iron, steel and tin
plate workers.
We further recommend that the
amount Of such coptrihtuiop, sho,Ia