Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-15
Meeting at Cincinnati Re-
suits in Agreement
to Fight.
MEANS BIG STRUGGLE
Address Adopted in Which In
iquitieS of the Company
Are Pointed Out.

Pittsburg, Pa, Dec. 15.-war was
formally declared upon the United
States Steel corporation by the leaders
OF organized labor throughout the
United States and Canada at III, close
OF two days conference yes-erday.
Decision TO battle long and hard
against the stand taken by tna steeI
corporation in its policy of open
shop" was reached by the labor COZ.
ferees after hours of debate.
At the conference Samuel Gompers.
president Of the American Federation
of Labor, presided, and through him
the measure was put upon the record
books of the executive council OF the
federation
Grievances of organized labor
against the steel corporation as set
forth in the resolution have been fol-
warded TO President Taft and the
United States senate and house OF rep
resentatives. The governors of the
states in which the United States Steel
corporation owns plants or has inter
ests will also receive copy of the re-
solution. rs------'---' 49,
LaDOr Anutrns
The resolution deals principaIly
with the low wages paid the men In
the employ of the steel corporation;
the hours of work and the general con-
dition of oppression under which the
Is alleged TO hod its en-
ployes. The measure in part follows
"a crisis in the affairs of lsLor 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 Amer
lean 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 still greater rich
es, sweeps aside. makes ard unmakcs
laws, its enactors and executors and
is now engaged in an effort TO destroy
the only factor-the organizations oe
its employes-standing between il and
unlimited, unchecked and unbridled in
dustrial, political, social and moral
carnage.
Only Labor Can Resist.
"If there exists any virile power n
cratic domination of civic, industrial
and political life of our people and our
republic. il must be found in the m
domitable will and mission OF the much
and misrepresented or
ganizations of labor.
The United States Steel corporation
has declared war on labor. In lis Sc
cret councils this corporation has de-
creed that the only obstacle 10 its
complete sway-organized labor
shall be crushed. The labor organiza-
tions consist of its employees. Jhe work
ers (their wives and little ones). hi-
man, flesh and blood. II is by their
labor that they live they have 80 pGr
pose other than safeguarding their
lives, their character heir future, no
safety of the republic and Humanity
Judge by Actions.
These factors nov confront each
1ther By their purposes attitude and
actions must they be judged.
"On June 1, 1919, TIE UnItel States
steel corporation proclaimed IS decree
Of hostility toward labor. The right Of
he workers to associate for their com
non protection was no longer To be
recognized or tolerated. accompanying
hat decree was a notice of further
reduction in the already scant wages
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