The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-09-01

- hO AOShA oASuoIiOh NhOAA1 hih6Oo
largely on the duration of the strike,
becoming critical as the days of nom
agreement would speed by.
The concern of cities, over the diff
Guilty of feeding their people, would
mot be felt here and this advantage
would continue almost indefinitely.
There are merely the direct effects
of strike. The indirect take on a
more alarming character, although Mt.
Vernon still maintains an advantage
over larger cities. With no freight
coming into the city or none being TAX
en- out, every man, woman and child
in the community would feel the strike
in some manner or other. How greatly
one element in community life de-
pends on another could have no more
forceful illustration than if strike
were actually to come about.
Men thrown out Of work almost be-
fore the last words of the strike order
had been carried into effect would
mean almost miserly economy with it's
consequent effect on business. When
the marts of trade are crippled, even
to small extent the whole communi-
4y is not immune from the effects, ev-
en- though a majority of the members
thereof are not engaged in retail trade.
Industries Affected
Men are employed in the larger
manufacturing institutions of the city
in round numbers as follows:
Cooper Shops .................. 750
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co.. ....... 800
Pennsylvania Shops ............ 300
Mt. Vernon Bridge Co. ........ $50
Essex Glass Co. 200
Hope Forge G. Machine Co. .... 70
IOJal ............ ,S1U
Time only would settle how long
these men would retain their employ
ment, although complete shutdown
of all factories is highly improbable.
But the possibility of reduced forces,
shorter hours, etc., only brings home
the fact that the railroad strike con-
Germs residents of Mt. Vernon fully as
much as 1t does the president of the
United States or congress. 1t Is not q
problem of only few people it is a
problem for all people.
Question Not Remote
It is not the intention of The Ban.
mer to present the strike situation To-
cally from the standpoint of the alarm
list or to indulge in highly-colored con,
lectures. 1t is the intent of this ar.
ticle to make the reader think of this
big problem by bringing home to him
7 In a conservative way the fact that the
question is anything but remote one
that 1t is live-vital issue which walks
today as much in Mt. Vernon, though
possibly to modified degree, as any
place in the country.
Operation Length Uncertain
"Problematical," is the way in which
l. M. Wolverton, president of The Mt
Vernon Bridge Co., characterized the
possible effects of railroad strike OF
his business. He went on to state thai
the factory would operate as long as
material held out, although shipments
could not be made. Asked how Ions
this would be, he said it could only be
ascertained by careful checking.
At The Cooper Foundry
A like situation holds at the G. & G
Cooper foundry where, in addition t.
the ordinary engine and gas-producel
business, large war orders have filled
the shops to full capacity and have
given employment to all who sought it
Bion Heath, inspector of shells for tn,
Bethlehem Steel Co., was questioned
as to what would be done in event o
a strike and Immediately replied
We'll do the very best we can il
meeting the situation" The Coope
Co. would not be critically affecte,