The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-30
Industrial
and
Economic

ua.:u largely as a result
IOoAlolAiiV Of war conditions
and I'm spite OF ef
forts made by the government. aided
by leaders OF organized labor. TO pre-
vent strikes which would delay the
nations war preparations Early In
the year a nRtiop-w wide strike OF skilled
railroad employees which bad been
Ryerted in 1915 by the passage OF the
Adamson law, providing indirectly for
an increase in wages, was gain
threatened, owing TO the, fact that the
placing Of the Adamson law in opera
ton was delayed pending a decision
b." the United States supreme court on
its validity The treateued strike vas
averted March IS by tho capitulation
OF the railroad managers On the fol-
lowing day the United States supreme
court handed down a decision holding
the Adsnson law constitutional
Danger OF strike in the b!tuninous
coal fields OF Ohio, Pennsylvania. MI
nois and Indiana was removed April
] I, when the operators granted an In
crease OF 20 per cent IN wages.
/ Serious troubles were precipitated IN
the Arizona copper fields July / when
tho miners struck Disorders were re-
ported from several points and on Julv
IL the people OF Bisbee. Ariz., deported
J. NV mem ttiS aA the anu III W OF X
ers OF the World, who II was charged.
had fomented the strikes In the copper
mines. On July 81. thirtywo l. w w
leaders were deported from GaHuL. y
NJ. On August l. Frank Little, l. "
W leader. who had been prominent in
4 the Arizona troubles, was lyuched at
Butte, Mont, where he had gone to
take part in strike OF miners and
where he was alleged 70 have made
speeches attacking the government. on
August q, many !. W. W leaders in
the West were arrested by federal
agents following threats Of general
strikes Later. a large number Of 3.
W W leaders we're Indicted by the
federal grand jury AT Chicago.
/ A serious tie-up of all shipbuN%inE
plants ia the country was threatened
in August and septemb Der Machinists
land boilermakers tn Eastern shlpyarts
went on strike August ? and Z6,00a
skSled mechanics and other workmeu
struck IN San Francisco September II.
/ ON September 90. President Wilson
named a commission, hes ded by Score
tary OF Labor Wilson and representa- 2
both employers and employees. TO act
az his personal Representatives IN al
laying labor trouble during the war.
I The strike In the san Francisco ship
Yards was ended September 20 through
the efforts 81 the government media
tors,
Leaders Of organized labor in the
| nited States took a decided stand
throughout the year in support OF the
government preparation Tor war and
against snti-war propaganda. Union
LEADERS, Including President Gompers
OF the American Federation OF Labor.
took part early In September in the
organization az Minneapolis OF the
American Alliance FOR Labor and De
mocracy, an organization formed for
the purpose of supporting the govern
ments war plans. Later Al the an
nuRl meeting OF the American FEEDER
alton OF Labor in Buffalo, union labor
pledged rs solid support tn the gov
rrnment In the prosecution OF the
war.
The railroads Of the country faced
another crisis during the closing
months OF the year when demands
were made by the four hrotherho GODS
Tor wage Increases averaging so per
cent. affecting directly and indirectly
approximately 5000, 600 railroad EN-.
ployes The officials Of the brother
hood conferred with President VIII
son In November and while not agree
ing TO accept arbitration OF their de-
mands. Indicated that they would take
no decisive action until opportunity
should be given the president to en-
deAvor to arrange settlement
A strike of 10000 men employed by
the big packing houses In nine cities
was threatened by the action OF the
st0ckyard Labor council, when on No.
yember IS, ordered vote taken ON the
Question of declaring a strike To EN-.
force demands for increased wages and
recognition az the newly formed uulun
at stockyards employees.
Labor troubles ~ the year were
closely allied with economic develop
mants, growing out ~ the Increased
rost OF living ia the Nnitea states. Ia
order 70 prevent further increases ID
prices government regulation of mann
industries was undertaken ar whl
measure ON May ~. President Wtt
son selected Herbert O. Hoover. chair,
man az The Belgian relief Communication
as head of food control board. aut
later. on August a. following the pas
sage by congress cf food Goutro
bill Mr. Hoover was made good "a
ninistratoF ON August 3 frea danl
Wilson issued am order ilXtus tbe basic
prices for hituminouA coal ia the pro
aucing districts OF the country, actiot
whioh was expected 30 reduce the cost
90 the consumer by nearly 80 per cent
On August 20 Preside9t " lhson ap.
pointed nr II 0arneld fuel "a.
ministrator tor the United states. or
August so ghe Unltrd states @heai
COMMITTEES fixed tho basic price FOR th4
a. a -