Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-01-04
INDUSTRIAL AND ECONOMIC

Industrial unrest was apparent in
the United States throughout 1917,
largely as a result of war conditions
and in spite of efforts made by the
government, aided by leaders of organ
lied labor, to prevent strikes which
would delay the nations war prepara-
tions.
Early in the year a nationwide
strike of the skilled railroad employees,
which had been averted in 1916 by the
passage of the Adamson law, providing
indirectly for an increase in wages,
was again threatened, owing to the
fact that the placing of the Adamson
law in operation was delayed pending
q decision by the United States Su-
preme court on its validity. The
threatened strike was averted March
IS by the capitulation of the railroad
managers. On the following day the
United States Supreme court handed
down a decision holding the Adamson
law constitutional.
Serious troubles were precipitated in
! the Arizona copper fields July 1 when
the miners struck. Disorders were re
! ported from several points and on
| July II the people Of Bigbee, AriZ., de-
ported 1000 members of the Industrial
| Workers of the World, who it was
| charged had fOmented the strikes in
! the copper mines. On July 81, 81 l.
! w. W. leaders were deported from
Gallup, n. NJ. On August L, Frank Lit
Al hn1
prominent in the Arizona troubles, was
lynched at Butte, Mont, where he had
gone to take part in a strike of miners
and where he was alleged to have
made speeches attacking the govern
| ment.
A serious tie-up of all shipbuilding
| plants in the country was threatened
in August and September. Machinists
and boilermakers in Eastern ship
yards went on strike August 81 and
| 25,OO0 skilled mechanics and other
workInen struck in San Francisco Sep
tember II. On September 20, Presi-
dent Wilson named a commission,
headed by Secretary of Labor Wilson
and representing both employers and
employees, to act as his personal rep
resentatives in allaying labor troubles
during the war. The strike in the San
Francisco shipyards was ended Sep
tember &c through the efforts of the
government mediators.
Leaders of organized labor in the
United States took a decided stand
throughout the year in support of the
government preparations for war anC
against antiwar propaganda. AT thu
annual meeting Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor in Buffalo in Novem
Der, union labor pledged its solid sup
port to the government in the prosecu
ton of the war.
The railroads of the country facet
another crisis during the CLOSING
months of the year when demand
were made by the four brotherhood
for wage increases averaging 40 pc
cent, affecting, directly and indirectly
approximately 100000 railroad en-
ployeeS.
Labor troubles of the year wer
closely allied with economic develop
v ments, growing out of the increase
n cost of living in the United States.
Il order to prevent further increases i
t prices government regulation of man
# industries was undertaken as wa
J. measure. On May 10, President Wi
;. son selected Herbert G. Hoover, chail
J. man of the Belgian relief commission
e as head of a food control board, an
later. on August IL. following the pas
r age by congress of a food-cOntrol bill
s. Mr.. Hoover was made food admins
10 traitor. On August q, President Wi
j. son issued an order fixing the basi
prices for bituminous coal in the pr
e ducing districts OF the country. O
N August %, President Wilson appointe
"A DR.. II. A. Garfield fuel administratC
i. for the United States. On August
o. the United States wheat committt
1, fixed the basic price for the 1917 ere
TX at So 20 Il buShel,