The Monticellonian., 1918-01-04
INDUSTRIAL AND ECONOMIC

Industrial unrest was apparent Tn 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 ized labor, to prevent strikes which would delay the nations war prepara- tions.
 Early in the year 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 a decision by the United States Su- preme court on its validity. The threatened strike was averted March IS by the equalization 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 l when the miners struck. Disorders were re- ported from several points and on July F the people of Bigbee, Ariz., de- ported 1,200 members of the Industrial Workers of the World, who it was charged had fomented the strikes in the copper mines. On July 31, 32 I. W. w. leaders were deported from Gallup, N M. On August l, Frank Lit tie, I. w. W. leader, who had been 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 21 and 25,000 skilled mechanics and other workmen struck in San Francisco Sep- tember r. On September 20, Presi- dent Wilson named 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 26 through the efforts of the government mediators.
 Leaders of organized labor in the United States took decided stand throughout the year in support of the government preparations for war and against antiwar propaganda. At the annual meeting of the American Fed eration of Labor in Buffalo in Novem- Der. union labor pledged its solid SUD- port to the government in the prosecu- tion 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 brotherhoods for wage increases averaging 40 per cent, affecting, directly and indirectly, approximately 100000 railroad em- ployees.
 Labor troubles of the year were closely allied with economic develop ments, growing out of the increased cost of living in the United States. In order to prevent further increases in prices government regulation of many industries was undertaken as a war measure. On May 10, President Will. son selected Herbert c. Hoover, chair man of the Belgian relief commission, as head of a food control board, and later, on August II. following the pass age by congress of food-control bill, Mir. Hoover was made food admins trator. On August q, President Will son issued an order fixing the basic prices for bituminous coal in the pro- ducing districts of the country. On August 23, President Wilson appointed Dr. H. A. Garfield fuel administrator for the United States. On August 30 the United States wheat committee fixed the basic price for the 1917 crop at S2.20 Il bushel.