Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-22

NCOnLlnueu from rage Oue.)
pickets in their duty and persuad-
ing men on their way to work to
turn back and join in the strike.
Earl reports indicated that hun
dreds of men were turned back in
various communities.
Full protection as far as could be
made was given to men who de-
termined to go TO work, the streets
and roads leading to the mills in
every steel community in the Mo-
nongahela, Allegheny and Ohio
Valleys being patrolled by armed
guards.
Small Clash Sunday.
The state police had their first
clash with crowds Sunday after
noon in North Carolina and near
McKeesport, where they broke up
mass meetings at the request of
local police officials. Strike lead
ers charge that a number of per-
sons in the North Clarion crowd
were severely hurt in the clash
there.
Early reports from the populous
fCenters of Allegheny county show
ed that the strike went into effect
withoutany disturbances.
From labor, corporation and po-
lice sources came the information
thatthere was no trouble reported
anywhere in the Pittsburgh district
during the early hours Of the
strike.
Plants Closed.
Chicago, Ill, Sept. 22.-The steel
mills at South Chicago of the ILL
nois Steel company, closed this
morning, only a few foremen re-
naming to draw the fires in the
furnaces. It was estimated by
union officials that 50 per cent of
the 1000 men on the day shift il
the plant failed to report for work.
No official figures were given out
by the company.
L. M. ROgan, secretary of the
Allied Iron and Steel unions, pre-
Adicted that by o'clock tonight
Daarly all plants in South Chicago
would be tied up. Two of the three
blast furnaces of the Wisconsin
Steel company would be shut down,
he said, explaining that the third
would be operated by men who will
soon be eligible for pensions.
10000 In District.
The number of steel workers en-
ployed in the Chicago district Is
estimated at 10000, and represen-
tativ s of the unions today held to
their previous claims that at least
SIS per cent of these workers would
strike. Company officials said the
number of men who would quit
work would not exceed 20 per cent
of the total and might not go above
Is per cent.
Six of the II blast furnaces at
the South Chicago plant were
closed during the night and should
the engineers carry out their
threat to strike, it was said a total
of 80 blast furnaces in the Chi
cago district, which includes 43
mills within a radius of 80 miles
of this city, would be compelled to Z
close. Shutting down of the blast .
furnaces would affect the rolling
mills and other branches of the .
steel industry. |
No Disorders.
No disorders beyond the jeering
in few instances by strike sym
pathizers of men on their way to
wQEk, had been reported early to-
ssay from any of the plants in the ;
district.
Six hundred patrolmen of the /
Chicago police department were de-
tailed on strike duty, 200 of whom
were detailed at various places
around the city. the remainder be-
ing held in reserve in case OF
trouble
$4,000 at Gary.
Gary. Ind, Sept 22.-The strike
of $4,000 employees of the United
States Steel corporation is under
way in Gary this morning. By mid
forenoon. the union leaders here
claimed that only per cent of the
day shift had gone to work. :
At the Illinois Steel plant il
was said that 5000 out of 1900
men on day shift were at work. /;
Eight of the II blast furnaces at
the Illinois Steel plant were bank
ed, officials said
Switchmen's union officials said
that rail traffic in the yards of the
various steel plants was complete
ly tied up.