The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-22
few PLANTS ARE
FORCED TO LOSE
DOWN BY STRIKE
Union Leaders Claim WalkOut
80 Per Cent Effective.
Say 100000 Workers Have Quit
Their Posts.
CHICAGO AND OHIO HARD HIT
Pittsburgh District Only Par
TALLY Affected.
Scope of Strike Extends From
New York to Colorado.
Say 100000 Workers Have Quit
Their Posts.
CHICAGO AND OHIO HARD hit
Scope of Strike Extends From
New York to Colorado.


The preliminary skirmish in
the great industrial struggle
which opened today between the
labor unions and the United
States Steel corporation, which
directly or indirectly affects a
half million wage earners, pro-
duced the usual conflicting
claims by the generals on both
sides.
In the great strategic centers
of the struggle, the Chicago and
Pittsburgh districts, many thou
sands of workers obeyed the
strike order, but early reports
stated that comparatively few
plants had been compelled to
close. At a large number of out
lying points officials of smaller
plants reported they were oper-
ating as usual.
Ebert II. Gary. chairman Of the
board OF directors Of the steel cor
ment on the situation. Secretary Fos-
ter OF the steel workers union issued
a statement expressing satisfaction
with the outlook and claiming that re-
ports from outside the Pittsburgh dis
trict showed that the shutdown was
general
Is 90 Per cent Effective?
Foster. at 9 o'clock today, claimed
the strike was 30 per cent effective.
Other union officials indicated their
belief that about 100000 men were
out ,.. ... Ill.,.
tion was the announcement by repre-
sentatives OF the $4,000 workers en-
ployed by the Bethlehem steel COM
pany that these men would not join
the strike pending an attempt to OBJ
tain conference with the company
officials.
Some Of the blast furnaces in the
Pittsburgh district were banked, but
the majority of the plants were in
operation altho admittedly with forces
reduced from Is to Sc per cent. In
the Chicago district, including Gary
and Hammond, where ninety thou
sand steel workers are employed, sim
liar conditions were reported. At
Cleveland the union leaders claimed
that 5000 men were out and that
sixteen mills of the American steel
and wire company, employing 5000
men were closed down. At Ohio's sec
.ond greatest steel center. Youngstown,
the strike leaders also claimed that
tho great majority Of workers had
struck and at Steubenviile, where
three plants of the Carnegie steel COM
pany are located, 1t was asserted that
all three had been forced to suspend
operations. At the less important
points in Ohio and PennsvIva MIA in
Guiding Portsmouth, Warren. Canton
Toledo, Columbus, Lorain, Pottsville
Reading and Harrisburg, officials OF
the various plants announced that
their men had remained loyal and that
operations were in full swing One
notable exception was Johnstown, Pa .
where 10000 men were reported tc
have struck.
Nearer Normal Elsewhere.
Outside the great pivotal states oi
Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylva mia, con.
ditions were reported nearly norma
with a few important exceptions. A
Buffalo, where the great independent
plants of the Lackawanna steel com.
pany are located. the union chief
claimed that 20 per cent of the work
ers had obeyed the strike call A
Wheeling, w. Va, 1t was asserted tina
5000 men were idle and the Colorado
Fuel and Iron company's plant a
Pueblo, Colo, was closed down wher
It's 1000 employees walked out.
The mills Of the Illinois Steel com
pany at South Chicago were closed
the unions estimating that 95 per cen
OF the four thousand men on the da,
shift had struck.
Situation by Cities.
According to the best available in
formation, the situation in the varfou
steel cities this afternoon was:
Strike generally effective-Gary
Ind; Joliet. ILL.,: Wheeling. w. Va.
Pueblo. Colo; Buffalo, N Y: Shar
on. Pa: Youngstown. O.: Martin
Ferry. O.; Mcnessen. Pa: Johnstown
Pa; Massillon, o.; South Chicago
Ind: Fairfield. Ala
Strike partially effective-Pitts
burgh, Pa; Clarion. Pa: Homestead d
Pa; Braddock, Pa; Duquesne, Pa.
Cleveland. Milwaukee. Chicago, Van
degrift. Pa; Mercer. Pa.
Strike -effective-Elyria, o.
Lorain. o.; BcKeesport, Pa; Shef
field. Ala; Admission, Ala; Canton, o.
Lancaster. Pa: GAINESVILLE, o.; Ali
ance, o.; CoatesviIle. Pa.
State. county and city officials wer
prepared to cope with any disorde
that might break out.
All steel shares showed strength a
the opening of the New York stoc
exchange and there was considerabl
trading at fractional increases.