Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-09-20

The ttoot SStuation
The stesl strike which = called for
Monday next may b the Arst round
In the Industrial fight that has been
Threatening to wrack the country
ever since the signing Of the armis-
tice. The situation IL serious ana
dangerous and exceedingly compa-
Gated. Conditions in steel are typi-
cal Of those in many other lines IT
business activity and the proposed
strike viii bring 70 . head the
chaotic conditions that have devel-
oped In this leading industry since
last November.
The government. both President
and Congress. have been more intent
on making peace In Europe than In
the United States where labor and
living conditions have been growing
more and more acute. The disparity
Of interest and division Of leadership
shown by both employers and work
srs has split thsir councils and
further complicated the possibility
q satisfactory settlements.
In stesl four principal figures repre-
ssnt the divergent elements: Presi.
dent Wilson whose whole administra-
ton has bean considered pro-labor
and especially pro-iabor union His
surrender to the railroad brother
hoods has never been forgotten, and
his reiterated utterances In behalf Of
labor have been viewed with uneasi-
ness BY conservative business men.
His late ovation by the Seattle radi-
Gals has caused real alarm.
Judge z. H. Gary. head Of the
board Of directors Of the United
States Steel Corporation. represents
the employers. and stands fos the
open shop and against allowing the
workmen to ruin their employers
business.
Samuel Gompers. President Of the
American Federation Of Labor,
stands q the conservative labor man
and faces the possibility Of split 10
the Federation.
John Fttspatrtck. chief organizer o:
iron and steel wosksrs. represents
tho labor radicals and opposes both
President Wilson and Mr.. Gompers.
ana 10 against any kind Of labor
truce.
The strike issue 10 the refusal OF
Judge Gary 10 meet representatives
Of the national organizers Of steel
workers He asserted that these
men did not represent the whole
body Of employees Of his companies
and that ths eontereoce. II he'd.
would have tsfr taken - recoE7i-
ton Of the ciossd shop. Postpone
ment Of the strike unta sftss the
labor confsrsues ~ oetsbes 8 IA
Washington hes bsea saksAs b. PreG-
dent Wilson and 70 fssossl by Nr.
Gompers. The stssngth which the
radical labor psa fssf 10 Shown By
their refusal 70 comply. ~. Fttx-
pstrick's COMMITTEES has given Pres-
ident Wilson II rsssens -hy de
strike cannot b Postponed. ssying
that the men are Armiy set Tor IN
immediate strike snd tina. deisy
means the surrender OF al hops.
The radical chairman OF the cleys.
land local steel orEanizer commit.
tee exultingiy shouts:
Neither President Wilson nor Pred,
cent ,9, 2tSmpers can stop this strike. We
No man can tell what the outcome
will be. The normal and general
sentiment Of the country 10 against
radicalism and will win in the ens
The conservative labor men ,sA BY
Mr.. 0empers have an opportunity t.
do the country and themselves pp-
told service by defeating this element
In their ranks.
The Closed Shop
Judge Gary In letter to the presi-
dents Of Subsidiary companies Of the