davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1919-09-19

left for the employees to convince Judge
Gary that the committee does represent
the great body of the employees Of the
United States Steel Corporation is to
cease work until the corporation agrees
to meet their representatives in con-
ference. This. the employees have de-
cided to do on Monday morning, Sep
TENDER %.
1T is unfortunate that the employees
are compelled to resort to a strike in
order to prove the authority of their Sc
lected representatives to present their
grievances. But as there Is no other
way. the proof, in the form of strike.
will effectually remove all doubt in
Judge Gary's mind.
I'm the second place, Judge Gary sets
up the question of the closed shop
which has absolutely no basis whatsoever
In the present controversy. It Is simply
dragged In here by Judge Gary as a
buga boo to becloud the real issue.
There is one and only one question at
issue, and that Is the question OF con-
ference. The employees have exhausted
every avenue of approach to the cor
poration for the purpose Of securing a
conference, and every avenue mas been
closed TO them. Their last and only
hope is to strike. and now the employees
declare that they will cease work on
next Monday morning until such time as
sentatives in conference for the purpose
OF establishing humane and reasonable
methods of dealing with the very vital
problems which AFFECT their lives, their
homes and their future"
The statement is signed by John Fitz-
patrick, d. J. Davis. William Harmon
and w. z. Foster.
The sun., 1919-09-19
IL Demands Made by
Steel Mill Workers

PITTSBURG, Sept. 1s.-Fol-
lowing are tho twelve de-
mands of the steel workers who
have ordered a strike, to start
Monday:
Right of collective bargaining.
Reinstatement of men dis
charged for union activities
Eight hour day.
One days rest in seven.
Abolition of twenty-four hour
shift.
Increase in wages sufficient to
guarantee American standard Of
living.
Standard scales of wages in all
trades and classifications of
workers.
Double rate of pay for all over
time, holiday and Sunday work.
Check off system of collecting
union dues and assessments.
Principles of seniority to apply
in maintenance, reduction and in
crease of working forces.
Abolition of company unions.
Abolition of physical examina-
ton of applicants for employ
ment.
The sun., 1919-09-19

roads under Federal control, was $685.
no last year. OF this number 1880
were employees OF subsidiary railroads
under Federal control While there has
been some eurtailment of production in
the last few months by reason of the big
slump in the steel business. which came
soon after the armistice was signed. II is
estimated by those close to the manage
ment of the corporation that the decline
in the number of employees was rela-
lively small 1t was asserted that from
$4,000 to $50. 900 would be a conserva-
tive estimate Of the employees now on
the books OF the Steel Corporation. This
figure would include all general steel
labor. clerical employees. employees on
the corporations subsidiary railroads,
mines. &C. No estimate of the number
of steel workers who would be affected
directly by q general strike was OBJ
tainable,
For many years the United States
Steel Corporation has made an annual
Offering Of stock to its employees on n
partial payment basis At the end of
last year the total number of employees
who had thus become part owners of
the great business was $4,000 In Jan
uary OF this year, when the 1918 allot-
ment OF stock was made. there were CO.,
600 employees who took advantage Of
the corporations offer Officials OF the
corporation say that while many of these
may be ''repeaters." or those who have
bought stock previously and thus are
included in the $4,000, as of December
81 last year, a substantial number oil
the subscribers were entirely new
While no official estimate of the per
centage OF new subscribers in the 1915
A. 10
ters conversant with the big concern!
affairs that probably so per cent. OF the
1919 stock buyers were new. On thi.
basis the total number OF employees OF
the corporation who are also stock
holders would be $4,000, or more thar
80 per cent. of the entire number o.
employees. Payments on the stock sub
scribed for last January are still being
made by the employees
The sun., 1919-09-19

, to pre-war times and to return to a con.
dition that encouraged the padrone sys-
TEN so prevalent In that particular In
dustry.
Mr.. President. delay is no longer DOS
sible. We have tried to find a way but
cannot We regret that for the first
time your call upon organized labor
cannot meet with favorable RESPONSE
Believe us. the fault is not ours. II
delay were no nsSe than delay, even at
the cost OF loss of membership in our
organizations. we would urge the same
to the fullest of our ability, notwith
standing the men are firmly set for an
immediate strike.
But delay here means the surrender
OF all hope. This strike is not at the call
OF its leaders. but that of the men in
VOWED Win or lose, the strike is in
evitable, and will continue until in
dustrial despotism will recede from the
! untenable position now occupied by Mr.
Gary. We have faith In your desire to
bring about conference and hope you
will succeed therein. We fully under
stand the hardships that meanwhile viii
follow and the reign OF terror that IN,
fair employers will institute The bur
den falls upon the men, but the great re-
sponsibility therefor rests upon the othe,
side"
The sun., 1919-09-19

creasingly large numbers day by day.
Threats and intimidation are resorted
to for the purpose of putting the men
In fear and prevent them from the
exercise Of their own free will. coerced
into signing statements that they are
not members nor will become members
of any labor organization. and threat
ened with eviction, blacklist, denial of
credit and starvation
"S.-That a forced decline of the mar
ket would be imposed so as to wipe out
their holdings in stock, which they were
induced to purchase in years past
Threats to move the mills and to close
them UP indefinitely.
"e.--That an organized propaganda
for villihcation of the American Fedora
ton OF Labor, spreading rumors that the
strike will be delayed and that such de-
lay Is only q sellout
'1o.-Showing no opposition to the
men joining dual organizations. AS a
result OF this propaganda the L W. w
be making rapid Roadway In some of the
districts.
"11.-That the real reason for opposI.
ton to organized labor representation or
behalf OF the men who have grievances
is that the steel industry is preparing
to cut wages and to lower the standards
The sun., 1919-09-19

pamphlets in nine languages They are
signed by James A. Campbell. president
of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Com
pany, employing 1900 men; w. A.
Thomas, president of the Brier Hill StCsl
Company, employing 5000 men. and T.
]. Bray. president Of the Republic Iron
and Steel Company. employing 1900.
Each announces that the established
policy of the open shop operation will
be cSntinued." but that an employee may
or may not, as he chooses, belong to a
labor organization. The sheet and tube
and Brier Hill companies point out that
1t is not necessary for an employee to
Join such an organization to retain his
Job in the plant.
Mr.. Campbell states that "an en-
ployees' representation plan now in eff
feet throughout the works provides COM
munication and means of contact be-
tween the management and the men on
matters pertaining to Industrial rela-
tons The company will continue to
deal with its employees under the pro-
visions OF this plan"
Each asserts II is the intention TO
operate the plants as usual on and after
September 22. Mr.. Bray says the Re
public will continue 1.-The practice 10
meet it's employees either individually
or by committee to discuss any matters
affecting working conditions. wages. SC"
Mr.. Thomas calls upon every en-
ployee to evidence his loyalty by report
ing for work and conscientiously and
energetically doing his duty, SO as to
continue operation. and thus preserve
the property"
Arrangements were being made this
evening by the unions to picket the
plants. Workers in fabricating mills,
said ]. E. McCadden, district organizer
will not be asked to go out. but will
probably be prevented from working in
a short time because OF a steel shortage
The sun., 1919-09-19
WORKERS SAY GARY
FORCED THE STRIKE
Statement BIames Him for
Great Labor Conflict.

PrTrsBURo, Sept 1S.-Before resuming
their discussion to-day on matters in
connection with the steel workers strike
called for next Monday the national
committee for organizing iron and steel
workers Issued statement that, having
failed to obtain a conference with the
United States Steel Corporation, the last
and only hope is to strike until such
time as the corporation will meet the
representatives Of the men. The state
ment follows:
'In his letter of September 16 to the
presidents OF the subsidiary companies
OF the United States Steel Corporation
Judge Gary AYERS that he had two rea-
eons in mind when he refused to meet
with the American Federation OF Labor
committee, which called upon him re-
Gently requesting a conference for the
purpose Of presenting grievances Of his
employees.
First. he did not believe that the
committee was authorized to speak for
large numbers OF the employees
Second. a conference with the com
mlttee would have been treated by them
as recognition OF the closed shop
method of employment
III these are the real reasons actual
ing Judge Gary. surely they are not sur
ncient to plunge the industry into a
great labor conflict Judge Gary pre-
sents a false premise and then declares
that he will stand or fall upon this
false ground.
''The committee that waited upon
Gary were the selected representa- ives
OF the employees. And they requested
a conference for the purpose of estab-
fishing the principle OF collective bar
gaining and some practical method of
redressing grievances.
Judge Gary denied their authority to
represent the employees and refused to
meet them in conference. The only way
The sun., 1919-09-19

prise. These figures are based on the
records OF the corporation at the close
Of 1918, together with conservative esti-
mates OF changes during the current
year. Very few OF the stakeholder EN-
ployees are said to be involved In the
present controversy.
The annual report OF the Steel Cor
porauon discloses the average number
OF employees OF all subsidiary COM
panics. including the corporations rail-
The sun., 1919-09-19
$4,000 EMPLOYEES
HOLD STEEL SHARES
One-quarter of Men on Pay.
roll Are Port Ouners.

OF the total number OF employees in
the mills Of the subsidiary companies Of
the United States Steel Corporation, es-
timated to be slightly below a quarter
OF a million. in the neighborhood of TO-
900 are stockholders in the big enter
The sun., 1919-09-19
YOUNGSTOWN MILLS
ASK MEMS LOYALTY
Heads of Three Big indie
pendents Send Out Appeals.
Special Despateh to THE SUI.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, Sept. Estate
ments have been prepared by the big
Independent steel companies In the
Youngstown district, it was announced
tonight, calling upon their employees to
remain loyal and refuse to strike next
week.
The statements will be distributed to
workers tomorrow and Saturday in
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-04
SENATOR CuMM|NS
ON RAILROAD RATES

Washington, n, G. June 8
Speeches on ubiic utilities We're made
last evening by nitcd States Senator
Albert :, Cummlns Robert w. Wolley,
of the interstate commerce commission,
and David j Lewis. of the tariff com
mission, at the fourth in series of
six reconstruction conferences at the
National American Woman Suffrage
association.
Senator cLuInins reviewed the at
tcmpts to legSlate for the transporta-
non problem. OF the interstate com
mcrce com h'iSs.on he said, while |
have no 1oubt that the comm Mission
has made mistakes from time TO time,
Not taking AL it's work together, no
oue can QDeStic n that 1t has been in -
telligcntlY CconSciPntiously perform ed,
aud if There has been failure. il Is
the failure of tie system and not of
its administration. The trouble wit
the interstate commerce act is that
ii imposes upon the commission A
duty which neither human nor divine
wisdom can successfully discharge.
Tho commission can no more fix rates
that will he, reasonable to tho public
and to every carrier than il can anni-
hiiate distance, remove mountains,
control popa1ation or create com
merce."
He said Transports ton is "A gov
eminent function and the governm ent
is charged with the duty Of providing
the people with adequate ransporta-
ton at the lowest cost. Just as il is
charged with he duty of providing
adequate Highways, adequate water
supply. adequate courts of iustic or
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-04

America, Asia. Oceania, and Africa,
all of which are large consumers Of
manufactures. In fact, manufactures
form over so per cent of our exports
to South America and Asia, 90 per
cent of those TO Oceanic, es per cent
Of those to Africa, and Sc per cent
of those to North America
Just how much of manufactures
has been sent to the respective grand
divisions since the close Of the war
or the actual per cent of gain to each
grand division or country cannot now
he stated, but it is fact that the
total exports to South America. of
which manufactures form over so
per cent, amounted to $500. 900. 900
in the half year following the close
OF the war against s125.ooo,o0o in
the full year preceding the war, the
total exports to South America since
the close, OF the~s~ar having AYERS gg.ti
s37 900, 900 per month against less
than 1000, 900 per month in the
year preceding the war. To Asia. the
exports In the half year following the
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-04

: has adopted equal suffrage and
through the Legislature fthe only
legal method) has approved national
prohibition. And senator's are eiected
by the people themselves. nowadays.
The trouble ahead for Wadsworth
is cary to see. With the electoral
body very greatly increased through
the adoption of equal suffrage, prac-
ticaIly every one of the new voters
rs certain to oppose him. and with
the added posi- tive assurance that no
prohfbitionist viii support him, he
has quite clearly eliminated himself
az a serious factor in New York and
J national politics
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-04

rival we got a reception from Admiral
jackson and the officials of the island
similar to that extended to the men or
NC-3 on their arrival there and we
were glad to find that all were safe
and sound.
on inspection of NC-3 we were
amazing to see how she had come
through the stor after the damage
she had suffered and were disap-
pointed to find that it would be i'm
practica Bile for her to continue the
trip with us.
We at once prepared to continue
the trip and two days later made an
attempt to get away for portugal, but
found the seas too heavy. Almost
continuous rains and unfavorable
winds driving heavy seas into
the harbor made a getaway imprac-
ticable until today TUESDAY May 27).
Aside from our Impotence to continue
our cruise, our week stay was made
very pleasant. due to the friendly at
titude and interest of the islanders
our actual flying time from CONT
nent to continent was about thirty five
hours. eight from Halifax to Trepas-
sey, fifteen and a half to Horta. one
and a half TO Ponta Delgade, nine
hours and forty-seven minutes TO Lis
bon.
From Trenassey to Lisbon air con-
lditions were generally bad and we had
to change our altitude frequently in
search Of better conditions. In
general until we ran into the fog in
the neighborhood of the Azores, visi-
bility was good and we sighted the
destroyers in regular order with their
picturesque star shells and search
lights cleaning into the night.
In until after midnight IT was so
dark that the horizon seldom was
visible. The skies were frequently
overcast so that eonsidera BILE de-
pendence had TO he placed upon our
instruments to keep the plane at
proper altitude and on her course. But
about midnight the moon rose and
| eliminated this difficulty.
! As rule we each took half hour
tricks at the wheel but at times the
| air was SO rough that the pilots had
10 aSsis, each other. even though II
+ was their time to rest. This CON
ditton strained our eyes and we were
/ dog tired and sleepy and glad to see
the approach Of dawn
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-04
Stone Tells the Tale of
Lisbon's Big Reception

barge and returned to the Sha~nut
where we cleaned M and got a good
square meal. had not eaten any
thing since breakfast save Two ham
sandwiches and some coffee.
On our arrival we were glad to
hear that Hawker had been saved 1t
certainly was a game sporting try and
] was sorry to hear that his engine
had failed.
one thing I want to emphasize. The
liberty motor has made good. From
the time we left Chatham until we
arrived here, all tho way across the
Atlantic. our engines have behaved
sp!eudidly and are now in excellent
condition. Except for some minor
oVerhauling rs Il proper precaution
prior 10 starting on The next leg, we
are ready To proceed to Plymouth as
soon as the weather permits
The fact that We were compelled
To land In the sea near Chatham. was
not due to enginue trouble. but to the
clogging of an oil pipe
Resides this an n narrow escape
from the fate OF our comrades in
NC-3 and NC~l in the vicinity OF tho
Azores. our whole trip across the
ocean was uneventful.
"As we nearcd the Azores We rar
INTO hHANN ibE ana mist Wfftf
flHaity resulted IN NC-T sinking To the
bottom in A rough sea- after her crew
had been rescued and caused tht
newer NC3 to alight in a 1eueh sea
and battle courageousIy and success
fully for sixty hours with mountain
Gus waves before reaching land
The fact that We escaped tho fate
of The other two planes was due II
our good fortune in sighting what al
first appeared to he tide rip. hui
which on Investigation We found to he
surf This led US TO land which iden-
tilted our position and cnambeld us Il
proceed TO Tforta, sighting the two in
terVcning destroyers.
After cruising around lost for tsec
hours in this binding fog, which al
most led us into q disastrous spin. w,
certainly were lucky 10 come out be
tween two layers of clouds and thcr
discovers this surf through a rift il
the clouds
ON leaving Horta we got away
amazingly quick in a heavy swell
md found a strong wind in back Of
us. 50 that We made over one hundred
miles an hour on the run OF l5f
miles to Ponta Delgada. ON our ar,
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-04
adequate palite protection.

adequate police protection.
Il hope thai President Wilson will
retain possession and continue In the
operation of our systems of transpor-
tation until congress has had fair
and reasonable opportunity to enact
a permanent policy for their resula-
tion and control That policy should
he based UPON these three principles:
Consolidation of railways into eigh-
teen or twenty systems under the
initiative and direction oe the govern
ment, not regional systems. but sys-
TENS whicn preserve competition;
government guaranty Of a return upon
the invested capital, not to favor capt.
tai but because now the return Is prac-
tically guaranteed without securing
the low rate OF return which a direct
government undertaking should com
mand. operation by private corpora
tons rather than by the government"
MIR. WollrY said. president Wilson
is right in serving notice upon con
gross that he Will return the railroads
TO private control on January !. Con-
gress failed - act on the proposed
extension Of FIVE years Now ii is
compelled In act. Rut | do not inter
rret the presidents declaration as a
change in altitude from the extension
recon- endatioi,. which Is the only
safe and practical course. ~
There is sdcli a ciamor for the re-
turn of rail carriers on the part Of
tinanciers and corporation executives
that il seems as if 100000 400 peonle
are looking down two strealSs Of steel
and never out into the fields that lie
beside or II the waters that stretch
beyond.
The stah'lizing of the freight rate
in order that the high cost OF living
may not become higher. the destruc-
ton of priYilege through this freight
rate, proper and ample guarantees for
labor. permanent safeguarding Of in
vested capuai are the big considera-
tons
But those "a ho are seeking To have
the railroads returned to private con-
troll realize that their strongest weapon
is the passenger fare, because that is
q direct tan. whereas II is practically
impossible to make the average con-
sumner realize he pays an increased
freight rate through the price Of the
shirt on his back, the food that he
eats. or the Shoes that he wears Never
did A ton of freight buy so much
transportation as at present So long
as the director general holds freight
rates where they are and makes II
necessary for the government to bear
any deficit, he draws fire of merci-
less criticism.
Consider freight transportation in
relation to the high cost Of living be-
fore succumhing to the canned clamor
for the end of federal control"
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-04

Cancelled wholesale as the result of
the war. and there must be care In
their renewal The worlds nerves
are ragged. and there liz talk OF all
sorts or commercial warfare,
ranging from boycott to retaliation
and exclusive customs. IT would be
great gain II the discussion could
rather than of the ultra-patriots who
ind It SO easy to rally the thoughtless
to the cry OF. the national interests
above all others
Commerce may he competition, but
IT should be reasonable competition.
conducted In neither the language nor
the manner OF war, Amy step toward
an exelugionist tariff on our part
would confirm and exaggerate that
tendency. and would react against our
own interests Mutual counsel" in
the words of the Canadian preacher
and the sentiment of our tariff COM
mission. is better policy, both more
moral and more profitahfe--"good
business and good religion" Our own
interest favors this more than it ever
did before. The entire situation is
altered by the statement OF policy by
Bonar Law that "the most vital
vested interest In the country is high
wages" Tho lowest cost and So
called free trade country has become
one OF the high cost countries. and
this country. which has based It's tar
ifs on Laws sentiment regarding
high wages has become one of the
low cost countries. This is no time
for us TO practice restriction OF trade
by tariff shackles