Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-09-23
STEEL MEN STRIKE
FEW PLANTS CLOSE
IN LARGE CENTERS
Ebert H, Gary WithhoIdS
Comment = Union Leader
Gives Figures-More Dis
order Is Reported


the United States Steel corporation,
which directly or indirectly affects
half million wage earners, produc
ed the usual conflicting claims by
the generals on both sides.
In the great strategic centers OF
the struggle, the Chicago and Pitts.
burg districts, many thousands OF
workers obeyed the strike order, but
early reports stated that compare
lively few plants had been compelled
to close. AT large number of the
outlying points officials of the small
er plants reported they were operat-
ing as usual.
Ebert H. Gary, chairman of the
board of directors of the steel COR
poration, refused to make any COM
ment on the situation.
Secretary Foster, of the steel
workers union, issued a statement
expressing satisfaction with the out
look and claiming that reports from
outside the Pittsburg district showed
that the shutdown was general.
An important feature of the sit
uation was the announcement by rep
resentatives of the $4,000 workers
employed by the Bethlehem Stee'
company that these men would not
join the strike, pending an attempt to
obtain a conference with the COM
pany officials.
Some of the blast furnaces in the
Pittsburg district were banked, but
the majority of the plants were III
operation although with forces re
duced from fifteen per cent to sixty
six per cent. In the Chicago dis
trict, including Gary and Hammond,
where 10000 steel workers are EN-
ployed, similar conditions were re
ported. At Cleveland the union lead
ers claimed $4,000 men were out AND
that sixteen mills of the American
Steel and Wire company, employing
5000 men, were closed down. Al
Ohios second greatest steel center
Youngstown, the strike leaders ais"
claimed that the great majority OF
the workers had struck and at > su'
benville, where three plants or th7
Carnegie Steel company are located
it was asserted that all three nan
been forced to suspend operations.
At the less important points III
Ohio and Pennsylvania, including
Portsmouth, Warren, Canton, Ioleoo'
Columbus, Lorraine, Pottsvllle, READ
ing and Harrisburg, officials OF III"
various plants announced that tnelt
men had remained loyal and mat Vi"
erations were. in full swing. one no
table exception was JohnstoWns 1a''
where $4,000 men were reported u
have struck. i -...s
outside the great pivotal states OF,
Indiana. Ohio and Pennsylvania, con-
ditions were reported nearly normal
with a. few important exceptions. Al
Buffalo, where the great independ-
emf plants of the Lackawana steel
company are located, the union chiefs
claimed 70 per cent of the workers
had obeyed the strike call. At Wheel
ing w. Va, it was asserted that
8, 600 men were idle and the Colorado
Fuel and Iron eompany's plant at
Pueblo. Colo, was closed down When
it's 1000 employees walked out.
The mills of the Illinois Steel COM
pany, at South Chicago, were closed
the unions estimating that 30 per
cent of the 1000 men on the "a!
shift had struck.
At noon William z. Foster, secre-
tary> of the national committee fof
organizing iron and steel workers
gave out the following figures IN
Pittsburgh as indicating the num-
bers of men on strike:
Chicago district, $4,000; CLEVELAND
10000; Youngstown proper, l5Soo'
Youngstown district, including ShaT-
on. Farrell, Newcastle, StroWthers'
Butler, Canton and Mass1lon. 5O,OOo'
Buffalo, 12,000;> Homestead, 9,ooO'
Braddock 5000; Rankin, 5000; ClalI-
ton, 1000; Monessen and Donora, L.
coo; Wheeling, $4,000; Steubenvlllc,
5000; Pueblo, 5000; McKeesport ann
Duouesne, 10000; Pittsburg city
$4,000; Wandergrift, 1000; Leecn
burg, 1000; Breckenridge, o,OOO'
Johnstown, $4,000; Coatsville, A.
600.
Several men had their heads
dubbed and several arrests were
made today in the Borough of Clair
ton. when the Pennsylvania state
police had another brush with crowds
that refused to disperse,~ Several
shots were fired by each side, ac-
cording to Clarion police headquar-
ters.
Investigation of the steel strike
was proposed in Washington today
in a resolution introduced by Sena-
tor Kenyon, Iowa.
T. J. Bray, president Of the Re-
public Iron and Steel company, at
noon issued a statement in Youngs-
town. Ohio. saying that the plant
would close down. Some men re-
ported for work, he said, but 1t was
found Impossible to keep the mill
about $500 men.
nf
Brier Hill Steel company, of Youngs-
town, Ohio, in statement issued
at noon, declared the mill had been
closed 1t employs about 1000 men,
PITTSBURG, Sept. 22.-The strug-
BILE between organized labor and the
employ ers in the steel industry was
in full swing today. In the PITTS
burg and nearby districts many thou
sands of men obeyed the orders OF
their leaders and failed to report
when the whistles blew for the day
shifts to go to work How many
Joined in the walkout and with what
degree of effectiveness the strike
was initiated was not knoWn de6-
niteIy by either side in the contest r.
the early hours of the day.
Dawn found mill guards, borough
and city police, the mounted Penn
sylvania state police, volunteer
guards, deputy sheriffs, detectives
and other guardians of the law Oh
duty for any emergency. Likewise
the strike leaders in every steel mill
community were abroad instruct
ing strikers and pickets in their duty
and persuading men on their way to
work to turn back and join in the
strike Early reports indicated thai
hundreds of men were turned back
in various communities.
Full protection as Tar as could be
made was given to men who deter
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