Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-19
VIII Hit Every Mil in the
Country Not Under
Agreement, Claim.

Pittsburgh, Pa, Sept. 19-Head-
quarters OF the national committee
for organizing iron and steel work
ers was a busy place today, preFar-
ations going forward rapidly for
the strike Of steel workers next
Monday morning. Organizers and
district officers were given iustruc-
tions and sent out to the mill com
munities making up the Pittsburgh
district
The Headquarters here are in
charge of William Z. Foster. secre-
tary-treasurer of the national com
mittee. He had no reports today, he
said except that enthusiastic meet
ings" had been held by workers in
different parts of the Pittsburgh
district and that the men were
ready to quit.
Hits Entire Country.
Mr.. Foster said he wanted to
make it clear that the strike is
called against every iron and steel
ed States not working under union
agreements.
John Fitzpatrick Of Chicago.
chairman of the national commit
tee, is in Washington today making
report to Samuel GompeTs, pres
ident of the American Federation
of Labor. It was learned. that one
of the things to be discussed is
a proposal to hold in Pittsburgh
within the next two weeks a meet
/ ing of all the unions involved and
the executive council of the Fedora
ton.
Tin Plate Plant Closed.
Word came from McKeesport,
Pa today that the hot mills of the
Port Vue plant of the McKeesport
Tin Plate company shut down last
night, throwing about 1.5O0 men
out of work This is an independent
concern. The reason given by the
company was congestion in the
finishing department. Union organ
izers said they were of the opinion
the company was getting ready for
the strike Monday.
There is much speculation going
on here as to the number Of men
who will answer the strike call. Re
.sponsible union leaders said they
could not give figures and there
were none forthcoming from cOrpor-
alton sources.
100000 in One District.
Reports that 100000 would quit
in the district between Youngstown,
Ohio, and Johnstown, Pa, could
not be confirmed and are regarded
as merely speculative. The United
States Steel corporation claims
that only Is per cent of its em-
ployes are organized, while the
union leaders assert that the ma
jority of the men are members of
the union.
David J. Davis, assistant presi-
dent of the Amalgamated AssOcia-
tion Of Iron, Steel and Tin Work
ers, the largest union involved I'm
the strikes, said today he had tele-
grams indicating that officers Of
some Independent companies whose
employees are partly organized are
encouraging the union IN tho or
ganizatiOn of the remainder Of their
men so as to prevent a shutdown.
Independent plants include all con-
Germs not owned by the United
States Steel corporation Mr.. Davis
would not name the plants. Neither
would Mr.. Davis give the number
Of companies throughout the Unit
ed States that are working under
union agreements.
Discussing the grievances at is
sue with the United States Steel
Corporation, Mr. Davis said that
dealing with the union does not
necessarily mean a closed shop
What the unions want, he said, was
an opportunity to confer WITH The
corporation officials.
Push Strike Plans.
Chicago. Sept. l9.-PIaus Of Ia
Dor leaders for the steel workers
strike Sept. p went forward to-
day IN the Chicago district, which
Iincludes many of the Couuuy's
greatest mills.
At a meeting Of 5000 steel work
1 ers in South Chicago last night tho
statement that between capitalism
and bolshevism the workers would
choose TO be classed as bolshe-
wiki" was wildly appiaUded.
They will call US bolshovi'd."
said George Bulk, an international
organizer, but we must choose
between capitalism and starvation
on the one hand and bolsheVism
and bread on the otner."
Urges Against Disorder.
Theodore Wind, another irterna-
| tiOnal organizer told the gather
/ ing that there should be no blood
shed iu this district. He warned
/ the workers to stay away from
! their places OF employment after
4 Monday.
THE strike. we think" he add
ed, depends on the results I'M
Pittsburgh"
Steel company officials at Gary.
! Ind, have issued a statement that
| OF 10125 men interviewed at the
United States Steel corporations
! plant there, known as the Gary
works, S,3O2 men said they did not
favor striking Monday.