The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-10-16
Ne Tvs review OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Indications That Union Labor
May Get the Worst of the
Great Steel Strike.
SENATE STARTS AN INQUIRY
Many Workers Said to Be- Returning
to the MiIls-Status of the Peace
Treaty Contest-D'Annunzio
Raid Precipitates Crisis
in Italy.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.


Developments of the week in the
great strike of steel workers indicated
that this, perhaps the severest test to
which union labor in America ever has
subjected itself, would result adverse
~ to the unions.
At the beginning many thousands of
men in the United States Steel cOrpor-
atoms numerous plants scattered
throughout the country quit work. re-
CARELESS of whether or not they were
members of the unions. w. q. Foster,
general organizer, claimed that 342,-
600 had gone out before the week was
half over This was not directly dis
puted by the corporation officials, but
they declared the tide already had
turned and that the men were coming
back to the mills in large numbers
seeking their old jobs. A great many
of the plants were closed down at the
beginning of the week, but in some of
the districts these were being reopened
gradually with increasing forces of
workers. In the Pittsburgh district
the employers asserted they were in
creasing production in all the impor-
tant plants; the Gary and Indiana
Harbor mills resumed partial opera
ton; the strikers at Canton, O., and
Birmingham, returned to work. On
the other hand there was virtually
complete tie-up in the Mahoning val
ley, the Colorado district and at other
points.
Though the union officials had de-
clared the strike would be conducted
without violence on the part of the
men, rioting started promptly in some
regions, especially in Pennsylvania.
Several deaths and many injuries re-
suited. The state constabulary got
into action promptly and effectively.
breaking up all assemblages and in
general restoring order. Sabotage was
in evidence in various plants.
The strike leaders were earnestly
endeavoring to expand the strike into
a walkout of allied crafts, which in
clude the men in % unions. On the
Great Lakes it appeared likely the sea-
men and marine firemen who trans
port iron ore would go out, and switch
men on railroads that especially serve
steel plants were reported to be ready
to quit.
The senate committee on education
and labor began an inquiry into the
strike and the first witness was John
Fitzpatrick, chairman of the commit
tee ON organization of the steel work
ers and real leader of the strike. 1t
was announced that Mr.. Gary would
appear before the committee later to
present the case for the employers.
Fitzpatrick admitted to the commit
tee that there had been no demand
from the steel workers for unioniZa-
ton, but that the Federation of Labor
considered it necessary because the
steel industry was bad spot" in the
Industrial situation and that the con-
ditions prevailing in it led other large
employers to consider imposing sim
liar conditions on their employees. He
told at length of the vain efforts to in
duce Mr. Gary to confer with his COM
mittee, and said that even if the steel
corporation should now consent to
meet the union representatives it
would be too late to stop the strike,
as the men "are going to demand de-
cent justice of the United States gov
ernment"
However, Fitzpatrick said, the
unions would call off the strike if the
steel corporation would agree to sub
nit the issue involved to arbitration by
commission to be named by President
Wilson. When this was told to Mr..
Gary in New York, he replied that,