Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-09-23

Pittsbrrg, Sept THE opening uf
the strike n the iron and steei indus
Try uf the United States found both
sides IN the bir1ar struggle claiming
the advantage after the first days
skirm;sh. The steal corporation.
aasnsr which the br71n1 Of the attack
Was made. was able 10 operate most
Of IT'S plants N the Pirtspurs dis
uricr according 70 officials of that
concern What Tomorrow viii bring
they could mt say, but they express
81 confidence that n view of the fact
that the steel workers dld moi cause 4
general rie-up. as was predicted N
sume quarters. they would have more
men 81 work on the second day than
tho first
The union leaders IL headquarters
IF the National COMMITTEES Of the
steel workers declared that they were
highly pleased with the answer made
by the thousands Of organized and
EnnrganIzed men engaged N the IN
dusrry. William z. Foster, seec-eetary
af the atlunal committees. gave ouI
figures based, ne said. IN reports re
ce,ced from union leaders IN al
stee; districts Il the County, tnni-
ca-tr that approximately -. eeo
q N Out Of the hH.S million ENGAGED
n thu industry answered tho ss-ske
cRl. In the Pfrtahurg district aiune
I'm sns6- ~.z-1B men were SUIT ~-~~
White the corporation ufiicsnls -
Trained from going into figures. than
statements On ths situar1m did moi
sgres IN any particular with the dg-
! ures issued by Secretary Foster. Z
was. claimed N some quarters that
not more than Ia.0gp workers in this
district answered the call Il waE
admitted hr steel officials that bIasi
furnaces which they said they had
/ alwRvs regarded as weak spufs wers
| IN some instances badly c-ipules by
| failure Of enough men To report
I Where this occurred the furnaces
were banked No man was sent hnme
i, but every one WAS given something
/ 10 do, II he cared 10 work officials
said. In the city of P;r-sur=, the
!; sfeal corporations plants were fully
manned. il was given out
At AumHstead, Pa. Duqussne and
Hradnock- Pa. where the steel csr-
( porariun has immense pianrss there
+ was sharp conflict If claims as *
I the effectiveness of the strike
Z There were many idle men notice.
Z On the streets IF Homestead McKees
, port and Rraddock during the da7
out whether they were strikers o
men working ON the night sniff
+ Gould NOT De definitely established
Virtually all reports from the sin
ef the employers mentioned that ~
/ great majority Of strikers were for
( elgn born and rtlat- generally speak
ing the American born workers d..
/ 1nr respond To the strike call Il In
been repeatedly admitted by uniul
leaders that majority of the me,
I employed IN the steel industry a.
I of oreign birth and that II was hu
natural thai a large perrentaes =
them silouid figure IN the strike
Setting aside the. question vino :
nearest u the accurate number o
nen our, corporation representative
I said they were uf the apiniuna t.aR
the strike profanity would prove
hitter and possibly a lnng one. Bot
I s1ries. Il vas said. had mad too mucl
talk and the principles involved wer
too vital TO be ser aside IN a shcr
strike unless II was decisive IN set
Ting the questions az issue.
J. r. MorEans Telegram TO z 4
Gary felic;taring the lar1er.s stan
ON the open shop question was pnin.
tcnntinued ON pape Col. g.