The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-29
LABOR UNREST WILL
SOON RUN COURSE
BY HOLLAND.


New York, August S.-(Specal.)-If 1t
should happen that action were taken
by the unions--Mhose members are en-
ployed in the iron and steel industry
which would be followed by paralysis of
that industry, then some approval is
likely of comment which was made to-
day by one who has been greatly inter-
ested in the tendency to bring labor
and capital together in good understand
ing. For this man said that if after all
that has been accomplished by the
United States Steel corporation in bring
ing those who work for wages and the
corporation which pays the wages into
satisfactory understanding the wage
earners should go out on a strike then
it would almost seem as though it were
useless longer to continue efforts to
, bring the workmen and their employees
into satisfactory relations.
| 1t has been commonly said by indus
| trial leaders that it seemed almost i'm
possible that there should be established
| such conditions as would lead the work.
men employed by the United States
| Steel corporation to strike. Undoubtedly
| Judge Gary, who has been firm in the
| belief that no action would be taken
which would paralyze the industry. re-
lies upon the skilled artisans, the highly
1 trained mechanics who are in the en-
4
| ported that Judge Gary has good rea-
| son for this reliance, because the arti-
| sans who have gained skill and who
! have received within two or three years
several unsolicited increases in their
| pay are not as yet in favor of any such
autocratic organization as would compel
| the members of it to go out when the
call for strike came.
The fact seems to be that, so far,
those who have been occupied in organ
izing unions among the iron and steel
! workers have succeeded in gaining
| membership chiefly from the laborers,
the men who are employed in unsldlled
| work. Almost all of these are foreign
| ers. Many of them are Polacks. 1t
was without difficulty that men of this
class were persuaded to join the unions.
| But the question now to be answered
is this. Can the leaders of the unions
who have brought into the association
| many of the laborers, most of them for
| eigners. also persuade the skilled arti-
sans or any department of the skilled
artisans to so out? If this can be done
then it may be that the steel and iorn
industry will be paralyzed. For in
| stance, if the electricians who, as a
whole, are very skilled in their voca :
ton were to go out that undoubtedly
| would paralyze the industry for awhile.
WITH THE SKILLED ARTISANS
Now it is understood that those who
have organized the unions which con
sist at present chiefly of laborers are
striving to secure alliance or associa-
ton with the skilled artisans. Judge
Gary evidently Believes that these at
| tempts will be unsuccessful although
no one can tell what day or two may
develop. If they are unsuccessful there
will be no paralysis of the industry, al
though there may be some curtailment
of it and considerable reduction in pro-
duction. 1t is the understanding in this
city that some who are executives in
certain of the iron and steel industries
are considering whether it may not be
expedient to shut down the plant for
awhile. In fact. the report reached the
city that one of the leading subordi-
mates in the steel and iron industry has
already decided to shut down 10 of itf
plants.
The atmosphere which is charged
with reports of strikes. and rumors OF
strikes, and various symptoms of UNI
rest is one of the causes for the de-
lay in perfecting such financing as may
be needed to maintain our great for
eign trade. Already falling off ir
production is reported and the strike:
which have taken place have entailee
great loss. Nevertheless, the opinion
appears TO prevail IHal sooner OF idtei
this unrest will disappear and by ani
by something like normal condition,
will be restored although few believe
that even though the high cost of liv'
ing be ended there will be any reduc'
tion Of the high rate of wages, at leAs
for long time.
MR.. SCHWAB IN PERU
Having already secured concessions
from Chilli whereby Charles NJ. Schwat
| is able now, that the war is over. t.
exploit very rich iron ore deposits ant
bring the ore by way of the Panama
canal to the Bethlehem steel works
| the announcement is now made tina
/ Mr.. Schwab, with others. has secured
in Peru the deposits of the vanadiun
ore which appear to be inexhaustible
and which are found in large quantities
i for vanadium is understood to be o
lchemical or mineral kin to lead.
| Not until>~a few years ago was IL