Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-11
RIGHT TO BARGAIN
AND RECOGN|T|ONOF
UNIONS DEMANDED
Men Fail to Heed Request
Made by President
Wilson.
"a EXECUTIVE COUNCILS
REPRESENT EMPLOYEES
Leaders Declare That Steel Trust
Has Opposed Unionization
of Plants
100000 MAY WALK OUT
Officials Claim That Every Honorable
Means OF Obtaining Conference
Have Failed.
100000 MAY WALK OUT
Officials Claim That Every Honorable
Means OF Obtaining Conference
Have Failed.

less OF the request of President WI
son that they take no action pending
the coming industrial conferences rep-
resentatives Of organized workers in
the steel industry late today called 4
strike. effective September 80, to com
pei recognition of their union and Of
the principle OF collective bargaining
By the United States Steel CORPORA
tion.
The executive council of the twen-
ty-four unions representing the workers
made made known known their decision in a state.
the President by telegraph for a moro
definite statement" as to the possi-
steel corporation officials and after
they had received a reply from the
presIdent n1,i nisk3aE that thsy Withhold
:, 7 The Pres prr,n,sident,s telegram was not
hut it's context became knownsin Wash.
inEtnn tonight through press dis.
pa,ehss ve soapa II ther ere,y .si@ the
been advised .'rhat the Efforts OF the
PRESIDENT have been any more success
tul than the efforts OF the men.
Trust Employees 100000.
Union officials firmly refused to in
duige in any speculation regarding tho
extent of the strike; though deciara-
steel corporation. that The steel work.
ers were not more than 10 per cent
organized, was ridiculed as erroneous.
The steer corporation was said to en-
Dloy about $4,000 persons and the en-
m slre industry is nearly 100000. In
9%s per psfes cent II Wfs iad daa the
all mills organizers have been active
for weeks and stll are working to
campaign of organization union otii-
cials said has been opposed vlgor-
ous,y osid by the mill owners. who were
method to defeat II. Claims were made
that at least 100000 men in the Pitts
district, and $4,000 in scattered areas
employed by independents" as Well
as by the steel corporation had been
brought into the union and would an
In addition union odieials "t said ioffs, the
by its effect on other Industries.
Where Property Is Located.
in the coming strike we're stated By
u"f chcago s1aty eaames TO ee qaws
Solth Chicago. Indiana Harbor. Joliet.
iRSoo,ckdale, Peoria and ,Dekalb. III;
Wis; Hammond. Ind.
!, Pueblo Colorado; Cleveland. Ohio.
en canton spcs Ws5 and
Massillon. ' -'''ta''0 Ah'
=, Pittsburgh: or Bear Cat" district
ora. Monessen. Rankin, Baddock. Johns
town and Pittsburgh. proper. -
blrminShan Ala; independents and
hem r
Committee Issues Statement.
The statement, made by the COM
nittee on the calling OF the strike fol-
The twenty-four international unions
IN INC steel industry afiiliated with the
Amer.cnm nlhs;i Federation Of Labor. having
means of securing conference with
the United States Corporation for the
and brutal conditions under which the
men }re compelled TO work. and having
failed h in these efforts. have decided
The representatives of these inter-
national unions for the past four
months tried every conceivable means
TO secure a conference with Judge
GG,aryy' repressntins the United States
from Presidcr: Gompcrs 70 Ju ISa Gary
was totally ignored Later on a, com:
mitteee. waited up,n Judge Gary N
New York and were refused an audi
ence. subsequently thev re-s idvisel
through a letter signed by Judge Gary
that he would not deal with unten
solute denial TO his employees Of the
right of collective bargaining.
Denied Right OF Free Speech.
The executive council OF the !Amer!-
situation to the chief executive OF this
nation, President Wilson. for the pur-
pose of securing his cooperation in
arranging a conference. Up to tho
present time the committee has NOT
been advised that the efforts OF the
resident have been ahy more success-
ful than the efforts OF President Com
pers and the committee representins
the employees.
While we were engaged in these cf-
forts the most un-American outrage
Gus and unlawful tactics wero en-
pioyed to destroy our unions II
western Pennsylvania we were de-
MED the rights Of free speech and tr.o
asse mbly.
Owners OF meeting places we're pre-
vented from permitting our gathering
In their halls Mass and street meet
inEs We're broken zap under the pre.
text that we did not have permits for
the same. in spite OF the fact tina, It
was impossible 70 secure such permit
from the steel mill town officials, wh5
are owend, body and soul, by the sie.i
Organizers Are Jailed.
Our organizers have been Jailed and
hned for attempting to addI ess our
members Our meetings have be7n
rickcted by hundreds OF gunmen, thugs
and company officials IN an EFFORT l..
CONTINUED on Second Page.l