The sun., 1919-09-11
CALL
STEEL STRIKE
FOR SEPT. %
National Order Will Cause
Walkout of 100000, Say
Labor Heads.
WILSON'S EFFORTS FAIL
Action Expected to Upset In
dustrial Situation-Em-
ployees Bitter at Gary.
EFFORTS FAIL
Special Despatch to THE Sun.

SpcCtut DtcputtH ~ 1hN St+'
WASHINGTON, Sept. TO- nation
wide strike of iron and steel workers
has been called for September 22 by
the twenty-four affiliated unions of
the steel industry, despite request of
President Wilson that action be de-
layed. The occasion for the strike is
the unwillingness of Judge f. H. Gary,
chairman of the directorate of the
United States Steel Corporation, to
treat with the union leaders on the
question of recognition of the union
and the right of collective bargaining,
according to the reasons set forth in
the strike call.
The strike leaders assert their call
will bring from furnace, mill and bench
ESQ, 900 workers, and that there will be
at least another 250000 men who will
be directly and sympathetically af-
fected.
The action. was taken following the
ItCtlDl VI a HltsSabt iiphi itoluchl '"
son which failed to give assurance or
encouragement of a conference between
the union representative and Judge
Gary.
wilson's Note Kept Secret.
It is apparent efforts of the President
to get him to accede to a parley have
failed.
The message from President Wilson,
which told of his inability to do the one
thing demanded, was not made public.
Union officials said that II the President
did not give 1t out that they would not.
but late to-day they gave notice of the
strike call.
The strike was determined upon after
n two day conference of twenty-four
Industrial officers here. They met yes
terday to consider the situation, having
previously told President Wilson through
Samuel Gompers, president of the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor, that the situa'
ton demanded a favorable answer by
that time. President Wilson's message,
read At the meeting. gave no encourage
ment, so another was sent, with notice
that the conference would wait forty
eight hours for reply. The reply was
received early to-day. and 1t, too. was
not favorable.
There can be little doubt the strike
will upset the industrial situation OF the
country. Its effect upon the conference
of employers and workers and the pub
lie, called by President Wilson for Oc-
cher 6, cannot be foretold. 1t is under
stood that the President urged against
any precipitate action in advance of this
conference. but the union chiefs replied
that delay was impossible.
Notice of Strike Call.
The statement giving notice of the
strike call was as follows:
"The twenty-four industrial unions ir
the steel industry affiliated to the Ameri'
can Federation OF Labor, having ex-
hausted every honorable and possible
means of securing a conference with the
United States Steel Corporation for tn,
purpose of discussing the intoerable anC
brutal conditions under which the mel
are compelled to work and having faileC
in their efforts, have decided by unani
nous vote to cease work Monday, Sep
| tember %.
THE representatives Of these industria
unions have for the last four months
tried every conceivable means to secure
conference with Judge Gary, repre-
senting the United States Steel Corpora
ton. A personal letter from President
Gompers to Judge Gary was totally ig
nored Later on n committee waited
upon Judge Gary in New York and wer,
refused an audience. Subsequently they
were advised through a letter signed
by Judge Gary that he would not dea
with union labor representatives, which
| Is an absolute denial to his employees
| taxbt - Ixya ~ atY,Iy
'"The executive council of the Amer
can Federation OF Labor brought th'
situation to the Chief Executive OF thii
nation, President Wilson, for the pur
pose OF securing his cooperation in ar
ranging a conference. Up until the pres
! ent time the committee has not been ad
vised that the efforts OF the Presiden
! have been any more successful than IN,
! efforts of President Gompers and tn,
committee representing the employees.
while we we're engaged in thes
| efforts the most un-American, outrage
| Gus and unlawful tactics were employed
to destroy our unions. In Western
| Pennsylvania men were denied the right
OF free speech and free assembly. Ou
| organizers have been Jailed our meet
| ings have been ptcketed by hundreds o
gunmen, thugs and company officials
| and thousands or our members haY
been discharged for no other reason thai
having become members OF our union.
! "Tn view OF the stubborn and uncom
promising attitude of the Steel Trus
officials there is no alternative left I,
the committee except to comply with tn
demands of the steel workers for relic
and to declare a strike, 10 become ef
fective Monday, Sept. 90"
|
Gonzales Nomination Confirmed.