The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-06
THE STRIKE THAT FAILED.


The strike of the steel workers has
failed, as it seemed certain from its in
ception that 1t must do. 1t lacked all
the necessary elements of success. 1t
was inaugurated without justifiab bic
, cause failed to command the synpa-
thy of the public and was opposed by
large element among the workers.
In fact it was a strike of foreigners.
"All Americans at work, all foreign
ers out" This statement by an Off
cial OF large steel company describes
the strike situation. 1t is the foreign
element deceived or cajoled by I'M
lscrupulous agitators or wilfully vicious
in it's own designs that has appeared
as the most conspicuous factor in the
strike and its train of consequences.
The radical agitators who have en-
gineered this strike with a so-called
union. embracing all ranks of labor,
says The Iron Trade Review, admit
tedly have concentrated their main eff
forts upon recruiting the foreign
workers. They have calculated by
preying upon the credulity, the preju-
dices and the limited knowledge of
basic conditions of these men that be-
cause of the large numbers represent
ed. there could be welded together a
formidable machine with which to
force the manufacturers to do their
bidding. Their professions of sympa-
thetic interest in the wage rates and
conditions of employment for these
workmen have meant little or nothing.
| AS the situation. has developed, the
| foreign workmen, necessarily the most
ignorant and the lowest class of mill
| labor, stand in the position of attempt
| ing to dictate the form of mana cement
of American industry. 1t is the for
eign class exploited by the worst ele-
fments OF organized labor that has de-
prived thousands of American work
men of the peaceful right to work at
their Jobs, and is holding back Amer
lean industry from promised prosper
| ity and is helping materially to block
the 1onged for relief to the American
public from the present conditions of
living cost.
And the majority of these foreign
workmen. says the Review. have no
are striking. They are striking not
because they have real or fancied griev-
ances against their employers but be-
cause they have been told to do so by
the union and they are obeying the
summons.
The strike is un-American in it's or
ganization, its designs and its meth
DDS. 1t represents a dangerous thrust
against established American institu-
tions. American workmen have done
well in refusing to give it countenance
and have made a distinct gain In the
respect of the American public.
+ The statement of the labor leaders
that they were forced into this strike
that they had no alternative, is in con-
f1ict with the facts. says a bulletin is
sued by the National City Bank of New
York. They were clearly the agrees
sors. They disturbed status in which
years, except changes that were favor
able to the employees.
Wages have been increased since
L1914. by about 100 per cent, which il
more than the increase of living costs
by any authoritative calculation. The
lowest rate of pay for unskilled. mex
perienced employees of the United
States Steel corporation is As cents pei
hour, and the average actual earnings
for all the corporations employees, ex,
elusive Of officials, statesmen and sal
aried office force, for the month Of
December, 1918, after the last advance
went into effect, was 1928 per day
There have been no reductions since
The employees of the steel industry
were conspicuous In the class of wage
earners who had pFofited by the war
as contrasted with many thousands OF
people in other occupations whose pa,
or income has not been increased a
all. or not enough to meet the increase
! of living expenses.