New-York tribune., 1919-10-19
Men i'll Youngstown Dis
trict Propose Return to
Work, Leaving Disputes
To Be Considered Later
Cost of Fight Is Heavy
Output Cut to 90 Per Cent
of Normal and Working
Forces Are Disintegrating
StGt Corrsenondencs

otIU COfTeenOn0ercs
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 18.-The end of
the fourth week of the steel strike was
marked by futile effort on the part
of strike leaders in the Youngstown
district to end the strike to- day.
Apparently without the approval or
knowledge of the National Committee
of the American Federation of Labor.
which is directing the strike from
headquarters in Pittsburgh, the Youngs-
town labor congress, the central labor
body OF that city and Mahoning Count
proposed in circular letter to the
steel companies that the men should
go back to work on the condition that
the twelve points Of the strike be taken
up for consideration afterward.
Inc Youngstown Sheet and Tube
Company answered that it could not
consider the proposition, as it came
from minority of it's former employ
es. whereas the company had regular
labor representation system whereby
the whole body of its emp 0 es could
bring up for consideration and adjust
ment any question that might ar e.
Inc other Youngstown and Mahon-
ing valley companies are reported to
nave rejected the labor congress prop
osltlon. AS the Youngstown district
is the chief seat of the strikers
strength among the more important
steel producing districts, the fact that
the employers are still "bitter end
ers' may be taken as indicative that
the strain and Losses of the strike are
not weakening the determination of
the steel companies to ego through"
review of the first month of the
strike shows it has been a costly ex-
perience for the steel mills. A Pitts
burgh authority calculates that during
the last four weeks the steel mills of
the country have not produced more
than to per cent of their normal out
put, and IN some quarters that is con-
sldered an optimistic estimate. Had
the the strikers been as strong in the
Pittsburgh district as they were else
where there would have been almost
no steel made in the United States
outside of few minor places where
there has never been any real strike
strength
While the mills undoubtedly are
gaming almost everywhere now, the
strike leaders hold that the permanent
impairment of their productive ca
pacity, SO long as ,he strike is on will
be so Great as eventua 'ly to force con-
cessions from the companies. Secre-
tary Foster, of the strikers national
committee. said to-day that he was sat
lstied with the. situation.
"People don't understand strikes"
he aided. "We've got to the point
where we are dug in and sticking.
There's no sensational news in staying
in the trenches, but that's the way
strikes are won."
Asked if he would welcome strike
of coal miners on November /, from
the point of view of helping the steel
strike, Foster said it might help and it
might hurt and that it would be hard
to give a definite answer. One prob
alb e help of a coal strike Foster said
would be that, as it would cause the
steel mills now operating to shut down
the organizers would have a renewed
opportunity to get at all steel mill en-
ployes.
Investigation in several quarters to-
day brought out the fact that con-
slderab e numbers of non strikers. who
have stayed away from the mills since
the strike ! egan, because Of fear of
violence or other unpleasant expert
ences, are disposed to stay out until
the end. In fact, they are seeking other
employment.
In some instances this class inc udes
high grade men. AS both they and the
striker absentees gradually are finding
other employment, much of which will
be permanent. the mills are bound to
~" limited in output on account Of a
shortage Of men for long time esnc-
cially a s the exodus of many Of the
foreigners to Europe continues and
VIII be more pronounced as transat-
lantlc transportation facilities improve