Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-23
LEADERS OF BOTH
SIDES FEAR LONG
AND BITTER FIGHT
Steel Corporation Operates
Most Of It's Pitts
burgh Plants.
WALKOUT'S GREATEST HOLD
IS IN MAHGNiNG VALLEY
Three Largest Mills Close, and
Others Run Only at Par
tial Capacity.
CLEVELAND DISTRICT HARD HIT
Only Four Out Of Twenty Establish
mcnts Able to Continuc-Or-
der Generally Good.
WALKOUT'S GREATEST HOLD
Is IN MAHGNiNG VALLEY
CLEVELAND DISTRICT HARD HIT


economic war between organized labor
and the greater part of the iron and
steel industry of the country. both
sides rested last night, apparently
satisfied with reports received from the
far-flung battle line. reaching into
twenty States and affecting directly
or indirectly half a million workers
After the first test OF strength in :
dustrial leaders and commanders OF
lahor's legions were willing to admit
they faced IL struggle which might
prove long and bitter. Grim evidence
OF preparations made for the industrial. !.
coniiict were seen in the armed guards
surrounding all the mills. but the FIRST
DAY OF the strike ended with no signs
OF serious disorder except in New
castle, IA. where seven persons were
shot IN riotins following an alleged
attempt TO prevent workers from enter
ing a plant.
Until the first smoke OF battle rolls
away an accurate estimate OF the
numper OF workers who marched out
n obedience 10 the strike order. and
lhe number who remained AT their
posts Is not obtainable.
Claim 2S4,OOO Are Out.
From strike headquarters in Pitts
pu5gh came claims that 2Si,ooo men
the strikers, but. although no statement
was forthcoming from the steel cor
porations Headquarters in New York.
FASTENED to challenge the estimate Of
labor leaders
The steel corporation. against which
the main offensive Is directed was
able to operate most of it's plants in
the Pittsburgh district according to
COMPANY officials; In the Chicago steel
center. some OF the largest plants were
forced to close down, bu, others
operated on a reduced scale.
1t was in the Mahoning Valley that
he,aa,dway' for with three large steel
mills in the Youngstown district shut
Gown and others. running only part
capacity. the stee! producing industry
in that section was reported 10 be fast
approaching general paralysis. In the
cleveland district. too. the strikers ap-
only four OF the twenty plants were in
operation. and. according TO labor
leaders, 10000 men are affected.
Plants Affected Nuuher 145.
Telegraph wires leading in mead
quarters OF both capital and labor were
Kept warm as report followed report
on condittons at 1i5 plants affected by
the strike order. AS it became evident
able to keep all its plants in opera
tlon. nor the strikers had been able
10, 10 produce complete tie-up Of the in
ouStfy, leaders began to settle down
TO the prospect of a long fight. In
TINS connection it was announced that
ehjsfs eh ifmpDGindt nnld p ppa5iey iS Of union labor
IL IS Understood the question OF financ-
ing the strike will be considered
Oficers Of the Carnegie Company,
the the steer Corporations largest sub
ihoush their forces had been depleted
by desertions. they had been able TO
rcorGani%e their workers so AS 10 keep
az OF the important mills operating at
a,most loo per cent. This brought EN-
Phatlc denial from the labor camp.
Steel officials admitted that in some
cases blast furnaces which they said
they always had regarded as their most
Nninerable spots. had been badly Grip
biea' lhis situation was met by bank
the remaining workers on others.
Bethlehemites Mt Work.
An important announcement came
uurlnE inc day from representatives, of
lhc $4,000 workers employed by tho
Betnlehem Steel Company This was
10 the erect that they would not walk
out pending an attempt to obtain a con
ference with company officials.
an example of the wide difference
pct"een estimates made by labor lead.
ers ana corporate officials concerning
fit ~, IN humner OF strikers is found in
roster. secretary of the national com
mittee or steel workers. IL 900 men are
out while in opposing quarters the
hutnher was set at $4,000.
II thc ChicaGo district company OFF,
clals estimated that from 20 to 80 per
cent of their workers had remained
ioyai. while at strike hcaduuarters i'm
lhht CITY 1t was claimed $500 had
obeyed the strike call.
LABOR leaders in the Youngstown dis
me district proper, and $1,000 in the
entire district, which includes Shcron
and Newcastle, Pa. Company estimate
were much less.