The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-23


national committee this afternoon said
that according TO his reports 327, 100
men nre participating in the strike.
Compared with those issued yesterday
his figures show increases in the
Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Johnstown,
Wheeling, SteubenviIle, Chicago and
birmingham districts.
(By The Associated Press)
The second day of the great strug-
gle between the labor unions and the
United States Steel corporation opened
with the question as to the extent to
which the industry has been affected
by the strike still uncertain. That
the industry has been gravely crippled
in the great centers Of Pittsburgh,
Chicago and Youngstown was certain
and early reports today recorded sew
eral gains for the strikers.
In the Pittsburgh district several of
the Carnegie Steel company plants
were closed and the Braddock and
Rankin plants OF the American Steel
& Wire company, both of which at
tempted to continue operations yes
terSay. shut down today. These two
concerns employ approximately 10000
men.
Chicago situation Similar.
In the Chicago district similar con-
ditions prevailed. Nearly all of the
plants in that section, including Gary
and Hammond. either were closed to-
day or operating at greatly reduced
capacity.
The strike leaders claimed that rs
per cent of the 10000 workers were
out and that in Gary the percentage
was 95. steel company officials re-
fused to concede a higher percentage
than 20
In the Mahoning Valley district, of
which Youngstown is the heart, all
reports agreed that the strikers had
achieved their most marked successes
The strike eaders claimed that $4,000
men had quit work and their claims
were supported by the fact that many
large plants were closed, three in par
tiCular which employ alone 16,5OO
men Plants which were still operat-
ing had admittedly greatly reduced
forces.
spread Is Threatened.
The possibility OF the spread of the
strike to as Yet unaffected plants was
more threatening today. At the Beth
lehem works of the Bethlehem Steel
corporation. where $4,000 men are en-
ployed. the union leaders announced
no reply had been received to their
request for conference with the COM
pany officials md that preparations
were being completed for calling out
the workers.
At Cincinnati the executive board of
the International Iron Moulders
union is in session and will decide
what action will be taken by that
body.
At Buffalo switchmen on the South
Buffalo railway quit work when
ordered to move cars into the Lacka-
wanna steel plant.
Rioting Resumed Today.
Rioting which broke out at the
close of the first day of the strike was
resumed at different points this morn
ing. The known casualties so far are
one man dead; three others so badly
wounded that they may die, and scores
mere or less severely wounded. The
fatality occurred in the Pittsburgh dis
trict. Every mill in Farrell. Pa, was
closed this morning. but this did not
prevent a renewal of violence in which
eleven persons were wounded. Sim
ultaneously with the outbreak of riot
ing at Farrell, a pitched battle be-
tween mill guards and strikers took
place at Newcastle, Pa. in which
eleven persons are known to have
been wounded, two Of them women.
Three Of the injured men may die.
The situation thruout the Pittsburgh
district today was regarded as so men,
acing that reinforcements of state
troops were sent there from other
parts Of the state. AT Buffalo, where
the great Independent plant Of the
Lackawanna Steel company has been
forced to suspend operations accord
ing to police reports rioting occurred
last night and was resumed this morn
ing. The disorder here, however. was
apparently not so serious as in Penn
sylvania. The Donner steel company
sister plant Of the Lackawanna. an.
nounced that operations would cease
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