New-York tribune., 1919-10-23
Rail1nen May
Strike to Aid
Steel W orkers
Employees at Mills Not
Under Contract Given
Permission to Vote on
Question of Walk-Out
SiGf (nrrnauna,1oaa.

StcG Correepondenco
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 22.-Steel
strikers here were encouraged to-day by
a message sent by John Fitzpatrick,
chairman OF the strike committee, from
Washington, announcing that the rail-
way brotherhoods had decided to permit
their members working on steel company
intra-plant and internal railways TO
strike in sympathy with the steel
strikers if there are no governing con-
tracts applicable to them. As these rail
ways are not under contract with the
unions the question OF striking becomes
a local one. Some Of the trainmen and
engnemen in this category have been on
strike for some time and others have
desired to strike but wished to be as
sured OF the 'legality" Of such course
1t is conceded that such q strike, if
successful in pulling the men out, would
soon choke the steel mills in their own
product If they are running, if not actu-
ally stop operations, because Of tho sus-
pension of internal traffic and between
plants
At Least 5000 Involved
The leaders of the steel strike admit
mat tney do not know to what extent
tne transportation men employed bv
inc sVeel companies are members Of the
unions, and the steel companies pro-
fess like ignorance. 1t is said. how
ever. that more than 5000 EMPLOYEES Of
the Union Railway, the Carnegie Steel
Eompany's intcr-plant railway in the
Plttsburgh district, cndeavored to hold
a meeting the other night to discuss
their action. but we're unable to on ac-
count OF police regulations.
Strike leaders also favored encournge-
ment IN the withdrawal of the labor
group from the Washington Industrial
Conferences. This is taken to mean in
some Of it's consequences that Samuel
Gompers and the American Federation
of Labor will now get behind the steel
strike and support it with the enthus-
asm and detcrm ination that havo
h1therto been lacking. Il is thought
here that the withdrawal step win
mean more radicalism and more ar-
gresslNoness in every department OF
the Federation and In all the interna-
tional unions Affiliated with it. Pros
poets of q state wide strike being called
are believed to be bcttered by the
Washington break.
Meetings Still Prohibited
It developed to-day that the strikers
will have to get along with such meet
lngs as the police authorities will per-
NIT. The court of common pleas here,
after a hearing. denied petition for
an Injunction. This decision is made
IN only one Of the two cases that were
brought, tut. as they are parallel, it
is believed that the second case will
be dropped. The effect Of the decision
is to leave local peace officers in Pitts
burgh and all the steel mill towns bor-
oughs free to take such steps as they
nay deem necessary to prevent public
disorder--and they all consider that
prohlbition or strict regulation of
meetings 1s necessary to that end.
There was no "follow-up" to-day Of
yesterdays rioting at Braddock, and
later developments show that the in
itintivc was largely taken in the fight
ing by loyal employees who, on ac-
count of many minor assaults. desired
to make q demonstration en- masse Of
their fighting ability.
The Carnegie Company stated its
force at Homestead is now sol ner
cent of normal and that production is
fully normal.