Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-09-11
STEEL WORKERS CALL
STRIKE; WILSON ASKS
THEM TO POSTPONE 1T

Washington. Sept 1o-Regardless Of
the request Of President Wilson that
they take no action pending the coming
industrial conference. representatives of
organized workers in the steel industry
late to-day called strike, effective
September %. to compel recognition Of
their unions and of the principle of col
lective bargaining by the United States
Steel corporation.
The executive council Of the "a unions
represented among the workers made
known their decision in an announcement
issued after they had requested the
President by telegraph for a more
definite statement" as to the possibli-
ties Of arranging a conference with steel
corporation officials and after they had
received a reply from the President ask
ing that they withhold action until after
the industrial conference.
The Presidents telegram was not
made public by the steel union heads
but its context became known in Wash
ington tonight through press de-
spatches. In their statement the ex-
ecutive council merely said they had
not been advised that the efforts of
the President have been any more sue
cessful' than the efforts of the men.
Union officials tonight firmly re-
fused to indulge in any speculation re
garding extent of the strike, though
a declaration attributed to Judge Gary
Of the steel corporation that the steel
workers were not more than 10 per cent.
organized, was ridiculed as erroneous.
The steel corporation was said to en-
ploy about 262.00O persons and the en-
tire industry nearly 100000 In some
places, 1t was said, the men are 95 per
cent. organized and at virtually all
mills organizers have been active for
weeks and still are working to obtain
recruits for the unions.
This campaign of organization, union
oHciais said, has been opposed viEor-
ously by the mill owners. who were said
to have adopted every possible method
TO defeat 1t. Claims were made that at
least 100000 men in the Pittsburg district
100000 in the Chicago district and $1,000
In scattered areas. employed by "independ-
ents" as well as by the steel corporation
had been brought into the union and
would answer the call by dropping their
tools. In addition. union officials said
the strike would have wide ramifcations
by its effect on other industries
Evidence of the bitterness existing in
steel mills was seen in allegations made
in the statement by the union heads an
nouncing the strike. Seven union mem
bers and organizers. the statement said,
had been killed recently by the armed
guards and thugs" employed by the COM
panies.
THE UNIONS STATEMENT
The statement issued by the union
heads said:
THE "a international unions in the
steel industry and affiliated with the
American Federation Of Labor having ex-
hausted every honorable and possible
means of securing conference with the
United States Steel corporation for the
purpose of discussing the intolerable and
brutal conditions under which the men
are compelled to work and having failed
In these efforts have decided by unani-
nous vote to cease work on Monday, Sep
tember 90.
THE representatives of these inter-
national unions have for the past four