Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-09-23

peatedly admitted by union leaders l that a majority of the men employed ] in the steel industry are of foreign birth and that it was but natural that large percentages Of them should figure in the strike. Clashes at Clairton. Corporation representatives to- night said they were of the opinion that the strike probably would prove bitter and possibly a long one. Both sides, it was said, had too much at stake and the principles involved were too vital to be brushed aside in short strike unless it was de- cisive in settling the question. at is sue. J. P. Morgan's telegram to E. H. Gary felicitating the latter on his stand On the open shop question was pointed to as additional evidence of the stand large capital has taken i'll the present struggle.
 To the great relief of most people in Allegheny county, the strike was inaugurated without any serious dls- turbance anywhere. There was a clash between Pennsylvania state police and crowd in Clarion which resulted in the arrest of score of persons charged with melting to riot, and the injury of number who were clubbed by the police for re- sisting orders to disperse. In the city of Pittsburgh, there were two arrests made of men who refused to move away from steel plant when ordered by local police.
 Big Plants Closed. Chicago, Sept 22-The big steel strike went into effect in the Chicago district today without disorder. Some of the largest plants were forced to close but others operated on a re- duced scale throughout the day and early tonight there was no material charge inthis situation. The minor concerns were affected in about the same proportion as the big establish ments.
 Whether the strike would increase | in effectiveness was admittedly de- pendent largely upon the course of the engineers in the plants. Although their international union had forbid den a strike, most of the Gary mem- l bers of the order went out with the steel workers. Tonight, they were considering an order to return to work.
 Company officials generally were reticent and except in the cases of complete shut-downs, would not give figures on the number of men at work. They estimated variously that from 70 to 90 per cent of their en- l al l, oI
 At strike headquarters it was claimed that 67,500 men had obeye@ the strike call.
 l At Gary the men who had formed the day shift remained in the en- closures for the night and it was in- timated they would not be asked to go home while the strike is in pro- gress. A few score men came through the main gate at o'clock carrying their tools, and were loudly cheered by strikers. The equal num- Der of night shift men who entered the plant did so to the accompani- ment of hoots.
 There was a slight stir in South Chicapo strike circles late in the day when it was learned that the Wis consin Steel Mills of the Internation- al Harvester company were being closed down. The company said the action was taken "upon recommenda- tion of the elected representatives of the employees. although nine tenths of the working force was on duty at the usual hour"
 At Muskogon the night shift was not called to the nlant for the Ameri- can Steel and Wire company. The concerns officials said that 30 per cent of the 1900 employees were at work today. The union offset this with report of what they said was an actual count of all employes, clerical and official and hands. who entered the gate This total was an- nonnced as 132. The union leaders said they had arranped for daily meetings at which vaudeville and oth- CT entertainment features would pre- dominate in order to keep the strikers away from the plart and possible trouble.
 Throughout the district, there were meetings tonight. One of the most important meetings was scheduled for Gary. where engineers who Friday voted to strike in defiance of their in- terpational officers, were summoned to rescird the action. It was intirat- ed that a refusal to carry out their contracts would result in forfeiture of charters.
 A somewhat similar situation con. fronted employes of the Elgin. .Toilat and Eastern railroad, "the outer belt" line of the Chicago switching dis trict. Strike murmurs amone them brought out official notice that the road was under the United States Railroad Administration and that the steel corporation had no voice in it's management.
 Production Stops. l Clnun1onL a Oo.A4 OO oIaa1 .>..A