The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-11
OF
LARGEST STRIKE
Mills to Be Effected Gov
or Wide Range Of Terri
tory With Over 2,00O,-
600 Employees.
PRESIDENT MAKES
APPEAL TO UNIONS

WYATT the pFcSlHNnts SPeSSiIi
President Wilson took a hand in
the Industrial situation today
wnen he sent a telegram through
joseph P. Tumulty, his secretary
to Samuel Gompers, president of
the American Federation OF La
Dor asking him TO use his in s.
fluence with the steel workers to
prevent any action by them uLhl
after the conference between
capital and labor is called. The
message read as follows;
Hon. Samuel Gompers. Presi-
dent American Federation of La
Dor, Washington. d.
Tn view Of che difficulty OF ar
ranging any present satisfactory
mediation with regard to the steel
situation. the president desires
to urge upon the steel men,
through you. the wisdom and de-
STABILITY of postponing action OF
any kind until after the forth
coming industrial conference at
Washington.
tSgned).
u. p. TUMULTY."
The president is known to believe
|ha. all labor disputes should await
HE action Of the conference. but sew
kral times within the past few days
be has been deeply critical. during ad-
lresses, of employers who refuse to
|reat with their employees Judge
barry has refused TO see representa-
he steel situation because. he says.
he great body. of steel workers are
lot sfsiIiated with any union
The president Also took steps to
lvert a walkout on the part OF the
Ioiice of District of Columbia, who
have formed a union, joined the
american Federation of Labor and
threatened q strike. In telegram
% Louis Brown Low, com missioner Of
he District, the president asks that
ID action be taken on the police situa-
Ion there until after the industrial
Because the officials of
he District OF Columbia were pre-
Sared to deal harshly with the police
K the capital on the issue OF union,
he presidents order to take
hands or attitude will be of the
.reateSt announcement to the men.
Washington, Sept I0.--A strike
axainst the United States Steel
| corporation effective September
a. WAS called today by, The, nEesi- s,
| dents OF the twenty -four fnterna-
F tAnnal unions involced in the
| steel industry
This decision was made by
unanimous vote late today when
Il became clear that the last hope
at the steel workers success in
securing q conference with Judge
Gary had been removed by the
failure Of the presidents efforts
TO induce the steel corporation to
meet the representatives OF the
unions.
The labor leaders said that
President Wilson'S reply to an ur-
rent az well AS final telegram sent
him last night was unsatisfactory
ana that no alternative was left
hut to comply with the demands
Of the workers and to call the
strike
There In every Indication that
the steel strike will be the largest
and most far-reaching strike
dnce that of the United Mine
workers during the Roosevelt ad-
ministration.
The labor leaders declared that 100
= can't of the workers who are al
aAy organized within the ranks Of
3 steel corporation win answer the
81 10 strike and that IS per cent Of
8 other workers will go out with
em. Their claims are that upwards
500, 900 Of the 100000 workers In
4 steel industry Will go out They
nd q Judge Gary's quoted state
al that only ten per cent OF the
nAl workers are organized.
The strike win affect not only the
Ms and industries embraced in the
nited States Steel corporation proper
n Also the so-called independents
subsidiaries such as the Bethle-
- Steel works and the Lacka-
Mills 10 BE EFFECTED.
The mills affected range from New
- and Pennsylvania throughout
~ and Indiana to Pueblo, Colo
~. in the west and from the steel
noerns Of the Chicago and Calumet
100 in the middle northwest to
rminxham, Ala. in the south, The
VI workers say that the night will
nnentrate largely in the Pittsburg
SPEAR Cat" district.
while only the workers In the steel
dnrfry willy be called out by the
~. there are 100000 union mon
nrosented No the twenty-four inter-
finnal unions whose presidents de-
I'M upon the strike action today.
No. there are limitations that the
- strike Is likely to spread by
npathetic strikes to other indus
ms ateel workers said today that
~ have first-hard knowledge that
sfeel corporation has been pre-
rinr Tor the past six or eight weeks
y meet the coming strike. They
- that the steel corporation off,
n have been enlisting gunner and
Y the workers themselves have un-
scontinued On Page rwo.l