Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-09-24
Doubt Over Claims
(ccnttnuad from paoa ons)

Doubt Over Claims
(centinusd from Page ons)
The leaders Of the organized work.
ers boldly claimed today that the
strike is spreading and that thou
sands Of mon who worked yesterday
Joined the walkout today. Predictions
were made that plants still in opera
ton would be closed tomorrow or
Thursday and that no gains were
made anywhere either by the United
States Steel Corporation, the arin-
cipal factor in the struggle. or by
independent concerns.
Representatives Of the Carnegie
Steel Company, the largest subsidi-
ary In the corporation. admitting that
some Of It's plants are closed be-
cause OF q strike, claim that the sit
uation Ii better than 1t was yester-
day. According to an authorized sum \
mary Of conditions within the Pitts
burgh District. more men were at
work at Homestead, Clarion. Du-
quesne and other places. "All told.
the situation 10 better than it was
yesterday. The situation in the Mo-
nongahela Valley. where our four big
mills are located. 10 considerably i'm
proved and is encouraging" was the
statement.
William 2. Foster, secretary Of the
national committee for organizing
iron and steel workers, said reports
received by him during the day from
organizers and others in charge Of
steel districts. show that 327,10 men
are participating In the strike. Ac-
cording to his figures. 5000 additional
men are out in the city Of Pitts
burgh: 5000 more at Braddock and
5000 additional in Rankin near mere.
He claims that 10000 additional men
are out in Chicago territory. 5000
more In the Youngstown district, and
5000 more in the Wheeling held.
While not giving any figures, cor
poration representatives tonight dis
puted the figures. asserting II they
were true many Of the districts in
cluded in Fosters list would be COM
PAOeCAy ou0S ASWa ~ "hASh 40 A4SS VIZ
case.
The United States Steel Corporation.
according to reports, has not met with
as much success in operating some of
its subsidiaries in other parts Of Penn
eylvania a. 1t has in the plants of the
Carnegie Company. In several locali-
ties its smaller works were closed down
when 1t was found that not enough men
had reported to keep the plants in sue
cessful operation. Representatives Of
the Carnegie interests here declared
that this was due to lack Of adequate
police protection for men willing u
work.
In the immediate Pittsburg district
the second day Of the walkout passed
quietly, but police authorities were ap-
prehensive that when the late night
shifts were made there might be more
trouble. ~ there was last fiigh. in sew
eral places.
Two more troops Of the state police
were brought to the western part of
the state and distributed a points
where local authorities claim condi.
tons are unsafe. Secretary Foste,
charges that much Of the disorder Il
the result Of the presence Of the troop.
ers. Today he denounced their alleged
action in riding INTO crowds and injur-
. ing innocent persons. He asserted that
in Homestead certain sections Of tn.
borough were today kept in tumult
a. q result Of the. way the state police
rode into groups Of idle men and dis.
persed them.
Mr.. Foster said tonight that the COM
mittee meeting tomorrow had not been
called to discuss any '.peace plans" but
would devote its time to problems that
have arisen as result Of the strike.
The drst matter to be taken up will
b that Of the unprovoked assault Of
the state police upon innocent strikers -
said Mr.s Foster. "They cannot get
away with such actions much longer.
We are going to demand that the troop
ers be taken out Of the district or thei:
activities curbed.
"All Information regarding the as
saults on strikers ana their brutal tao
tics in. the district have been reported
to my once. 1t is my intention to plac.
this information before the committee.
Appeal probably win be made to the
governor and the sheriff Of Allegheny
county to furnish protection for the
strikers against the state troopers"
Mr.. Foster said steel workers were
being arrested at Duquesne for being
out on strike. and fined when they re-
fused 10 return TO work.
The metter Of financing the strike
will also bs taken up 1t the meeting.
Mr.. Foster said. I'VE are going to pre-
pare to night to the bitter end" he add
"a. III II IL TO be . long struggle we
win be ready. II is fight for indus
trial democracy and the workers. ara
determined to stjck.
''Ths, eouditions that prevailed during
the day ut our higsest plants in the
Moueasahols continued tonight" II
was ssid ~ the oflces Of the Carnegie
Steel Co. tonight by IN omcial who Il
In close personal touch with the situa-
tion. 1--WE have had no reason 70 fev.ss
our feelings on the present situation
and are still srstiaed at the gains that
are being made.
'tof course the Duqussns plant 10 mos.
pleasing In its showing Of 100 per vent
r. 10 running normal touiSht.
"The EdWard Thomson works con.
tinus 70 opsrats with better showing
tonight tAsu it had to-day. having gain.
81 tswdmsn.
'.HomsstsaA. too. gained . few moro
sEen tonisht. while during the day suf-
1lcient. men came back 70 put in oper-
atien ons Of ths blast furnaces At the
Carrie plant.
AT III othsr plants the eonditiea was