Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-23
REAL EFFECT
OF STRIKE is
YET IN DOUBT
Conflicting Claims of Men
and Companies Make
Result Uncertain.

Pittsburgh. Pa, Sept. 23.-Steel
! strike conditions IN the Pittsburgh
district, were not greatly changed
today according to reports. Secre-
tary William T. Foster of the steel
workers national committee said
the strike was spreading and that
more men were out today, not only
in the Pittsburgh district but also
in outlying sections and in other
parts Of the country. The Home
stead works of the Carnegie Steel
company, subsidiary of the United
States Steel corporation, were prac-
tically dead" he asserted.
Claims Not Borne Out.
Mr.. Fosters claims were not
borne out by reports coming from
the Carnegie company and from in
dependent steel companies sources.
THE situation is improved" was
the fiat declaration of a representa-
tive of the Carnegie company. We
have men going to work at Home
stead" he said, "and our reports
show additional men are coming
back at other plants of the COM
pany."
(By Associated Press.)
The second day of the great
struggle between the labor unions
and the United States Steel cor
poration opened with the question
as to the extent to which the in
dustry has been affected by the
strike still uncertain, confused as
it is by the conflicting claims of the
leaders on either side That the
industry has been gTavely crippled
in the great centers of Pittsburgh,
Chicago and Youngstown, was GER
tain and early reports today re-
corded several gains for the strik-
ers.
Several Plants Closed.
In the Pittsburgh district several
of the Carnegie Steel company's
plants were closed and the Brad
dock and Rankin plants of the
American Steel and Wire company.
both of which attempted to con-
tinue operations yesterday, shut
down today. These two concerns
employ approximately 10000 men.
In the Chicago district similar
cond tions prevailed. Nearly all of
the plants in that region, including
Gary and Hammond, either were
closed today or operating at greatly
reduced capacity. The strike lead
ers claimed that IS per cent of the
10000 workers were out and that
in Gary the percentage was 95 per
cent
Steel company officials refused
to concede a higher percentage
than 20
Youngstown Hardest Hit.
In the Mahoning Valley district,
of which Youngstown is the heart,
all reports agreed that the strikers
had achieved their most marked
success The strike leaders claim
ed that $4,000 men had quit work
and their claims were supported
by the fact that many large plants
were closed. three in particular
which were still operating had ad-
mitted greatly reduced forces
The possibility of the spread of
Ju6 SLTlh0 10 dS yet uudHeCLeu
plants was more threatening today.
Bethlehem Men Get no Reply.
At the Bethlehem Works of the
Bethlehem Steel corporation,
where $4,000 men are employed, the
union leaders announced that no
reply had been received to their
request for a conference with tbs
company Ocials and that prepara-
tions were being completed for
calling out the workers.
At Cincinnati, the executive
board of the International Iron
Moulders union is in session and
will decide what action will be
taken by that body.
At Buffalo switchmen on the
South Buffalo railway quit work
whe nordered to move cars into
when ordered TO move cars into
the Lackawanna steel plant.