The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-09-29
Workers Propose Program of
Matchmaking Steel and Iron
Industry if They Lose Present
Struggle.
WOULD JOIN FORCES
WITH RAIL AND COAL
Prominent Organizer Declares
Naturalization Would Be
Postponed If Steel Owners
Settled Strike.
(By {. c. RoDGERS)


Naturalization of steel mills and
iron mines will be demanded by steel
workers.
1t may not come in the shape of an
immediate demand. but, according to
men in the Pennsylvania steel dis
tricts and here in Washington, it is
coming soon.
And then, they insist. there will be
formed the triple alliance of rail-
road workers, coal miners, and steel
Included in the latter's ranks will be
the iron mine workers of northern
Minnesota, where practically all of the
Great Lakes and Pennsylvania iron
ore is mined.
THE only thing that can halt ma
tionalization OF steel mills and iron
mines" declared a prominent organ
izer of steel mill workers, 'is the early
surrender of the steel owners"
He allowed it TO be inferred that If
the steel workers win in their demands
for higher wages, recognition of their
union. and more desirable working
conditions. the cry for naturalization
will be postponed.
BY the same token, he made it clear
that if there is long fight the de-
mand for naturalization of steel and
iron will be taken up and fought out
along with the proposals to nationalize
coal mines and the railroads.
Triple Alliance Includes Millions.
combination of workers engaged
in the transportation. coal mining, iron
mining and steel industries would in
clude millions OF voters, it is pointed
out Such a combination would be
strongest in New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio. Indiana. Illinois and Minnesota,
in which coal, steel and railroads are
the predOminating occupations.
Iron miners in northern Minnesota !
were beaten in their strike three years
ago. and there, it is now said, the de-
sire for naturalization of the mining
properties is stronger than in the steel
mills along the Great Lakes or in
Pennsylvania, where the workers be-
lieve they can win in the strike and
where, If they win. there will be less
desire for naturalization.
Minnesota iron mines are owned !
and operated by corporations subsi-
diary to the Il. s. Steel corporation
and the program of steel nationaliza-
ton proposed by the workers, natur-
ally would extend from the finished
steel product back to the iron ore.
Lake Ore Carriers Included in Plan
An entirely new phase has been in |
troduced by the threatened strike of
Great Lakes boat workers, especially !
those engaged in iroa ore transporta-
tion. Most of these vessels are gned
directly, or indirectly. by the steel
trust, and furnish the connecting link
between the mine and the mill
Steel naturalization plans. leaders
Insist, include the taking over OF these
iron carriers. thus placing in tin hands
O. the workers and government the
entire industry, from mine to vessel |
to mill.
In the taking; over OF iron carriers
steel workers are in line witt, Plumb
plan leaders who wish to include all
methods of transportation in their
naturalization scheme. This is an
other link which leaders say will
viii band together the millions of
railroad workers who desire rationale
zation and the steel workers in a sim
liar demand.
I spent several days in Iackawanna |
y. ", and in the Youngstown Pitts
burg steel district before coming to
Washington and everywhere the work
ers express themselves as confident of |
final victory. They insist that they |
have two weapons. the strike. and IN |
the event they fail there they can
fall back upon the demand for ma
tionalization of the mills and raines !
In this. they believe, they Will have !
the support OF the transportation and /
coal unions.
Steel Magnates Maintain Silence
Steel mill executives refuse to dis |
cuss the possibilities of a nationali- |
zation demand. In the language of /
one, I'VE won't cross that bridge until !
we get over the strike. One thing at i
a time is enough to worry about"
All the Plumb planners are not en-
thusiastic over the~ suggested triple Il
alliance OF coal, steel and railroad I
workers. Some insist that even the /
to nationalize the coal mines /
has weakened rather than strengthen
ed, the railroad unions fight for ma
of rails.
They believe that il would be easier
TO put over naturalization of the roads
If that issue were not tackled on to
other similar demands of other work
ers.
I'VE should not go into the nation
alization program on a wholesale plan"
said one Plumb advocate. Let's try
il out on the railroads first, and then
tackle the coal mines and other indus
tries one at a time
But these holding opposite views
insist that combination of transpor-
tation, steel and coal workers can do
far more with congress and in next
years election than any one group
could alone. That's the force back
Of the triple alliance suggestion