The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-05


law. which we realize IN Of the greatest
importance in winning a. victory worthy
Of our cause.-the merchandising Of the
steel Industry.
Steel shipments Decline.
Specific Indication Of stoYpags CT
production which the strike has caused
is seen In the lay or of train crews due
TO drop In freight shipments out Of steel
centres Our reports are Incomplete ana
general IN character, but Indicate q re-
duotion on the average Of about 3S per
cent in freight movement out Of steel
towns all over the country. much more,
Of course, in those places where the
steel industry is practically the only one
In the community
"rhe rights of free speech and peace
full assemblase are still denied strikers,
especially In the Pittsburg district.
There we are still allowed to hold no
meetings addressed In any language
other than English and no meetings at
ali except In halls. which we sucured
before the strike. In several places we
are sim prevented from holding any
mass meetings at all
"All this places an unfair and un-
necessary burden upon the committee.
The responsibility for preserving order
to be subjected to illegal, unconstitu-
-tional measurements which add to our
burdens while lessening our ability to
discharge 1t.
1T must be clear now that the strike
is huge in its dimensions and solid in
its determination. Such a situation can
not arise, We believe, only IN q position
which Is essentially Just. Not the argu-
ments OF organizers hold the strikers |;
- - IS. L.
America hates autocraoy. In Ger
many or in She steel industry. There
fore we believe the public. though with
but vague consciousness. appreciates
That II has big stake In the steel
strike, and that IL Is inconsistent with
democracy than any industrial octopus
should have despotic power Of dispos-
ing of the very lives OF producers to
fatten its millions of dividends extracted
from producers and consumers alike,
and extracted alike in peace and war,
only much more when its country is at
war"
Trainmen's Plea to Governor.
Following is the resolution forwarded
to Gov. william B. Sproul by the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen:
THE brotherhood OF Railroad Train
men, an organization founded upon
union labor principles, by a confer
ference Of representatives of the lodges
Of the Plttsburg district assembled in
the General Forbes Hotel at Pittsburg.
Pa, Thursday evening, October Q. 1919.
for the purpose of considering the pres
ent strike of the United Steel Workers.
recognizing the justice and being in SYM
pathy with the steel workers cause and
deploring the manner in which they
have been treated by the State Con-
stabulary and the city and borough Of
ficials, the following resolutions have
been adopted and approved:
Whereas the employees of the
various steel corporations organized on
, the principles of union labor, being
unable to secure proper recognition and
satisfactory working conditions from the
steel corporations on September ~, 1919.
In collective body left the service OF
the steel companies. and whereas these
men in assuming to exercise their con-
.stitutional rights and privileges Of
American citizens did at different times
attempt to hold peaceable and orderly
meetings in the city and boroughs of this
district Of Pittsburg, which attempts
were refused by the city and borough
officials. contrary to the rights given to
every citizen under the Constitution of
the United States; and
Whereas the steel companies hired
or caused to be appointed guards,
| deputy sherifs and gunner to protect
property and preserve order, who
through their actions melted riots and
trampled upon the rights OF citizens OF
this district; and
Whereas State troopers known as the
State Constabulary of Pennsylvania, an
/ a. a. L., a.
| peace. being sent into this district for
! the sole purpose of preserving order and
protecting the rights of citizens, acted
In q manner entirely unbecoming to
| their calling, having conducted them
selves In lawless manner, beating and
trampling defenceless men and women,
invading homes without reason, destroy
! ing personal property. arresting persons
without cause. or breaking up peaceable
| gatherings and in certain instances tore
down and trampled the American Flag
and the Star Spangled Banner that our
| own fought and died for upon the bat
I tleflelds Of Europe. which is now recent
history: and
Whereas the Mayor, Burgesses and
Justices of the Peace in the several
! cities and boroughs caused TO be ar
| rested and imprisoned members of the
United Steel Workers organization with
out cause or justification, holding them
under exorbitant and unreasonable bonds
to the extent that many of these honest
laboring men are confined In prison. be-
ing unable to secure bonds; therefore
be IL
RESOLVED, That we, the representa-
! tives of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen in the Pittsburg district, dc
most emphatically deplore and resent the
treatment OF the United Steel Workers
at the hands of the State Constabulary
city and borough officials and petition
your Excellency TO exercise the powers
of your high office to bring about css
! sation of the atrocities byt calling a hal
upon the State Constabulary that they
discontinue these unwarranted acts
that the Mayor of McKeesport and Bur
gesses of the different boroughs discon
tinue preventing the steel workers from
holding peaceable meetings, and that thu
rights OF free speech may prevail
Further, that you exercise your author
! ity over the Sheriff of Allegheny county
causing him to exercise the power giveI
Sheriff and protect the citizens o
Allegheny county in their endeavors 4
hold peaceable assemblages, and that yol
take immediate steps to stay these law
less acts on the part of these represen
tives of the law in order to avoid tn
possibility Of other labor organization
becoming involved in this controversy"
McKeespOrt Mayor Relents.
The Mayor of McKeesport, who ha
earned special opprobrium among tn,
strikers because OF his represslve meas
ures, relented enough to-day to permi
the strikers to reopen their headquar