New-York tribune., 1919-10-03

and organizers and not more than two
hundred men could stand In the room.
Sheriff Allegheny County refuses to
modify his refusal to permit any meet
ings IN foreign languages. Buck pass
hold meetings at McKecsport, but To-
cal authorities deny permission. Lo-
cal authorities at Glassport say we
may hold meetings there, but Sheriff
refuses his permission, saying he hears
there is likely to be disorder. All re-
ports indicate strike holding firm"
Carnegie Repor. Favorable
"The best day yet" was the state
ment from the Carnegie - Steel Com
pany tonight. "There have been good
gains in every plant. New men are
still coming in. Old men are regainlng
confidence and are returning in increas-
ing numbers. Our tonnage is increas-
ing, and altogether the situation is
much easier. We seem to be gathering
impetus in the gains and are not losing
an inch
Girls working for the Oliver Iron and
Steel Company here struck to-day and
organized nut and bolt feeders
union. This is said to be the first or
ganization of women in the iron and
steel industry.
Radical Aliens Leaving
Good order prevails in all the steel
mill towns of Western Pennsylvania
and the strike has settled down for
the time being to such a waiting game
that local police forces are being re
duced in some districts. The horde of
outgoing foreigners is said to include
many of the radicals and firebrands;
p,n fNr
eigners who desire to return to work
are becoming bolder, according to steel
officials, who even assert that to-day
witnessed for the first time the re-
turn of considerable numbers Of the
hitherto obstinate foreigners, but this
statement was not susceptible of con-
firmation.
"Inside information" from Bethle-
hem received here day confirms the
assertion of the Bethlehem Company
that not more than 10 or Is per cent of
its men left the South Bethlehem
plants.
The only forward move by the strike
to- day was reported from the Mime
sofa iron ranges. where the I. w. w
has succeeded in getting 700 men out
of the mines of the Oliver Mining
Company, which is a subsidiary Of the
Steel Corporation.
Would Like to End Strike
Great interest is manifested here by
both sides in the Senate steel investi-
CATION, and the strike leaders are
hoping that it will lead to some sort
of concession from the steel com
panies in the way of recognition OF
the unions. They will make every ef-
fort to create public sympathy by the
testimony they submit to the commit
tee when it comes here.
1t is certain that the leaders woulc
welcome almost any preteXt for calling
off the strike that would enable then
to save their faces with their followers
! If the strike were called off now witt
some prestige in their possession they
feel that they would have a powerful
, hold on the steel industry on whlcF
thov could base future advances. Sc
tcrs theory that the way TO organize
labor unions is first to promise strike
and then to have one.
1t is known that after the strike be
came probable the unions experienced Z
/ tremendous gain in members, so thai
when the strike came there were many
more members than Judge Gary SUP
! posed, as his figures were of August l 5
| when the total number of men enrolled
! did not exceed 10000. Since the strike
began the membership has probabl y
been doubled. and it is likely that the
unions concerned with the steel trade
now have over 100000 members who
have at least paid initiation dues of 5;
each.
Would Be Union Victory
Now, if the organization committee
can get these men back into the mills
without losing their confidence it will
feel that it has made momentous prog
ress, even if nothing substantial is nov
gained and its twelve points go the wa!
Of the fourteen points. They feel tha
they can we'll afford to lose the strk,
if it leaves them with nearly half The
men interested in the unions.
On the other hand a long-drawn-ou
struggle, with the companies winning
which is now the prospect, will lead t,
the disruption Of the unions and thei
desertion and dcnunciation by scure
of thousands or disappointed and EN-
bittered men.
That IS one Of the reasons why tn
companies want no arbitration. Arbi
tration, even if ovcrwhe elmingly in thci
favor and permitting them TO resum
production Immediately, would save tn
faces of the union leaders and leav
the latter far stronger in the mill
than they were before. And with sucl
a start there might be u different out
come the "neXt time"