Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-06
STEEL MEMS STRIKE
HANGS IN BALANCE
Urgent Message to Act Is Sent to
President Wilson by
Leaders.
CLAIM MEN ARE DISCHARGED
Asserted Workers Cannot Be
Held in Check Much
Longer.
fBy Universal scrvicc. !


WA SH rNGT TON. Sept. 5.-The
threatened strike of the employees of
the United states Steel Corporation is
again hanging in the balance.
Not having heard from President
Wilson since a week ago today, when
he was asked at the White House to
effect a conference with the steel cor
poration. President Gompers. of the
American Federation of Labor and the
steel workers committee, today wired
the President to tell them whether 4
conference with the steel corporation
is possible.
They asked the President to reply by
Tuesday morning, as a meeting will
then be held in Washington of all the
presidents of the twenty-four interna- :
tional unions in the steel industry to
take such action regarding the pro-
posed strike las they deem necessary"
President Gompers and the other
members OF the committee state plain
~ in the wire to the President that
the situation Of the steel workers is
critical. and that the men are so in
dignant over the acts of their employ
erS that their leaders cannot be count
much longer.
Telegram Urges Action.
The telegram urges the President in
spite OF his present speech making
mission m behalf of the peace treaty
and the league OF nations TO give his
attention TO the steel situation, say
ing:
III the men can no longer be re-
strained. II is impossible TO foretell
what the future may hold in store for
an Industrial crisis which may ensue
and frustrate the project which you
have worked at for a peaceful and
honorable adjustment Of Industrial af-
fairs in our country" i,.
The. committee also recalls to tn,
President his earnest declaration &c
endeavor 10 bring about conference
mant OF the matters in controversy
Should the President fail TO satisfy
the committee as to progress nade &c
bring about conference, As deina nd ed
by the workers, with Judge Gary
chairman OF the finance committee OF
the steel corporation. and the strike
be called. il will involve not only the
| United states steel Corporation. bu,
| also the independent steel companies
such as the Bethlehem and others.
100000 Workers Affected.
The number Of employees OF al
! classes Of the United States Steel Cor
organizers claim that more than l25,-
600 workers in the various trades are
now members of one or another of the
twenTy-four International unions in
Labor leaders here declared that any
prolonged delay in calling strike
would simply work to the advantage
Of the steel corporation. Phey de-
clare that the steel corporation is
t'liy dsmissng men prominent in the
efforts to organize workmen within
the industry, and that to await the
outcome of the capital and labor con-
ference, which the President will hold
October G, Is TO court defeat
Inasmuch as the President has not
sven them any word regarding prom
ised efforts to induce the steel corpor-
alton to meet tho workers. committee
the labor leaders assume that Judge
Gary has remained just as adamant
20 executive efforts as he was 10 the
repeated requests OF the committee.
The labor leaders are also of the opin-
ion that the steel corporation is more
than willing TO have strike at this
time.
Xhe American Federation of Labor
by 500 nol;cemen of washinCton 70
maintain their afii.iation with the fed
GRAFTON in spite ot the opposition of
the District OF Columbia Commission
ers.