The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-09-05
President Of American Fedora
ton of Labor Asks Presi-
dent to Arrange Con-
ference.
With STEEL CONCERN
Judge Gary Has Twice Refused to
Meet ComnNttee Of Workers
to Tain Over Con-
dItlons.

United Press Leased Wfrc SeI'lCe.1
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5---Acting
for steel workers, President Samuel
Gompers OF the American Federation
of Labor today wired President Viii
son asking him to use his influence
in arrang ng a conference with the
United States Steel corporation.
President Wilson is asked to make
his rep,y teiore Tuesday whea III,
presid ents OF twenty-four 1ntafrd-
tional unions of the steel industry
will be here to decide on future
action.
The telegram declares that while
the men have been restrained from
striking they are "indignant" and
that 9 strike now might endanser
the whole structure which the presi-
dent has built up for the adjustment
of Industrial disputes. The message
declares that having thus rar been
enabled to prevail upon the men net
to engage in a general strke, tne
t labor leaders cannot now affirm how
much longer we will be able to
exert that influence"
Judge Gary, head Of the United
States Steel corporation, had refused
two appeals to meet committee OF
steel workers. Following this, Com
pers and steel men visited President
Wilson and laid the whole case of the
steel men before him.
The telegram sent today was taken
to indicate that the president at that
time had told the steel men he wousu
try to bring about a conference.
The committee to organize the steer
won and improve conditions in the
Industry was appointed at the recent
Federation of Labor convention at AT
lantic City.
| The telegram, was framed at
meeting here today Of the national or
eanization committee OF the steel IN
dustry. In addition to the signature OF
| Gompers, the message carried tne
namea of Chairman John Fitzpatrick,
| d 7 Davis. William Harmon, Edward
| 7 Evans and William z. Foster, COM
mittee secretary.
! The telegram reads:
"The executive committee represent
! ,ng tho various industrial unions in the
| iron and steel industry met today TO
consider the awful situation which
exists in many Of the iron and steel In
dustry centers. The coercion, the
hrntalitv employed to prevent men and
Unions from meeting in halls engaged
! on private property, In the open ar
! the thuggery of the corporation J
an,issaries the wholesale discharge OF
/ numbers of men for no reason o'hei
| than the one assigned that they nave
| become members of the unions, have
brought about situation that IL Is eA
ceedingly difficult to w1thhold or res
train the Indignation OF the men ano
the resistance that they declared II Is
their purpose to present.
"The executive committee relying OF
tho case as presented to you last Weef
and your earnest declaration 10 en-
deayor to bring about a conference loi
the honorable and peaceful adjustment
of the matters in controversy nave
fms far been enabled to prevail upof
the men not to engage In genera
strike.
eve cannot now confirm how mucl
longer we shall be able to exert tina
Influence but we urge you In the grea
work in which you are engaged, to give
prompt attention to this most vital o
issues. for II the men can no longel
be restrained, it is impossible to fore
tell what the future may hold in store
for an industrial crisis which may en-
sue and Illustrate the projects wh1cf
Won have worked at for peaceful ane
honorable adjustment of Industrial al
fairs in our country.
, "a meeting of all presidents of thu
twenty-four international unions in th'
steel industry has been called to tax
Mace September in Washington, d
, G.. to take such action as they ma!
deem necessary.
"May we not have your reply on O.
, before that time as to whether or ho
, conference with the Steel corporation
is possible?"