Norwich bulletin., 1919-09-24
STEEL STRIKE SPREADS IN
 THE CHICAGO DISTRICT

Chicago, Sept. 23.-Closing of addi 1 tional steel plants in South Chicago | and Indiana Harbor and absence of ap' preciably increased activity in mill: which were attempting to operate witt reduced forces in Gary, marked the second day of the steel strike in the Chicago district. Union leaders claimed gains o1 approximately 10000 in the number of strikers. Officials of the United States Steel Corporation plants main tained the reticence, which they have exhibited since the first strike mur- murs were heard and operators of in dependent plants settled down to a policy of watchful waiting.
 Among the rank and file of the strik- CTS the holiday aspects of the walk out were accentuated- The moving picture houses and other recreation enterprises in the steel towns are booming and hastily organized dances were advertised by mushroom social clubs.
 No signs of disorders were in evil dence at any of the strike centers. On the contrary union pickets joked with the policemen who kept them moving and even exchanged badinage with company guards posted about the en- frances of the plants.
 Today only the Gary Mills of the United States Steel Corporation, some smaller esta blishments in East Chica- go and five independent plants in
 
 Chicago a few men patrolled the si- lent mills as fire guards and at dn- diana Harbor the banked fires smold- cred and thin wasps of smoke curled lazily from the tall stacks.
 J. W. Lees. general superintendent of the Inland Steel Company at In- diana Harbor. explained that he order ed shutdown rather than take the responsibility for an industrial war fare.
 erVVe ro.,f6 have continued ta .1er ate," he said, but we were caught in the troubles of the United States Steel Corporation and evidently must halt while each side things things over.
 Whether the employer sees it or not, the time has come to share prof it's with the men. We have had a | bonus and profit sharing system in our plant and the men who remained loyal will continue to receive their share of the profits even though the plant is closed''
 The union leaders of the district met in Chicago late today and after their | reports had been tabulated the claim or a A zs'eoo strikers s, as asot against yester- J. H. De Young, who presided. said 1 that the national strike committee of which John Fitzpatrick is chairman, would espouse the cause of the en- despite orders to the contrary from | the International Union of Steam and 1 Operating Engineers. The Gary men | face possible forfeiture of their union | charter. 1
 H. M. Comerford International sec retary of the engineers. exhibited a l telegram from Milton Snellings, pres ldent of the organization. condemn l ing the strike. MT. Comerford blam- 1 ed "an incorrigible radical element at Gary" for the happenings there and criticized the action of the committee which called the big strike over rec concentrations to the contrary from President Wilson and Samuel Com pers.
 The strike is not approved gen. orally by the conservative element in r the labor movement" he said. Tt could l not be with such radical leadership" |
 The first court action of the strike | came late today when the Pol1ak Steel | Company, manufacturing steel axels 1 in Chicago, asked an injunction | against picketing of it's plant directing the action against John Fitzpatrick | and William 2. Foster of the national | strike committee, the South Chicago | union council and four pickets The | application will be heard tomorrow The company set forth that it's en- oloyes were willing to work but that | several had complained that they had been threatened with bodily harm be- cause of their refusal to strike.