The sun., 1919-09-24
mittee to initiate parieys rather than
TO investigate. '
Attitude Il BeIIigerent.

W AuNeStlkdIe.
Attitude Is BeIIigerent.
Both sides Of course deny any such
initiative on their respective parts.
They profess themselves willing and
eager to fight II out.
'.What would settle the strike at
this time" was the question put to
william 2. Foster tonight.
"The refusal of Judge Gary to con-
fer with the men caused the strike"
he replied, "but 1t is doubtful If a con-
ference only would settle 1t now.
The men will probably insist on ma
terial advantages also"
These matters as well as the ques-
tion of an agreement with the indie
peudents will be submitted to the big
meeting of organizers and committee
men here tomorrow. 1t IS presumed
among the local steel officials that
the Chicago meeting will make an
equally adequate survey of the field.
At each view of the war map the
strikers undoubtedly seem to have
swept up the outposts. They have
practically closed districts other than
Pittsburg. But centrlng on Pitts
burg runs the backbone Of the ma
tion's steel industry. The Steel Cor
poration's main battle line is the
Moncngahela Valley. Its strong point
"a the threefold fortress of Duquesne,
Homestead and McKeesport.
violence Is InsigniHcant.
At these three points every weapon
known to modern industrial warfare
Is hot from usage in the hardest kind
of fighting while the two opposing
giants stand clinched. Considering
the magnitude Of the strike, the heat
OF the passions aroused and the plen-
itude of lethal weapons on both
sides, the violence has been insig-
nifcant. Early evening brought re-
ports from Sharon, where disorder
ragged last night, of the killing of one
aid the wounding of two in riot
I'M the mills district.
fThe fight is not being fought with
ghns, though the gun is always in
the background of every move made
by either side. The strikers are using
every other means to shut down the
plants that are now running. They
ate meeting and threatening loyal
A-N~
AID they are talking" to loyalists
w3ves and families. In a few cases
they have laid hands on some Of the
loyal workers to emphasize their arg
ufnents.
THE companies, backed by the pleas
apt damage to property" and "sus-
picious persons" laws of the State OF
Pennsylvania, executed by the State
c$nstabulary and local authorities, are
ding as much to protect men at worl,
AID induce others to return. There
can be no doubt that in many parts
Of the district the night Of peacable
aSsemblage have been suspended
Under the two statutes mentioned the
local authorities are justified in taking
special interest in the protection Of
the companies property, because the
first law makes the county response
bic financially for any damage from
riot. The city of Pittsburg has 1us
finished paying for the Pennsylvania
station that was burned by a mob II
1877.
kUnder the second law a police Officer
can arrest on sight any suspicious
person." arraign him before a magis-
trate and have him held in bail or II
Jail. The strikers allege that botl
laws are being grossly abused.
Subjects to BE Discussed.
This question of their constitutions
right to assemble peaoeably and the al
legged brutal and provocAtory tactics o!
the state police are announced as th'
ffst subjects for consideration at to
mprrow's meeting here
both sides tonight admit that th'
Pittsburg district is the arch upon whicl
rests the whole situation, and that thu
Dnquesne- Homestead section is the key
stpne of the arch. Both Foster and al
official of the Carnegie Steel Compan.
make their most impressive claims witt
regard TO this section.
f"Homestead's dead" says Foster.
s"Homestead is better than II was yes
terday, and that is true OF the who'll
honongahela Valley" said a Carnegi
oficial LESS than 25 per cent of tn
men are out here. There are 1900 Il
the day shift and / 400 in the night shift
IT we can hold these Monongahela plant
fer two weeks the men will go back t
work everywhere. We are not 30 foolis
as to believe that the strike is wor
though we think public opinion is Wit
us. But we know that If 75 per cen
Of the men stay with us in the importar
plants, as they have at Homestead, tn
fien all over will have to come back"
REPORTS received at the strikers head
Qparters stated unequivocally that eigt
rolling mills. four blast furnaces, tn
press shop and parts of the machine an
electric shops at Homestead are SHIT