The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-09-05
GOInpers Is
DEMANDING
Steel Meet
Black Conditions in Eastern
Mills Are Described in
Telegram
URGES WILSON'S HELP

Stt66S VtGSSN ~ ''GSt
WASHINGTON. sept Acting
for steel workers. President Samuel
Gompers OF the American Fedora.
ton OF Labor today wired President
Wilson asking him to use his In.
fiuence IN arranging conference
with the United states steel corpora.
ton.
Wilson Is asked to make his reply
before Tuesday when the president
Of - international unions OF the
steel industry will be here 20 decide
on future action.
Th@ telegram declares that while
the men have been restrained from
striking they are Indignant" and
tina, strike now might endanger
the whole structure which the presl
dent has buiit up for the adjus,
ment OF Industrial disputes The
message declares that having thus
far been enabled 20 prevail upon
n. men not 20 engage In a general
.trtke. the labor leaders cannot now
affirm how much longer We will be
able 20 exert that influence
Gary l. stubborn
Judge Gary. head OF the United
States Steel corporation. has re
fused two appeals to meet a com
mlttee OF steel workers. Following
this Gompers and steel men visited
President Wilson and laid the only
- "a
The telegram sent today vas
taken to Indicate that the president |
at that time had told the steel men
he would try to bring about a con.
ference
The telegram was framed at a
meeting here today Of the national
Organization committee OF the steel
Industry. IL reads:
The executive committee repre-
sentins the various international
unions In the various iron and steel
Industries met today to consider the
awful condition which exists in
trial centers.
The coercion. the brutality en- |
pioyed TO prevent men and unions /
from meeting in halls engaged on I
private property In the open air. /
the thuggery Of the corporations
.<smtssaries, the wholesale discharge /
numbers Of men for no other /
reason thar the one assigned tina; 1
they have become members Of the I
Unions. have brought about a Sifua I
ton that 10 Is exceedingly difficult I
20 withhold or restrain the indigna-
iior Of the men and the resistance /
rsse to nreseii
Holding Men Back
The executive committee relying 4
upon the case as presented to you /
last week and your earnest declara
ton TO endeavor TO bring about a
conference for the honorable and 1
peaceful adjustment OF the matters /
IN controversy have thus far been /
enabled to prevail upon the men not /
TO engage In a general strike.
I'VE cannot now confirm how
much longer we shall be able 10 /
exert that influence but we urge
you In the great work In which 1
you are engaged. to give prompt 1
attention TO this most vital Of II. 4
sues; for IL the men can no longer 4
be restrained. II is impossible 10 /
foreteil what the future may hold 4
IN store for an international crisis 4
which may ensue and Illustrate the 1
projects which you have worked at I
for a peaceful and honorable adjust |
ment Of Industrial affairs In our /
country.
a meeting OF the presidents Of /
all tbs 70 unions In the steel H.. /
dustry has been called TO AXE place l
: September In Washington, d. C.. /
q take such action as they may
deem necessary. May we have no; /
your reply on or before that time 4
as 70 whether or not Conference /
with the steel corporation Is ros.
s.ble"
Gompers to Tour
GOmpers will be before the coun /
try in support Of the labor program /
OF moderation he stands for, and /
may also be expected to support the /
treaty and league covenant while 4
the president IL stili on his tour. lie 4
VIII speak in Philadelphia on Sep. 4
tefnber 10. In Cleveland. where he I
will address the miners convention I
September IL. and will then 20 to 1
Chicago. After returning to Wash 4
ington. Gompers viii go to New Or. /
leans. September %. where he viii /
address a convention OF advertising 1
men.
Labor has been only iukewarm to- |
ward the round table" conferences /
tnat have been proposed. II was |
learned today, however, that the /
presidents action in leaving the |
nomination Of men who will be In. /
vited TO the round table" TO the I
various organizations, has won him
poxtve labor support Secretary
M~ fison took the view that labor !
~wond have confidence only In men 4
selected by the American Federation 4
OF Labor.