The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-10-30

state authorities and staged some riot
GUS demonstrations the federal troops
were sent there in hurry and quiet
was at once restored. Gen. Leonard
Wood, commanding the central depart
ment, FASTENED from Omaha, where he
had been suppressing the race war,
and took personal command in the
steel town. He turned his attention
Immediately to the reds and raid on
their headquarters was productive of
quantities Of revolutionary matter, to
say nothing OF guns and ammunition.
Martial law was proclaimed and then
General Wood established censor
ship on all news relating to raids and
arrests by the military. 1t was made
clear that the troops were there to pre-
serve lives and property and not to in
terfere with the strike, but as soon as
the radicals were routed and the sol
diers were posted throughout the town
the steel workers who wished to work
returned to the mills in greatly in
creased numbers. In the entire Chi
cago district many more plants re-
sumed operation, the average force be-
ing perhaps so per cent of normal.
In the East also the authorities were
active against the radicals, the most
spectacular happening being raid at
Weirton, W. Va, in which 1877 alleged
members of the I. w. w. were seized.
marched to the public square and
forced to kneel and kiss the American
flag. Seven Of them were held by fed
eral agents and the rest were. run out
of the town. These were all Firms
and the strike leader there said if it
was true that they were reds organ
lied labor would not defend them.
Though the people of the United
States generally have no great love
for the United States Steel corpora
ton, and though Chairman Gary did
not arouse any increased sympathy for
it by his talk to the senate committee
on labor, there is a widespread feeling
that victory for it in this strike will
be beneficial to the country as whole.
The big railway strike in Great Bri-
tain was settled by compromise
agreement, the main points Of which
are:
Work to be resumed forthwith.
On full resumption of work, negoti-
ations shall be continued with the un-
Outstanding they will be completed be-
fore December 81, 1919.
Wages will be stabilized in the Uni
ted Kingdom at their present level up
to September 80, 1920. Any time after
August i, 1920, they may be reviewed
in the light of circumstances then ex-
listing.
No adult railway man shall receive
less than so shillings a week SO long
as the cost of living is not less than
10 per cent above prewar prices.
Also, the principle Of the "open
shop was maintained.
Senator Cummins says his commit
tee on interstate commerce is going to
force a vote in congress on two great
labor questions-compulsOry arbitra-
ton and the right of organized labor
to strike regardless of the public well
fare. This is to be done by favorable
report on the CumminS railroad bill.
The measure has provisions prohibit
ing strikes and lockouts on the trans
portation systems and creating board
before which disputes between the
workers and the corporations must be
taken for settlement. This board
would nave four members from each
side. and in case of a deadlock the
question at issue would be referred to
board of five named by the president.
Mr.. Cummins predicted the senate
would approve of the anti-strike fea-
lures of the bill. despite the opposition
of the American Federation OF Labor
and the railway brotherhoods.
The predicted deadlock in the SEN
ate seemed last week il a fair way to
become a reality. Little progress to-
ward a vote was made and Senator
Hitchcock told Secretary Tumulty to
let the president know there would De
nothing concerning the treaty requlr-
ing his attention for some time. The
probable date of final action on the
pact has been advanced to November
10 and there is q chance that the dead
lock will not be broken until much lat
er. The Democratic senator's who IA
yor the treaty as it stands, being nu-
merous enough to defeat ratification,
seem determined to compel at least the
a
adoption of the very mildest OF reser-
yations instead of the Lodge program.
Mr.. Hitchcock has admitted the neces-
sity of some sort of compromise, but