Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-09-25


generally in the eXtortionate rates that
hotels in the larger cities have been
charging their patrons. One curious
thing about the American people is
the apparent willingness with which
they offer themselves as easy marks
for greedy hotel-keepers and their
submission to this form of robbery.
Cal it be that the reaction is coming
and that the people are rebelling
against the rapacity of city land lords !?
IN accordance with their scheduled
plans. a large number Of steel workers
went out on strike Monday morning
in the great manufacturing centers
Of Pittsburg, Chicago, Cleveland,
Youngstown and other sections where
the United States Steel Corporation
has plants. Neither side seemed to
have any decided advantage. There
were not nearly as many strikers as
the union leaders had claimed, but
more than the company had expected.
Some plants have been closed entire
ly, while in others work is being car
ried on as usual by those workmen
who remain loyal to the company.
There was not great deal of disorder,
though at Newcastle, Pa, there was
rioting when the strikers tried TO pre-
veRt men from going to work and in
the battle between a mob and deputy
sheriffS seven persons were shot, one
or two of them seriously.
Ii is reported that a very large per-
centage of the strikers are foreigners
as a rule the American workmen
are satisfied with conditions and
are quite willing to continue at work
at the big wages they are receiving.
1t is the radical foreign element and
their unwiSe and reckless leaders who
are making the trouble. Ii is said that
President Gompers and other conser-
vative officials of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor did all in their power
TO prevent the strike and are not in
sympathy with it. They regard it as
unwise and untimely and realize that
the sentiment of the country is against
il.
The men are striking for the en-
forcement Of twelve demands that they
have presented to their employers,
among which are higher wages,
double pay for overtime an eight
hour day, reinstatement of men dis
charged for union activities, abolition
of physical examination of applicants
for employment, and no employment
for men not belonging to the unions.
The one irreconcilable point, however,
is the matter Of the open shop. The
corporation stands firmly upon its
purpose to employ men regardless Of
their utilization with the unions and
will not submit to the arbitrary and
often tyrrannical rules of these or
CARNATIONS. 1t regards this as prin-
ciple upon which it will not COM
promise. In his statement upon this
question Judge Gary, head of the Steel
Corporation says:
"The principle Of open shop is vital
10 -, ,oI
prosperity. Ii is of equal benefit to
employer and employee. 1t means
that every man may engage in any line
of employment that he selects, and UNI
der such terms as he and the employ
or may agree upon; that he may ar
range for the kind and character OF
work which he believes will bring to
him the largest compensation and the
most satisfactory conditions, depend
ing upon his own merit and DISPOSE
ton. The CLOSED shop means that no
man can obtain employment in that
shop, except through and upon the
terms and conditions imposed by the
labor unions. He is compelled to join
the union and to submit to the dicta-
ton Of its leader before he can enter
the pldCe vi DuSlHSSS. II iS 'OiiiS
the unions, he is then restricted by
its leader as to place of work, hours
of work (and therefore amount of COM
pensation) and advancement in posi-
ton, regardless of merit; and some
times, by the dictum Of the union lead
er, called out and prevented from work
for days or weeks, although he has no
real grievance, and he and his family
are suffering for the want of neceS-
sites of life. In short, he is subject
ed to the arbitrary direction of the
leader, and his personal independ-
ence is gone. Personal ambition to
succeed and prosper is stiled."
The general opinion seems to be
that the strikers will not win their
present fight. They had no sufficient
cause, public sentiment is not with
them, and the Steel Corporation is
too powerful for them to defeat it.