Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-12-31

1--WE Thousand men going out because
of dissatisfaction with the wage
awards made by the coal COMMISSION
The first of a long series OF strikes
involving Bolshevik activities 1908
place in Italy March %, when work-
men and peasants in Naples ana the
provinces of Novra, Alexandra, brex-
cia and Treviso. attempted TO estabiisn
soyiets. Troops restored order anu
the strike ended within two days
On May 1 there were riots in Paris
and railway workers struck Tor IA
tionaIfzation of the railroads. French
dock workers and coal miners joipeo
the strike on May 5. The French gov
eminent took vigorous steps to enc
the strike, moving TO dissolve the Gen
eral Federation Of Labor and clar-
acterizing the strike leaders as Bolshe-
visits. The strikes were called on by
the General Federation Of Labor on
May 81.
The Railway Labor board announcer
its decision on wage increases on july
20, awarding increases Of from ~ 10
q per cent to nearly 100000 employ
ees, the total increase amounting 10
about $500, 100000 year, about half
the raise that employees had asked
The award was accepted by the rail-
road unions.
During the latter part of July coal
miners again struck in Illinois. Indl-
ana and Kansas, but on July 81 they
were ordered back to work, after an
appeal had been made By President
Wilson.
Serious riots occurred at Denver Au-
gust in connection with street car
strike, many being killed and injured.
Federal troops were ordered to Denver
to stop the disorders.
The Railway Labor board made an
other award August 10, granting an
increase amounting to $3o.0O0,OOO
year to $4,000 railway express workers.
On August 80 President Wilson APP
proved the majority report OF the an
thraciCe wage commission, awarding
wage increases OF from IL to 20 per
u
orators and miners signed two-year
contract based on the award. but thou
sands of men remained on what they
termed vacation" in protest against
the award.
Industrial conditions grew more Sc
rious in Italy during the late summer
and fall. An obstructionist campaign
was started by 100000 workmen on
August D. On August 81. In Lom-
hardy, 300 Woodworking plants were
seized by employees and workmcn's
councils took charge of the plants. On
September IA the wOrkmen'S council
voted for cooperative management
and proft-sharing by the work
men. At the same time the workmen
took over 200 chemical works and sew
eral textile mills. Premier GioIitti In
tervened. and on September 10 the en-
ployers agreed to his terms of settle
ment, granting increases of ray ret
roactive to July Is. The workmen ac-
cepted the settlement and ordered the
factories returned 70 the owners.
An Industrial crisis was precipitated
In England on October is by strike
of 100000 coal miners On the 2Sth
an agreement was reached for an in
crease In wages in consideration of
pledge on the part of the miners to
help increase production. The strike
was called off November 3.
severe business depression was
felt throughout the United States dur
ing the closing weeks of the year. The
trend toward lower wages was marked
by the announcement of the textile
mills of New England in December of
reduction in wages amounting to
2252 per cent.