Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-03-19
VERY ASTONISHING STEEL
SHORTAGES

Pittsburgh, Pa. - Something like
CONSERVATION is being shown by the
automobile manufacturers and other
large buyers of steel at the INCREASE
of about 100000 tons per month in
untitled orders in the Offices of the
u. S. Steel Corporation. These now
reach to the enormous total of 9,200,-
900 tons!
Already the auto producers are
sending out danger signals warning
of the general shortage that will con-
front the consuming public with the
coming of warmer weather.
But bad as the situation is now, the
men in close touch with business af-
fairs are decidedly alarmed at the
situation which will present itself
when the Spring demand for struc-
tural steel developes. There is a wild
clamor for dwelling houses, hotels,
apartment houses and Offices. All
this is in addition to the natural re-
quirements for ordinary industrial ex-
pansion. Added to all this is the
avalanche of orders coming from the
railroads running all the way from
spikes and rails to finished steel cars.
Yet in the face of this unprecedent-
ed demand for steel and steel pro-
ducts "the greatest corporation in the
world" and its satellites are helpless
and amazed. Stockholders are grum-
bling as Wall Strret reports the
leading steel shares selling consider
ably below par.
In time the interested parties may
realize that a good part Of the coun-
try's embarrassment because of the
shortage of steel can be traced di-
rectly to the stupid labor policy OF
the big steel combines. Last Fall
sooner than concede an inch of its
time-honored oppressive tactics by
agreeing to discuss some very press
ing grievances of the steel workers
with their representatives, the steel
trust forced a four months strike.
After spending millions of dollars,
using every agency that money could
buy or influence could sway the VIC
tory was technically won by the steel
barons.
Not till the workers got back in the
mills did they realize the full price
the trust had paid. They found
equipment which they had left in 100
per cent condition little better than
scrap piles. And the workers who
did go back into the mills were in
anything but a pleasant frame of
mind. Their hearts were full Of hate
instead of happiness. This did not
help a situation already nearly as
bad as it could be.
Many found other work and will
never go back in the mills. So now
in practically every steel center IN
the country there is an acute short
age of labor-especially common la
bor. For years the steel trust has
placed it's chief reliance on the for
eign labor for this class of help.
Though these men have apparently
been willing beasts of burden for the
past score of years, it is now evident
that the worm has turned. Thousands
have left for their native lands;
others will go as soon as the bars
against emigration are lowered. In
any event great numbers are plan
ming to leave the steel mills when the
warmer weather comes.
1t seems, therefore, that Judge
Gary's victory" consists in having a
lot of mills full of crippled machinery,
not more than a so per cent force of
common labor and a more general
feeling of discomfort than has ever
before been known in the steel in
dustry.
On the other hand, manufacturing
is being hampered; building is going
to be greatly retarded and the rail-
roads can only meet their equipment
demands to a very insignificant de-
gree.
Such is the logical outcome of fol-
lowing labor policy that is auto
cratic, enslaving and entirely out of