Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1920-01-08
Labor and Industrial.

prevalent during the greater part Of
the year In all countries that had been
engaged in war The series OF grcnt
strikes In the Omitted States was in
augurated on January 8 by a walk
out Of murine workers in New York.
This strike was of short duration. how
ever, as II ended on January II, pend
ing an arbitration of the dispute 10y
the war labor board. South America
apparently was affected also by new
conditions as great strikes we're in
progress during January In Argentina
ard Peru.
On February G the country was
startled by announcement OF gen
era strike In Seattle called In sup
port Of striking shlpbullders. Author
tiles announced that this strike was
forced by the radical labor element
and prompt measures were taken by
Mayor Ole Hanson to suppress II. AS
n result the strike ended on February
10. ON FehrTary 1G nationwide
strike OF Building trades workers was
started and on March the marine
workers In New York asnIn went out.
on April IL n strike of girl operators
tied up the telephone service through
out the New England states, but this
was ended an April 20 by compro-
mise wage increase.
ON July 1S the Building Employers
association Of Chicago. combating
strike OF building workers, locked out
100000 employees On The same day
Boston street car employees went on
strike. Chicago surface ana elevated
car men struck on July % but the
strike ended three dgys later with a
compromise wnge agreement Rail
way shopmen throughout the country
struck on August for III Increase
from 6S cents TO So cents an hour, but
the strike was called or on August H..
On August there was inaugurnted
In New York ore Of the most unusual
strikes on record-a waikout OF actors.
The strike spread to Chicago and was
not settled until September s when
the actors won.
On September 8 the largest part of
the Boston police force went on strike
after the suspension Of patrollnen ac-
tive in forming a union. Rioting fol-
lowed in which seven persons we're
killed. The striking policemen voted
OH September Il TO return to duty.
On September % steel workers
Throughout the country went on strike,
demanding wage increases and Shorter
hours. Many plants we've closed for
short time hut the strikers soon weak
eneG and within few weekly prac-
tically normal conditions were re-
stored.
On October G TN Industrial confer.
ence called by President Wilson. rep
resenting labor. capital and the public,
opened IFS sessions In Washington.
but after Intellectual attempts to agree
upon proposal to recognize the prin-
ciple Of collective bargaining. the In
Dor members Withdrew on October 30
and two days later the conference
came to an epd without having ac-
complished nny result.
On October Is 5ituminous coal min
ers we're ordered 10 quit work on oc-
tober 81 upon failure Of the miners
ar,i operators to agree upon a new
schedule of wages and hours. The
tenders of tile miners refused to con-
slider an appeal by President Wilson
TO call of the strike, pending an ef-
fort TO effect a compromise, End the
government proceeded to take yigor-
Gus steps TO prevent the shutting Of
the mines. The department Of jus
tlce obtained an Injunction from Fed
eral Judge Anderson at indianapolis
to prevent the leaders of the union
from directing the strike. which. how
ever. began on November 1.
The shortage of coal especially in the
middle and western states. became
alarming and the situation was rem
dered worse by a severe gold wave.
The fuel administration and local
commissions put into effect drastic
orders for conservation Of coal Pres
ideht Wilson then proposed that the
miners accept a wage increase Of "A
per cent and return to work at once
and that commission of three to be