The New York herald., 1920-01-12
GREAT COST OF THE STEEL STRIKE.

GREAT COST OF THE STEEL STRIKE.
! There is hope and confidence in the official end
ing of the steel strike Also there is tremendous
lesson In the language of the report of the Senate
\ committee investigating this particular dispute,
strikes are industrial barbarsm Likewise in
the words of President Wilson. writing TO the first
Industrial Conference. 'Must suspicion and hatred
and force rule us in our civil lfe:"
The vote for the steel strike was taken Sep
tember IL, 1919. The date for the strike was fixed
at September %. On the 18th of the month Presi-
dent Wilson, through Mr.. Samuel Gompers, ap-
peaed to the officials of the steel workers organi-
zation for postponemen OF the strike until after
October 6, when the first Industrial Conference
would meet in Washington and undertake to frame
some plan whereby disputes between employers
and employees might be adjusted without strikes.
The strike leaders replied by regrettng that for
the first time your call upon organized labor can
not meet with favorable response" 1t claimed,
in justification of this reply, that Judge Gary had
refused to confer with Mr.. Samuel Gompers.'
| The beginning of the strike on the day sched
uled, the rioting at Pittsburg, Gary, Canton
Youngstown and other places where plants Of the
United States Steel Corporation are located is now
familiar history. Institutions in nine States and
workmen numbering more than 100000 in
Collective bargaining, reinstatement of men dis
charged for union activity, recognition Of the labor
union and abolition Of company unions. Subse-
quent investigation by Senate committee estab-
ished the fact that "wages not factor
One Of the interesting and valuable features of
the steel strike was this investigation by Senate
committee. 1t began September % and eliminated
in the committee report made November s. Labor
leaders and representatives of the United States
Steel Corporation were called as witnesses. The
committee visited several plants in the strike dis
trict to ascertain facts first hand Testifyng be
fore this committee, Judge Gary maintained that
the issue was "a closed shop" and collective bar
gaining" He refused to yield to either demand.
The appointment of commission by President
Wilson was suggested. Judge Gary refused to
agree to this plan because it involved the very
matters against which he stood firm. Judge Gary
we'll said
Questions Of moral principle cannot be ar
bitrated or compromised l think we can
not negotiate or confer with Mr.. Fitzpatrick
and associates as labor men.
In the meantime the first Industrial Conference
met October 6. An attempt to make this con-
ference tribunal to settle the steel strike along
union and collective bargaining lines met
with failure On October 30 Mr.. Gompers and
to remain by no less person than President
Wilson Two days later the first Industrial Con-
ference collapsed. At that time, according to a
statement by Mr. Fitzpatrick, the labor leader,
the steel strike was already doomed to failure.
AS is always the case the greatest sufferers in
strikes are the workingmen and workngwomen.
The victims are the families whose breadwinners
forced to depend upon ''rationing' of food by
the union leaders. The total cost Of the steel
strike in the Pittsburg districts is estimated at
S34S 100000. The loss to workers in wages is
fixed at S4SOOO,OOO. In fifteen other districts
outside Of Pttsburg it is estimated that the total
loss to the strikers is $4,000 OOO-making a total
loss of about $S7 900 to the strikers The prop
erty loss in the Pttsburg district is estimated at
$4,000.
Are the demands made by the labor leaders of
sufficient Importance to Justify continued and un-
necessary sacrifice and suffering by the workers?
American workmen with American ideals and re-
sponsibilities are too wise to enter upon strike
when far more may be accomplished by individual
industry, attention to duty and thrift The highest
rewards go to those who patriotic to the insti-
tuition Of which they arc part and to the country
Of which they are citizens