The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-01-03
Labor and industrial.

the year In all countries that had been
engaged in war. The series of great
strikes in the United States was in
augurated on January by a walk
out ofamarine workers in New York.
This strike was Of short duration, how
ever. as 1t ended on January u, pend
ing an arbitration of the dispute by
the war labor board. South America
apparently was affected also by new
conditions as great strikes were in
progress during January in Argentina
and Peru.
On February 8 the country was
startled by announcement of a gen
eral strike in Seattle called in sup
port of striking shipbuilders. Author
tiles announced that this strike was
forced by the radical labor element
and prompt measures were taken by
Mayor Ole Hanson to suppress 1t. AS
q result the strike ended on February
10. On February 16 nationwide
strike of building trades workers was
started and on March the marine
workers In New York again went out.
On April Is a strike of girl operators
tied up the telephone service through
out the New England states, but this
was ended on April 20 by a compro-
mise wage increase.
On July Is the Building Employers
association of Chicago. combating a
strike of building workers, locked out
200 900 employees. On the same day
Boston street car employees went on
strike. Chicago surface and elevated
car men struck on July 20 but the
strike ended three days later with
compromise wage agreement. Rail-
way shopmen throughout the couRtry
struck on August l for an increase
from IS cents to SIS cents an hour, bet
the strike was called off on August Il.
On August there was inaugurated
in New York one of the most unusual
strikes on record-a walkout OF actors.
The strike spread to Chicago and was
not settled until September when
the actors won.
On September 8 the largest part of
the Boston police force went on strike
after the suspension of patrolmen ac-
tive in forming a union. Rioting fol-
lowed in which seven persons were
killed. The striking policemen voted
on September Il to return to duty.
On September % steel workers
throughout the country went on strike,
demanding wage increases and shorter
hours. Many plants were closed for a
! short time but the strikers soon weak
ened and within few weeks prac-
| ticaily normal conditions were re
| stored
On October an industrial confer
| ence called by President Wilson, rep
: resenting labor. capital and the public.
| opened its sessions in Washington.
but after Intellectual attempts to agree
upon a proposal TO recognize the prin-
ciple of collective bargaining. the Ia
Dor members withdrew on October 90
| and two days later the conference
came to an end. without having ac-
complished any result.
On October Is bituminous coal min
ers were ordered to quit work on Oc-
tober 81 upon failure of the miners
and operators to agree upon a new
schedule of wages and hours. The
! leaders of the miners refused to con-
/ slider an appeal by President Wilson
10 call off the strike, pending an eff
fort to effect compromise, and the
government proceeded to take vigor-
Gus steps TO prevent the shutting OF
the mines. The department of jus
tice obtained an injunction from Fed
erai 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 severe cold wave
The fuel administration and loca
commissions put into effect drastic
orders for conservation of coal. Pres
ident Wilson then proposed that the
miners accept wage increase of l.
per cent and return to work at once
and that commission OF three to bt
appointed by him investigate and set
tie wages and conditions for the fu
ture. This plan was accepted by thu
miners on December 10 and coal pro
duction was resumed.
Mexico and the United States
Conditions in Mexico continued t.
provide a perpiexing problem for tn
United States government during Thu
year 1919.
A report on July 6 that armed Mex
leans had attacked and robbed boat
load of American sailors near Tam
pico caused bitter feeling and ON An
gust II this was intensified. by the cap