The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1920-01-03
Labor and Industrial.

nugurated on January . by walk
out OF marine workers IA New York.
This strike was OF short duration. how
ever. as II ended on January IL, 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 o the country was
startled by announcement OF gen.
eral strike In Seattle called In sup
port OF striking shlpbuilders. 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 February 10 nationwide
strike OF building trades workers was
started and on March the marine
workers In New York again went out.
On April IS strike OF girl operators
tied up the telephone service through.
out the New England states. but this
was ended on April 20 by n compro-
mise wage increase.
On July 18 the Building Employers
association OF Chicago, combating a
strike OF building workers. locked out
100000 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 country
struck on August 1 for an increase
from 6S cents to 50 cents an hour, but
the strike was called or on August II.
On August z there was innugurated
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 9 when
the actors won.
On September o 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 ~ 10 return 10 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 hut the strikers soon weak
ened and within few weeks prac-
tlcally normal conditions were re
stored.
On October @ an industrial confer.
ence called by President Wilson. rep
resentIng labor, capital and the public,
opened It's sessions In Washington.
hut after Intellectual attempts 20 agree
upon proposal 10 recognize the prin-
ciple OF collective bargaining, the la
hOr members withdrew on October %
and two days later the conference
came 10 an end without having ac-
complIshed any result.
on October rs bltumInous coal min
ers were ordered 10 quit work on Oc-
tOber 81 upon failure OF the miners
and operators 10 agree upon new
schedule OF wnges and hours. The
lenders OF the miners refused 10 con-
slider an appeal by President Wilson
20 call OF the strike. pending nm ef-
fort to effect compromise. and the
government proceeded to take vigor-
Gus steps 10 prevent the shutting Of
the mines. The department Of JUS
tlce obtained IN injunction from Fed
cral Judge Anderson az Indianapolis
10 prevent the leaders OF the union
from directing the strike. which, how
ever. hogan ON November l.
The shortage Of cont. especially IN the /,
middle and western states. became
alarming and the situation was rem
dered worse by n severe cold wave.
The fuel administration and local
commissions put into effect drastic
orders FOR conservation Of coal. Pres
Idcnt Wilson then proposed that the
miners accept a wage increase Of ~
per ccnt md return % work AZ once
and that y commission ~ three 20 be
appointed by him investigate and set.
lie wages and conditions for the fn-
ture. This plan was accepted by the
miners on December 10 and coal pro-
duction was resumed.
Mexico and the United States.
Conditions IN Mexico continued 10 4
perplexing problem for the