The Holly chieftain., 1920-12-30
LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL

ONOOn HNO SNOUO ntA6
Industrial unrest which manifested
itself during the period of reaction i'm
mediately following the war, became
even more marked during the year
1920. Radical activities were involved
In some Of the labor disputes in this
country, but this was true to a much
larger extent In the labor troubles that
beset most of the countries of Europe
during the greater part Of the year.
The first month of the year was
marked, In the Unite6 States, by the
abandonment of the steel workers
strike which had been begun on Sep
tember %.
Peace was declared between the
bituminous coal operators and miners
March 81, when they signed a two
year agreement based on an award
made by the coal commission named
by President Wilson.
An .'outlaw" strike of railroad
switchmen began in Chicago April Is.
and spread rapidly to other parts Of
the country. Federal officers arrested
80 leaders Of the strike in Chicago,
April Is, on charges of interfering with
the mails and violation Of the Lever
act. On April 10 the joint railroad
wage board created by the Cummins-
Esch bill. announced that 1t would not
hear cases of men who were on strike.
A new coal strike was inaugurated
In Illinois and Kansas April 5.
five thousand men going out because
of dissatisfaction with the wage
awards made by the coal commission.
The Railway Labor board announced
its decision on wage Increases on July
q per cent to nearly 100000 employ
ees, the total increase amounting to
about 5000. .0OO.OOO year, about half
the raise that employees had asked.
The award Was accepted by the rail-
road unions.
Serious riots occurred at Denver Au-
gust In connection with q street car
strike. many being killed and injured.
Federal troops were ordered to Denver
to stop the disorders.
The Railway Labor board made an
other award August 10. granting an
increase amounting to 100000 a
year to 15.0O0 railway express workers.
On August 30 President Wilson ap-
proved the majority report Of the an
thracite wage commission. awarding
wage increases Of from II to 20 per
cent. On September l anthracite op-
orators and miners signed a two-year
CONTRACT based on the award, but thou
sands Of men remained on what they
termed vacation" ir protest against
the award
Industrial conditions grew more Sc
rious in Italy during the late summer
and fall. An obseructionist campaign
was started by 10000 workmen on
August = On August 81, in Lom-
hardy. 800 Woodworking plants were
seized by employees and workmen's
councils took charge of the plants. On
September IA the workmen's council
voted for cooperative management
and proft-sharing by the work
men At the same time the workmen
took over 200 chemical works and sew
eral textile mills Premier Giolitti in
tervened- and on September 10 the en-
ployers agreed to his terms of settle
ment. granting Increases Of pay ret
roactive to July Is. The workmen ac-
cepted the settlement and ordered the
factories returned to the owners.
An Industrial crisis was precipitated
in England on October l6 by a strike
Of 100000 coal miners. On the 2Sth
an agreement was reached for an in
crease in wages in consideration of a
pledge on the part Of the miners to
help increase production. The strike
was called OF November 3.
A severe business depression was
felt throughout the United States dur-
ing the closing weeks of the year. The
trend toward lower wages was marked
by the announcement of the textile
mills of New England in December Of
a reduction In wsges amounting to
2a per cent
MIC hcrenA