Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1920-01-01
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 9 by a walk
out Of marine 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 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 the country was
| startled by announcement of 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 We're taken by
| Mayor Ole Hanson to suppress it. As
a 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 10 strike Of girl operators
tied up the telephone service through
out the New England states. but this
was ended on April 20 by compro-
mise wage Increase.
On July IS the Building Employers
association Of Chicago. combating a
strike Of building workers. locked out
IN. Spf mo
Boston street car employees went on
| strike. Chicago surface and elevated
| car men struck on July 10 but the
strike ended three days later with a
compromise wage agreement. Rail-
way shopmen throughout the country
| from 6S cents to s. cents an hour. but
| the strike was called off on August IA.
On August there was inaugurated
In New York one If the most unusual
strikes on record-a waikout OF actors.
The strike spread To Chicago and was
not settled until September when
the actors won.
On September q the largest part Of
the Boston police force went on strike
after the suspension Of patro'men nc
tive in forming union. RiOtng fol-
lowed in which seven persons were
killed. The striking policemen voted
on September L. 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
short time hut the strikers soon weak
ened and within few weeks prac-
tically normal conditions were re-
stored.
On October 6 an industrial confer.
ence called by President Wilson. rep
resentng tabor. capitai and the public.
opened its sessions In Washington.
but after Intellectual attempts 10 agree
upon proposal TO recognize the prin-
| ciple OF collective bargaining. the la
Dor members withdrew on October ~
and two days later the conference
came TO an end without having &C
compiished any result.
On October Il hituminous coal min
ers were ordered to quit work on Oc-
| toher 81 upon failure Of the miners
| and operators 10 agree upon new
schedule Of wages and hours The
! leaders Of the miners refused 70 con-
slider an appeal by President Wilson
| 70 call OF the strike. pending an Of
| fort IN effect a compromise, and the
government proceeded 10 take v!gor-
! Gus steps to prevent the SHIFTING Of
| the mines. The department Of jus
| tice ohrained an injunction from Fed.
erai Judge Anderson NJ Indianapolis
| To prevent the leaders OF the union
from directing 'hH strike. which. how
| ever. began on November I.
The shortage Of coal especially in the
! middle and western states became
/ alarming ans! the situation was rem
/ dered verse ny severe cold wave
! The fuel administration and locai
! commissions PM into effect drastic
| orders for conservation of coal Pres
ident Wilson then proposed thar the
| miners accept n wage increase OF ~
! Der cent and return To work ar once
| and that commission of three ~ he
/ appointed hy him investigate and set
III, wages and conditions for the f,l-
tnre This plan was accepted by the
miners on December 10 and coal pro-
! siurt,on was resumed
Mexico and. the United States.