Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-01-01
Labor and Industrial.

y oeTlOuS INDUSTRIAL disturbances WeT
e prevalent during the greater part @
Y the year in all countries that had bee
: engaged in war. The series of grea
J. strikes in the United States was In
augurated on January by walk
? out of marine workers in New York
This strike was of short duration, how
ever, as IL ended on January II, pend
ing an arbitration of the dispute b!
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 6 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 were taken by
Mayor Ole Hanson to suppress it. AS
a result the strike ended on February
| 10. On February 10 a nationwide
strike of building trades workers was
started and on March 4 the marine
workers in New York again went out.
| On April 10 strike of giri 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
sassociation of Chicago, combating a
ctrilya of buildino uorkars IooLod ont
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 a
compromise wage agreement. Rail-
way shopmen throughout the country
struck on August / for an increase
from 6S cents to 81 cents an hour, but
the strike was called oE'cpn August IA. |
On August there was inaugurated |
In New York one of the most unusual
strikes on record-a wallSout of actors.
The strike spread to Chicago and was
not settled until September 6 when
the actors won.
On September the largest part Of
the Boston police force went on strike
after the suspension of patrolmen ac-
tive in forming union. Rioting fol-
lowed in which seven persons were
killed The striking policemen voted
on September II to return to duty.
On September % steel workers
the country went on strike,
wage increases and shorter
hours. Many plants We're closed for a
short time but the strikers soon weak
ened and within few weeks prac-
ically normal conditions were re-
stored. :
On October an industrial confer
nee called by President Wilson. rep
labor capital and the public,
'pened its sessions in Washington,
nut after Intellectual attempts to agree
Ipon a proposal to recognize the prin- ',
iple of collective bargaining, the la !.
or members withdrew on October %
nd two days later the conference
anne to an end without having ac-
any result. q
On October - btuminous coal min i,
RS were ordered to quit work on Oc- =,
Dber 81 upon failure of the miners y
nd operators to agree upon new
,hedule of wages and hours The -
'aderS of the miners refused to con =
der an appeal by President Wilson ~
call off the strike, pending an eff =,
'rt to effect compromise and the =,
Dvernment proceeded to take vigor- Az
Is steps to prevent the shutting of "
e mines. The department of JUS "
re obtained an injunction from Fed -
al Judge Anderson at indianapolis "
prevent the leaders of the union 81
ON directing the strike, which, how a.
err, began on November l. co
rhe shortage of coal, especially in the -
ddle and western states, became g.
lrmlng and the situation was rem O.,
red worse by severe cold wave. w
le fuel administration and local W.
mmissions put into effect drastic -,
lers for conservation of coal. Pres So
mt Wilson then proposed that the ' "a,
ners accept a wage increase of II 49,,
r cent and return to work at once a.
] that a commission of three to be w.
pointed by him investigate and set. A.,
wages and conditions for the fu- sa a
e. This plan was accepted by the an,
lers on December 10 and coal pro. ~, ~,
,tIon was resumed. -
,xico and the United States. Dor
Me-
Conditions In Mexico continued to lei
vide a perplexing problem for the her
tied States government during the Gin.
r 1910 Act
report on July o that armed Mex. wh,
rs had attacked and robbed a boat. 81
J of American sailors near Tam. mn,
, caused bitter feeling and on Au. AL,
[ II this was intensified by the cap. her
, of two United States army avla chic
by bandits, who held them for Tho
900 ransom. The ransom was paid ntor