The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-01-03
Labor and Industrial.


Serious industrial disturbances were
prevalent during the greater part OF
the wear 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 Walk
ont of marine workers in New YORK.
This strike was Of short duration, now
ever. as il 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 I'D
progress during January in Argentina
and Peru.
On February 6 the country was
startled by announcement of gen
eraI 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
q result the strike ended on February
10. On February 16 a nationwide
strike of building trades workers was
started and on March the marine
workers In New York again went out.
On April 10 a strike of girl operators
tied IN the telephone service through
out the New England states, but this
was ended on April 20 by compro-
mise wage increase.
The American Federation of Labor
| began q two weeks convention at Al
lantic City on June 9. On June Y
| Samuel Gompers was reelected presl-
! dent and on the following day the fed
| GRAFTON declared for 4-hOur week
| for all crafts as we'll as for all United
| States employees.
On July 10 the Building Employers
association of Chicago, combating a
strike of building workers, locked out
| 200 600 employees. On the same day
Boston street car employees went on
strike. Chicago surface and elevated
car men struck on July % but the
strike ended three days later with
compromise wage agreement. RaH-
| way shopmen throughout the country
struck on August / for an increase
from 68 cents to IS cents an hour, but
the strike was called off on August IA.
On August Z 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 9 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 q steel workers
throughout the country went on strike
demanding wage increases and shorter
hours. Many plants were closed for
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 it's sessions In Washington
but after Intellectual attempts to agree
upon proposal to recognize the prln
ciple of collective bargaining, the la
bor members withdrew on October 2.
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 DC
tober 81 upon failure Of the miner:
and operators to agree upon new
schedule of wages and hours. The
leaders of the miners refuset. 20 con
slider an appeal by President Wilson
to call off the strike, pending an ef
fort to effect compromise, and thu
government proceeded to take vigor
Gus steps to prevent the shutting o
the mines The department of jus
tice obtained an injunction from Fed
eral Judge Anderson at indianapolis
to prevent the leaders Of the uDiOl
from directing the strike, which, how
ever, began on November 1.
The shortage of coal. especially In tn
middle and western states, becam
alarming and the situation was rem
, dered worse by a severe cold wave
The fuel administration and lOca
commissions put into effect drasti
orders for conservation Of coal. Pres
ident Wilson then proposed that tn
miners accept wage increase of ]
per cent and return to work at ono
, and that commission Of three to b
appointed by him investigate and sci
tie wages and conditions for the fl
/ ture This plan was accepted by tn
miners on December 10 and coal pro
duction was resumed.
Mexico and the United States
. Conditions in Mexico continued [
, provide perplexing problem for tn
United States government during I'll
. year 1919.
: A report on July 6 that armed Me-
, leans had attacked and robbed boa
load of American sailors near Tan
7 pico caused bitter feeling and on Al
e | gust II this was intensified by the cal
] | ture of two United States army avi,
] | tors by bandits, who held them ft
3 $4,000 ransom. The ransom was pal
9 by the United States government o
| A,.~,,c% 10 onA N troov, - royoIr~ n