New-York tribune., 1920-09-08
Seven Injured
At Trieste i'm
Street Fights
Socialist Metal Workers
Give the Employers Five
Days i'm Which to Sub.
lnit to Their Demands
400 Plants Are Occupied
Naturalization Is Threat
ened; Peace Conference
is Scheduled Tomorrow

TRIESTE, Sept. 7.-Seven persons
were wounded in street fighting be-
tween Nationalsts and Socialists here
to-day. The general strike still con-
tinues in effect.
ROME, Sept. THE employers in
metal factories which have been seized
by workmen have been given five days
in which to comply with the working
mems demands, according to a resolu-
tion passed by the Socialist members
of the General Confederation of Labor.
Should the employers fail to yield gen
eral naturalization is threatened. So
Tar the manufacturers are persisting
IN their decision not to enter into di-
rect negotiations with the workers be-
fore the latter evacuate the factories.
Government officials will open ne
gotiations with the General Industrial
Conference at Milan Thursday with a
view to solving the problem presented
by the seizure of metal factories. The
Socialist group in the Italian Parlia-
ment will meet with the governing
committee of the General Workers
Confederation Friday, and it is ex-
pected that at this gathering a policy
will be adopted by the workers rela-
tive to the present anomalous condi-
tion of Italian industry.
400 Metal Plants Seized
1t is estimated that 400 of the larg-
est metal works in Italy have been oc-
the movement is still expanding,
threa eatening to extend to the extreme
southern end of the peninsula. Elabo-
rate steps have been taken by the gov
ernment to preserve order during the
period when a general offensive against
all industries is threatened.
Manufacturers declare the wage in
creases demanded by the 100000 metal
workers employed by them would add
at least 1000 100000 lire to their pay
rolls and that this burden could not be
pays eighteen times the pre-war price
for coal while England pays only three
times, America only 3.5, France and
even Germany only IL. AS q result
foreign production is replacing Italian.
Wrought steel manufactured in France
is selling in this country at q lower
price than the Italian product, while
wrought steel made in England costs
less than it can be produced for in
Italy, even without profit.
Two members of the ministry will
go to Milan and it is hoped the General
Industrial Conference will take early
action on their suggestions. If this
action should be favorable it would
mean the end of the agitation for oc-
cupation of plants. If it should be
unfavorable it is impossible to predict
the duration and possible consequences
Of the struggle.
Women and Children Help
Strikers in this city believed last
night that an effort would be made
by the police to take possession Of
some plants that had been occupied by
workers. They sounded an alarm with
sirens and Immediately crowds of
women and children rushed to the oc
CAPPED plants to Join relatives. This,
according to the police, appears to in
dicate the strikers have agreed, in
case of en attack upon them, to pro-
tcct themselves by the presence Of
women ard children.
All night armored cars and armed
cyclists patrolled the streets and ma
chine guns we're placed in dominating
positions along the thoroughfares,
while the idly curious were driven
from the streets by carabineers. The
police were watching every section Of
the city and were prepared for any
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