The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-01-03
Labor and industrial.


strikes in the United States was III I,
augurated on January by VAIN
out of marine workers in New YORK.
This strike was of short duration. now
ever as IL ended on January IL, pehu-
inc an arbitration of the dispute ny
the war labor board. South America
anparentiy was affected also by new
conditions as great strikes were Ill
progress during January in Argentina
and Peru.
On February 6 the country was
startled by announcement OF gen.
oral strike In Seattle called IN sup
mort Of striking shipbuilders. Author
tiles announced that this strike was
forced by the radical labor element
and prompt measures were taken ny
Navor Ole Hanson to suppress III. AS
a result the strike ended on FEBRUARY
10 On February 16 nationwide
strike of building trades workers was
started and on March a the marine
workers in New York again Vent out
On April 10 strike of e'r' 'pera'ors
tied I'D the telephone servsc> through
ont the New England states, but this
was ended on April 20 by a conpro-
mise wage increase.
The American Federation OF LaDor
hogan a two weeks convention at Az
lontic City on June 9. On June -
Samuel Gompers was reelected presl-
dent and on the following day the leu-
Grafton declared for 44-hour week
for all crafts as well as for all United
States employees.
On July IS the Building Employers
association of Chicago, combating
| strike of building workers. locked out
900 600 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 win
compromise wage agreement. Rail-
wov shopmen throughout the country
struck on August l for an increase
from 6S cents to So cents an hour, but
tho strike was called off on August Ia.
On August Z there was inaugurateu
in New York one of the most unusuai
strikes on record-a walkOut OF ac'ors'
The strike spread to Chicago and was
not settled until September when
the actors won.
On September the, largest part OF
Tho Boston police force went on strike
after the suspension of patrolmen ac-
tive in forming a union. Riocng foi-
lowed in which seven persons were
killed. The striking policemen voted
, on September IL TO return to duty.
On September % steel workers
throughout the country went on strike,
: demanding wage increases and shorter
r hours. Many plants were closed Tor a
> short time hut the strikers soon weak
! | ened and within a few weeks prac
tically normal conditions were re
: stored.
h On October 6 an industria, confer
h ence called by President Wilson, rep
e resenting labor. capital and the public
l. opened its sessions In Washington
f hut after Intellectual attempts to agree
8 upon a proposal to recognize the prin
II ciple of collective bargaining. the Ia
T. bor members withdrew on October :
and two days later the conference
W came 70 an end without having az
.e complshed any result.
a On October 10 bituminous coal mir
If ers were ordered to quit work on %
m tober 81 upon failure of the miner
" and operators TO agree upon me-
schedule of wages and hours. tn
| a, rnfnCn6 col
. slider an appeal by President Wiiso
n TO call off the strike, pending an
In fort TO effect a compromise, and II
government proceeded to take vigo
cy Gus steps to prevent the shutting
nd the mines. The department of ju
10 tice obtained an injunction from Fe
he eral Judge Anderson at lndianapol
pt To prevent the leaders of the uni'
-o- from directing the strike, which. no
re- ever, began on November i.
m The shortage Of coal. especially In
iii middle and western states, becar
nd alarming and the situation was re
his dered worse by severe cold way
ill | The fuel administration and lo6
commissions put into effect dras
st orders for conservation of coal. Pr
at. ident Wilson then proposed that
ost miners accept a wage increase of
ad- per cent and return to work at OF
n and that a commission Of three to
,es appointed by him investigate and S
adj tie wages and conditions for the
of ture. This plan was accepted by
nm miners on December 10 and coal p
,ro- duction was resumed.
sis- Mexico and the United Stat
tice Conditions in Mexico continued
the provide a perplexing problem for
United States government during
the year 1919.