The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-09-18
warn that
UEWS1RIKE
IS COMING
lnterchurch Heads Ask Pub
lie to Help Avert Big
Industrial Conflict

Industrial Conflict
NEW YORK. Sept is.--Inviting
Areful examination OF tho condi-
TONS In the American steel industry
hy puhlic-sririted organizations. the
Intcrchurrh World Movements com.
mission of inquiry. has addressed the
following open letter 20 the public.
The commission made an invcsu.
ration OF the recent steel strike and
f1led lengthy report OF its findings.
This report was the basis for general
attack on the Movement by the
heads OF the steel industry. The re-
pors Is now being considered by the
department OF labor. having passed
thru President Wilson'S hands.
DRIFTING TOWARD
UNRESTRICTED WARFARE
The Commission OF Inquiry Of
the 1nterchurch World Movement
appeals to the public to consider one
phase OF the commission Sreport on
The steel strike In the light OF sig.
nificnnt developments since the pub
Ncation OF tho report
s,Our report set forth the fsinda-
mental causes OF the strike. pointed
ous that strike causing grievances
persist 30 that the industry Is DRIFT
ing toward unrestricted warfare.
recommended primarily that the fed
orNl government set up a commits
SION which should initiate free open
eonference ba<ween cmpioye and en-
ployer and In conclusion phrased In
these words a question which the
ccmmissicn's activities had raised:
els tho nation helpless before
opnditions In basic industry which
promise a future crisisT Can our
11uocratic society he moved to do
Industrial justice without the pres
ouru OF crisis i,self7'
three Developments have oc
Cured since the report was pub
N1hed on July IS
.pU0CEs LINING UP
uO1 BATTLE
''One-The president Of the United
0enxes referred the report to the
secretary OF labor who has taken up
~ matter with the commission
wO-On August :. the American
Yb0ention OF Labor announced that
& would make new drive to or
unnixe the industry.
s-Thres-On August II new asso-
cation OF steel manufacturers was
GDgmed with the announced purpose
a meeting the attack OF the unions
Grx-MONTH
PREDICTIONS CORRECT
Our report was formulated last
winter. Its six.months-oid prcdic-
Gems are not denied by the march Of
oVenta. We hold that the events
Dunctuate the reports question
cannot . democracy govern itself:
UuGt the public. forewarned. rest In.
~ while = basic industry prepares
trouble for all7 Just because the
otE1ko Is some way off. or because
- national campaigns to allocate
our political governance are on. Is
~ great democracy 20 let economic
oovernance go by sheer default?
Sxhe reports basic statements
have not been challenged. on the
contrary. the bulk OF public opinion
expresses a surprisingly widespread
demand for action on the facts ex.
hfbited- The commission feels that
4 can await with confidence any
instrumentation being prepared by
The secretary OF labor.
ASK PUBLIC TO
GxEP INTO BREACH
Meanwhile. we call upon the
public. under whatever forms OF or.
sanitation II merits the term public
spirited. to offer service Of co-opera,
tion 10 the federal government. To
initiate or extend independent In
vestigations into conditions In the
steel industry. to meet the Challenge
70 orderly progress which Is implicit
in the present preparations by
unions and owners for a new con.
flicf- The alternative possibility Il
employc-employcr conference. under
federal auspices. begun now. lie,
the public press for this first step
The 12-hour day. involving hun
dreds OF thousands, the seven day
week. wages that make for un
healthy communities and an under
bred race. arbitrary management
which penalties the American spirit
and corrupts its institutions--is ths
reform Of all this 10 be left simply
10 the hazard OF a striker"
The letter In signed by BishoI
Francis J. Mcconnell. chairman: DIR
Daniel A. Polling. vice chairman Of
the Commission Of Inquiry. Inter
church World Movement.