The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-02-03

FIVE thousand men going out because
OF dissatisfaction with the fwage
awards made by the coal commission.
The first OF long series OF strikes
involving Bolshevik activities took
place In Italy March 20, when work
men and peasants In Naples and the
provinces OF Novra. Alexandra. Brex-
ella and Treviso. attempted to establish
soviets Troops restored order and
the strike ended within two days.
On May there were riots In Paris.
and railway workers struck for ma
tionalizatlon OF the railroads. French
dock workers and coal miners Joined
the strike on May 3. The French gov
ernment took vigorous steps to end
the strike. moving to dissolve the Gen.
eral Federation Of Labor and char
acterizlng the strike leaders as Bolshe-
visits. The strikes were called of by
the General Federation of Labor on
May 81.
The Railway Labor board announced
Its decision on wage Increases on July
20. awarding increases Of from 20 to
21 per cent to nearly 2.O00.0OO employ
ees, the total increase amounting to
about SG00.0OO.000 year, ubout half
the raise that employees had asked.
The award was accepted by the rail-
road unions.
During the latter part of July coal
miners again struck In Illinois, 1ndi-
ana and Kansas but on July 81 they
were ordered back TO work. after an
appeal had been made by President
| Wilson.
Serious riots occurred at Denver Au-
| gust 8 In connection with n street car
strike, many being killed and injured.
Federal troops were ordered to Denver
to stop the disorders.
The Railway Labor board made an
other award August 10, granting an
| Increase amounting to $30,0OO,OOO a
year to 10000 railway express workers.
On August 80 President Wilson ap-
proved the majority report of the nm
thraclte wage commission, awarding
wage increases OF from II to 20 per
cent. On September l anthracite OPP
orators and miners signed two-year
contract based on the award, but thou
sands Of men remained on what they
termed vacation" In protest against
the award.
Industrial conditions grew more Sc
rlous In Italy during the late summer
and fall. An obstructlonist campaign
was started by 100000 workmen on
August %. On August 81, In LON
hardy, 800 Woodworking plants were
seized by employees and workmeD''
councils took charge of the plants. Or
September IA the workmen's council
voted for cooperative management
and pro0t.sharing by the work
men. At the same time the workmeI
took over 200 chemical works and sew
eral textile mills. Premier Giolltti In
tervened, and on September 10 the EN-
ployers agreed to his terms Of settle
ment, granting Increases OF pay ret
roactive to July Is. The workmen at
cepted the settlement and ordered tn
factories returned to the owners.
An Industrial crisis was ffeclpltate
In England on October 10 by a strik
OF 100000 coal miners. On the 2Stl
an agreement was reached for an in
crease In wages In consideration Of
pledge on the part Of the miners 4
help increase production. The strik
was called of November 3.
A severe business depression wa
felt throughout the United States dur
ing the closing weeks Of the year. Tn
trend toward lower wages was marke
by the announcement Of the textil
mills OF New England In December o
reduction In wages amounting I
22k per cent.