Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-01-07

five thousand men, going out because
OF dissatisfaction with the wage
awards made by the coal commission.
The first Of long series Of strikes
involving BOlshevik activities took
place in Italy March %, when work
men and peasants in Naples and the
provinces of NOvra, Alexandra, Brex-
cha and TrevsO, 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
tiOnallzatiOn OF the railroads. French
dock workers and coal miners Joined
the strike on May 3. The French gov
eminent took vigorous steps to end
the strike, moving to dissolve the Gen
eral Federation Of Labor and char
acterizing the strike leaders as Bolshe-
visits. The strikes were called off by
the General Federation Of Labor on
May q.
AnC lNullNhN l<hDOI iNhlh ulA''N''~NN
its decision on wage increases on July
20, awarding increases of from 70 TO
q per cent to nearly 100000 employ
ees, the total increase amounting to
about $600,0O0O00 a year, about 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, Indi-
ana and Kansas, but on July 81 they
were ordered back 10 work, after an
appeal had been made by President
Wilson
Serious riots occurred al Denver Au-
gust 5 in connection with a 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 $30.000OOO a
year to $4,000 railway express workers.
On August 80 President Wilson APP
proved the majority report Of the an
thracite wage commission, awarding
wage increases Of from II to 20 per
cent. On September ] anthracite OPP
orators and miners signed a 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
riOus in Italy during the late summer
and fall. An ObStruCti0niSt campaign
was started by 100000 workmen on
August 90. On August 81 in Lom-
hardy, BOO Woodworking plants were
seized by employees and w0rkmen'S
councils took charge Of the plants. ON
September il The WOrkmcnS council
voted for cooperative management
and prOfl-Sharing by me work
men At the same time the Workmen
took over POO chemical works and Scv-
era textile mills Premier Giolitti in
ItINtittl. anu WI 'NNI'N'lhhNl ~ wv 'i'
plOyers agreed 10 his terms Of settle
ment, granting increases of pay ret
roauive 10 July 10. The workmen ac-
cepted the settlement and ordered the
factories returned 10 the owners.
An industrial crisis was precipitaled
in England on October lG by a strike
OF l,00OW0 coal miners On the 2Sth
an agreement was reached for an in
crease in wages in consideration "f Il
pledge on the part Of the minerS to
help increase production. The strike
was called Ofi November g.
A severe business depression was
felt throughout the United States dur
ing the closing weeks Of the year. The
trend toward lower wages was marked
10y the announcement of the textile
mills Of New England in December of
reduction in wages amounting Ia
22l2 per cent.