Middletown transcript., 1921-01-01


Esch bill. announced that 1t would not
hear cases of men who were on strike.
A new coal strike. wasf inaugurated
in Illinois and Kansas April 5,
five thousand men going out because
Of dissatisfaction with the wage
awards made by the coal commission.
The first of a long series Of strikes
involving B0lshevik activities took
place in Italy March 25, when work
men and peasants in Naples and the
provinces Of Novra, Alexandra, Brex-
cia and Treviso, attempted to establish
soviets. Troops restored order and
the strike ended within wo days.
On May there were r'ots in Paris.
and railway workers sick for ma
tionalization of the railr4; ds. French
dock workers and coal Liners Joined
the strike on May 5. The French gov
ernment took vigorous steps to end
the strike, moving to dissolve the Cen
eral Federation of Labor and char
acterizing the strike leaders as Boishe-
visits. The strikes were called off by
the General Federation of Labor on
May q.
The American Federation Of Labor,
meeting at Montreal, declared in fe-
vor of an Irish republic and pledged
itself to wage a determined fight
against the Kansas Industrial Rela-
tons Court law. On June IS the fed
GRAFTON reelected Samuel Gompers
president, for his thirty-ninth term.
The Railway Labor board announced
its decision on wage increases on July
20, awarding increases Of from 20 to
q per cent to nearly 100000 employ
ees, the total increase amounting to
about $500, 100000 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 tc work. after an
appeal had been made by President
Wilson.
Serious riots occurred at Denver Au-
gust 5 in connection with q 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 $3O,OOOOO0
year to $4,000 railway express workers.
On August 80 President Wilson ap-
proved the majority report Of the an
thracite wage commission. awarding
wage increases of from II to 20 per
cent. On September 1 anthracite op-
orators and miners signed two-year
contract based on the award, but thou
sands Of men remained on what they
termed vacation" ir protest against
the award.
Industrial conditions grew more Sc
ricus in Italy during the late summer
and fall. An obstructionist campaign
was started by 100000 workmen on
August %. On August 81. in Lom-
bardy, 800 Woodworking plants were
seized by employees and workmen's
councils took charge of the plants. On
September IA the wOrkmen'S council
voted for cooperative management
and profit-sharing by the work
men. At the same time the workmen
took over POO chemical works and sew
tral textile mills. Premier Giolitti in
tervened and OH September 10 the en-
ployers agreed to his terms Of settle
ment. granting increases of pay ret
roactive to July Is. The workmen ac-
cepted the settlement and ordered the
factories returned to the owners.
An industrial crisis was precipitated
in England on October 16 by strike
Of 100000 coal miners. On the 2Sth
an agreement was reached for an in
crease in wages in consideration Of a
pledge on the part Of the miners to
help increase production. The strike
was called off November 3.
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
by the announcement of the textile.
mills of New England in December of |
reduction in wages amounting to
22A per cent.