The Owosso times., 1922-07-21
MOVE STARTED TO
ORGANIZE STEEL
Executive Council of Federation
Laying Plans to Unionize
Workers.
TO BEGIN WITH ORE MINERS
Campaign Work, Say Leaders, Will
Be Constructive and Conservative,
and Radical Element Will Not
BE Permitted to Control.

The first step In the new campaign
of the American Federation of Labor
to unionize the iron and steel mills of
the country will be the launching of
movement to organize the more than
25O,OO0 metal miners who produce the
basic materials for the industry.
Proposed plans for the new often
sive against the United States Steel
corporation and it's subsidiaries and
the large nonunion independent COM
panies practically were decided upon
at meeting of the executive council
of national and international Organiza-
tions in the steel industry affiliated
with the A. f. of l.. This body was
organized more than year ago, re-
placing the national committee, headed
by William u. Foster, that conducted
the unsuccessful strike of 1919.
Because Of present industrial cOndi-
tions and the threatened strike, the
council has decided not to open the
campaign to organize the metal miners
for several months or more, although
some propaganda work may be
launched within the next few weeks.
The committee, it is stated, has at
least $4,000 to finance its immediate
needs, and with the cooperation of its
affiliated organizations, which have Il
combined membership of more than
100000, can raise additional funds.
Officials Of the council declare that
the campaign work will be "cOnstruc-
tive and conservative" and assert that
the radical element will be prevented
from getting control. Especial atten-
tiOn, it is stated, will be given to the
Industrial Workers of the World, who
have been active among the ore miners
of Michigan, Minnesota and Montana
Michael F. Tighe, president Of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers and chairman
Of the executive council, said that be-
cause of the unemployment and indus
trial situation it probably would be
some time before active uniOnization
Of the steel workers themselves would
be attempted.
"We are determined to proceed on
he said, land have come to the con-
clusiOn that the better plan would be
to devote our efforts first to the ore
miners who furnish the basic products
needed In the iron and steel industry
We will cooperate with the mine, mill
and smelter workers union, which has
now become a part OF our committee
1T has been proposed that we start
the campaign In the Lake Superior and
Lake Michigan region. then tackle the
dock leaders and other classes of men
that handle the ore en- route to the
steel mills. 1t will probably take a
long time and be hard fight, but this
looks to be the most logical and sure
method of capturing the steel industry
for the American labor movement"
William O'Hannon Of the Machinists'
union, secretary of the council, said
that complete canvass of the steel
situation had been made and plans
were being made to take advantage of
any condition that might arise.
The proposed campaign, he explained,
would cover the metal miners EN-
ployed in Michigan, Montana, Mime
sofa, Colorado and Arizona, with spe-
cial attention to the Mesabi and GOge-
bic range regions, owned and con-
trolled by the United States Steel cor
pOration and the big independents, in
Guiding the Oliver interests of Pitts
burgh.