Evening star., 1936-07-26

QuenCly runs tHrUuSu ITO
i L pages a series of condolences
which are fascinating, If not signif1-
cant.
Such a circumstance was recorded
early this month, when dispatches
from Nice, France, carried the in
formation that Alexander Berkman.
Russian anarchist, had died OF self
inflicted bullet wound.
Berkman's name flashed across
Americas news pages as long ago as
1892. when he unsuccessfully at
tempted to assassinate H. G. Frick,
Pittsburgh steel magnate, in the
latter's Office. Berkman was mott
waited by his hatred for authority, but
more particularly by the determlna-
ton of Frick that organized labor
should be driven out Of the steel in
dustry.
The anarchists attempt at violence
was a failure in the last analysis, but
the determination of Frick and his
successors has endured to the present
day. And again today labor and steel
are locked in a pitched battle that
may bring violence and bloodsneo
equal to those of 1892 and the
counterpart in 1919. This time Berk-
mans only contribution is his own
suicide-not significant, but vaguely,
perhaps, an omen of blood.
Todays analysis of the steel-laoor
war NAV be conveniently divided into
two phases-flrst, the background OF
steel-labor relationships since the
days of the Civil War, and, second
the immediate background OF the
drive now under way by John l..
Lewis and his industrial union ad-
herents.
Craft Unions Begin.
In presenting this picture chrono-
logically, first interest is centered on
secret society known as the Sons OF
Vulcan. founded by steel puddlers IN
1858. By the time the Civil War had
ended. the Sons of Vulcan had become
a recognized craft union, still limited
in its membership to the skilled steel
puddlers.
Within a few years, however union
ism in the steel industry grew rapidly
and the Sons of Vulcan and several
other steel craft unions were blanketed
into the newly formed National Anal
gamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers in 1876. In this group were
included only the craft unions of the
skilled workers, but by 1892 the ANAL
gamated numbered $4,000 members or
about one-siXth of all those employed
In the industry.
Such display of strength had its ad-
vantages, chief among them contrac-
tual relationships with virtually every
steel company. Among those follow
ing a conciliatory policy toward the
nmalgamated was Andrew Carnegie,
but the placing of Carnegie manage
s1ient in the hands of H. C. Frick in
1889 was forerunner of the trouble
60 follow.
Ten Killed in Steel War.
In that very year the amalgamated
conducted a strike in the Homestead,
Pa, plant of the Carnegie company
and succeeded in effecting a three
year agreement with the management.
The agreement was due to expire in
June, 1892, and negotiations for new
contract began early that year. With
steel prices dropping, Frick demanded
a 10 per cent wage reduction, but the
unions best offer was 4 per cent cut.
Frick became adamant, fortified the
Homestead plant with board fence
and barbed wire, hired 800 Pinkerton
guards and closed the plant on June
30. On July a 13-hour gun battle
was waged between the guards and
the locked out workers, with 10 killed
and scores wounded.
On July 7 the Carnegie Co. an
nounced that "the Homestead Mill
hereafter will be run non-union and
the Carnegie Co. will never again rec
ognize the Amalgamated Association.
or any other labor organization"
Three days later the Pennsylvania
National Guard was ordered to Home
stead Ito preserve law and order" and
strikebreakers were imported under
protection Of 5000 soldiers. It was
during the July days of their importa-
tion that Berkman made his attempt |
to aSsassinate Frick.
Homestead Strike Broken.
In November the Homestead strike
was broken and workers returned
without benefit of union contracts.
In 1901 occurred development of
even greater seriousness to organized
labor in the steel industry, namely the
consolidation of IL iron and steel
companies into the United States Steel
Corp.
Controlled by the house of Morgan,
the new corporation lost no time in
making known its attitude toward
organized labor in the following pro-
nouncement:
I'VE are unalterably opposed to any
extension of union labor, advise SUBJ
e;5iary companies to take a firm posi-
tion when these questions come up
and say they are not going to recog-
nize it ="
A strike in 1901 brought further re-
verses to the amalgamated in the
form Of an enforced agreement that
they would not attempt to organize
non-union workers. In 1909 came the
next real test of strength with the
amalgamated being forced entirely out
Of the major steel plants as result Of
. year-long strike.
In the wartime industrial hysteria |
came the first major showdown be-
tween organized labor and organized |
indusry as both are now constituted.
Foster Almost Succeeded.
William z. Foster, former I. w. w. |
ieader and now an active Communist,
was labor's chief of staff in this occa-
sion, and his plan of action did not fall |
far short Of success. in spite of the fact
that his strategy was blocked by an
early lethargy in raising strike funds
and counter action by the steel COM
panies in granting a basic eight-hour
day with extra pay for overtime.
In September, 1919, the organizing
was climaxed by a strike
call, and the immediate response was
For instance, although only
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