| OCR Text |
Show HEWS REVIEW OF CURRENT EVENTS Steel Mills Resuming Production and Strikers Losing Ground Every Day. GARY SAYS NO COMPROMISE Tells Seriate Committee Corporation Will Never Deal With Unions-Lockout Unions-Lockout and Strike of Printers in New York War Over Fiume Is Imminent. By EDWARD W. PICKARD. President Wilson is a "very sick man," according to his physician, Pear Admiral Grayson. After a consultation with Drs. Dercum of Philadelphia and Puffin and Stilt of Washington, it was announced that absolute rest was essential es-sential for some time. It was reported that an operation of some sort would be performed. Despite the confident assertions of Fitzpatrick, Foster and other union leaders, the developments of the week in thy steel strike went to strengthen the belief that the battle will be won by the employers. The mills at Gary kept increasing their production until it was said to have reached 50 per cent of the normal, and many other plants 'n that district, including South Chi-aKO, Chi-aKO, reported I hat their workers were returning. The Indiana Steel company com-pany at Gary, for instance, was operating oper-ating on Thursday with about 5,000 men, or half the usual force, and the Murk Manufacturing company, employing employ-ing between 5,000 and 6,000 men, was preparing to reopen its plant with a large force. The strikers still out in (hat area were growing restless as they saw their fellow workers returning by the thousands, and feared they would lose their places permanently. In the Pittsburgh region there was rot much change in the situation. At the opening of the week the strike .".gainst the Bethlehem company, the largest independent steel concern in tile country, began, but it was far from successful. A few of the company's departments in its various plants were closed, but most of them were operating oper-ating as usual, though with somewhat reduced forces. The Pennsylvania slate police had the situation well in hand and violence was quickly suppressed. sup-pressed. Judge Gary, appearing before the senate committee on labor, made it clear that (here is no hope of arbitration arbitra-tion or other amicable settlement of the strike, for the United States Steel corporation Intends to fight the unions to a finish. He said the issue is the open shop against the closed shop, involving in-volving the right of employers to hire whom they please; that the closed shop is immoral, meaning decreased production, higher prices and national decay ; that the Steel corporation will never recognize the unions or contract with them, and that It will never deal with union leaders as such, ne declared de-clared the corporation does not object to its employees organizing, and is willing will-ing at all times to grant them hearings concerning grievances. He told of the wages paid the employees and what the corporation has done in the way of housing them. The a 'erage wages, excluding administration and selling forces, have advanced from S2.S8 on July 1. 1014, to $fi.27 on July 1, 11)19. Judge Gary was followed on the stand by William X. Foster, who is considered by many as the real leader of the strike. Another labor dispute (hat will be felt by the entire country is centered in Xew York. A simultaneous lockout and strike took place in some 250 printing print-ing and publishing plants which put out virtually all the trade publications t.nd magazines Issued in that city and a large percentage of the books. Ten thousand members of local printing trades unions were thrown out of work. The action followed Ihe refusal of the employers to grant a -H-hour week ef- I fective at once and a weekly wage in- j crease of $14. A large number of week- j ly and monthly magazines suspended ; publication to join the lockout. The international unions have denounced the strike and outlawed the strikers, and the employers announced their plants would remained closed until they could be operated wilh forces composed entirely of members of the international unions. Great Britain, almost tied up by the great railway strike, saw a chance for peaceful settlement toward the end of the week when representatives of the transport workers and other trades went into conference with Premier Lloyd George. None of the railroad men were in the deputation. The allied unions were seeking a compromise as an alternative to going on a sympathetic sympa-thetic strike. So far the government had been firm in its refusal to yield enything to the strikers, and many trains were being operated under armed guard. The use of soldiers in this way aroused the bitter protests of organized labor generally. As a consequence con-sequence of the strike the United States shipping board stopped the clearance of vessels for England. Labor in England has thought up something that it seems to have overlooked over-looked in this country. Union compositors com-positors on some papers asserted the light to censor the news they set up so it would not be unfavorable to the strikers, and in at least one instance they compelled the withdrawal of an advertisement for men to take the places of those who had quit. Before this appears in type D'An-nunzio's D'An-nunzio's Italians and the .Tugo-Slavs may be openly at war. The rebel loader has said he considers such a state exists, and he and his followers apparently will welcome the outbreak of hostilities. At Spalalo there already has been fighting, in which it was reported re-ported some 200 men were killed. Two American cruisers hurried there to restore re-store order. D'Annunzio's army increases in-creases daily with the arrival of deserters de-serters from the regulars and he displayed dis-played his defiant spirit by refusing to treat with the government as long as Nitti remains at its head. He was planning a juncture of Italian troops at Zara and Sebenico and there were persistent rumors that unless (he government gov-ernment yielded and supported him he would proclaim a new republic. The situation of the Italian government would be ridiculous if it were not so nearly tragic. Except for the Socialists, Social-ists, the people certainly are in sympathy sym-pathy with D'Annunzio's assertion that Fiume must belong to Italy, and the demand Is general (bat the supreme su-preme council of the allies ignore President Pres-ident Wilson and carry out (hat clause of the treaty of London. France and Great Britain have been only lukewarm luke-warm In (heir support of Mr. Wilson, and probably would comply with the demand of the Italians if (hey could do so gracefully. However, the supreme su-preme council holds the position that, all else aside, It cannot afford to have its authority flouted by Italy, as that would open the way for Greece, Rou-inania, Rou-inania, and even Germany and Bulgaria Bul-garia to take similar action in regions tc which they lay claim. It was stated unofficially in Washington Wash-ington that unless the Adriatic question ques-tion was settled very soon the United States government might consider the advisability of withdrawing for (he present any further material assistance assist-ance lo the other powers. Presumably Presum-ably this hint was designed to keep them in line with the president's policy. pol-icy. The landing of Americans at Trun .-nd the expulsion of the Italians from that town was seized upon by (be opponents op-ponents of t lie administration will) avidity. After a heated debate the senate sen-ate adopted a resolution calling upon the president for an explanation. It appears ap-pears the aclion was taken by Admiral Admir-al Andrews at the request of an Kalian Kal-ian admiral, and Admiral Knapp, commanding com-manding our naval forces in European waters, has reported that this Intervention Inter-vention prevented bloodshed "which perhaps would have resulted In a state of actual war between Italy and Jugoslavia." Jugo-slavia." That part of the Dalmatian const was Intrusted to the care of the Americans by the supreme council. General von der Goltz still refuses to withdraw the. German army from the Baltic region, and (he government at Berlin, persisting In its contention that I hose troops are not under its control, con-trol, has shut off their supplies so it says. The supreme council's patience was exhausted and it authorized Marshal Mar-shal Foch to send an ultimatum to Berlin with the threat of a renewal of the blockade. Near the close of the week it was reported in Paris that the blockade had been put into effect. Von cer Goliz has been grossly insulting to General Burt, representative of the allies in Riga, and has announced he would allow no Englishmen to remain in (be Baltic territory occupied by German Ger-man troops. A Riga correspondent cables that (be Le(vian government has called to the colors all men between the ages of nineteen and twenty-seven. The intention in-tention presumably Is to move against (he Germans, and possibly an advance against Petrograd is contemplated, in conjunction with the Esthonian army. Omaha is hanging its head in shame because of the wild outbreak in which a negro prisoner was lynched, Mayor Ed Smith nearly murdered by the mob, and the handsome new county building build-ing set on fire. The local authorities being helpless, federal troops were hurried hur-ried to (he scene and quickly restored order. Smith is in a way a "reform" mayor, and decent Omaha people lay the blame for the rioting to a bitter newspaper campaign that has been carried on against him and his police force. Still another race war broke out In Elaine, Ark., in which five whites and eleven negroes were killed. Troops were sent there, too. In Helena, near J by, the sPuatlon was tense. I Because of Mr. Wilson's illness the plans for the tour of (he king and j queen of the Belgians was changed. J They landed at New York Thursday,. were officially received Friday, w. " -.. i sightseeing that day and Saturday, end then were to start on their trip through the country, stopping at Washington Wash-ington on the return to the East. For reasons not stated but not difficult to surmise, Chicago and Milwaukee were leTt out of the list of places where Albei t and Elizabeth are to stop. Milwaukee's Mil-waukee's mayor says "to hell witli all kings." Chicago's city council sent n rather belated invitation. Its mayor . I needs no comment. - The president was comforted by (he J assurance of his supporters iu the sen- ate that that body would not accept imy amendments or reservations to the peace treaty and covenant. Also he must have smiled when he heard of the doings at Ardmore, Okla., though of course he could not approve of them. The people of that untamed town warned Senator Reed to cancel his engagement en-gagement to speak there against the treaty. He ignored the warning and when he appeared on the platform the lights were put out and he was showered show-ered witli eggs and hissed and hooted into silence. The Fall amendments to the treafy, designed to eliminate the United States from participation In nil th various international commissions created cre-ated by it except that on reparation, came to a vole in the senate Friday and were beaten, as was expected. The opposition refused to regard the vole as an accurate test of the strength of the opposing factions, as a number of mild rescrvationists voted against the amendments. The senate Is now to take up in order the Moses amendment providing that whenever questions involving in-volving any pari of the British empire i nine before the league, none of the British dominions or colonies shall the Shantung amendment, and last the Johnson amendment. It -hoped a final vote on the treaty may be reached about November 1. However, How-ever, there Is danger of a long deadlock, dead-lock, as some administration senator have threatened that If the Lodge re-ervatlons re-ervatlons are adopted 40 Democrat will stand together to defeat the ratifying rat-ifying resolution. The Democrat would then try to get n vole on (he question of unreserved ratiflcalion. and it Is claimed that from .18 lo 40 Republicans Repub-licans can be counted on to vote rgninst ratification without rrerv. (ions. |