Hammond Times, Volume 14, Number 79, Hammond, Lake County, 19 September 1919 — Page 1

BEST READ 1 NEWSPAPER IN COUNTY

TY TIME FAIR OrWGmWATIOWAI. SEWS rUlL LEASED WIB1 SXB.VICE. On straats ad tewiituii. M par copy. XallTara4 y earrlax la Xammosd a4 Wart Bunmoili SOo per month. I VOL. XIV, NO. 79. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1919. , HAMMOXD, INDIANA. ( 1 PRES. WILSON TRIED TO PERSUADE GARYjjK

LAKE COUN

s jaq 'j Wr aapa

IrTORfla

ALL OVER

STEEL HEAD

STOOD PAT AND REFUSED Regular Strike . Benefits Not - to Be Paid By the Unions. (INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE? WASHINGTON, D. C, Sept. 19. President Wilson did everything in his power to prevail upon Judge E. H. Gary, head of the United States Steel Corporation, to meet a committee of the steel workers and thus prevent the strike of the indlistrv raWeA fnr Vnniliv it wae - , , . w - learned here today. SENDS 8ASUCH TO TBT. It was reported on excellent authority hat the president went so far as to send Tiernard M. Baruch. former head of the " ar industries board, as his personal emissary to the steel magnate, but that the latter remained firm in his refusal T" treat with the menas a union. Tha international unions involved "In h strike have decided not to pay the ifgular strike benefits during- the proposed walk-out. It was announced by Wm. H. Johnstone, president of the International Machinists Union. Instead a ystem will be devised whereby all of the members of the various unions will receive financial aid Instead of on'y those who have been members for at least three months. , to ?rrx nwANCiAj. aid. - "It is our understanding," said Johnstone, "that the irHairantiortal , organizations wiil endeavor to give financial relief to 'all of. the men' Involved In lieu of regular strike benefits. This will be dine In order that all of those participating will receive the- same consideration. Under the laws of the International organizations only those who are members for three months and in good standing would- receive regular strike lay and the national committee deemed it advisable to overcome' his condi'.ion by .handling all moneys by a central committee so that all men. regardless of their length of membership, might receive aid." Steel Plants Have Huge War Chest BT BOBSXAITXX. Assuming the absence of a happy intervention, the strike of the steel workers ordered for Monday will find the United States Steel Corporation in an extraordinarily strong position. Whether the contest favors the men. stratcgicaly, is not answerable at present. Financially considered, the unions could not have chosen a time more favorable to the corporation: In a fight of endurance, postulated fiscally.' the .employer has an overwhelming advantage. On December 31. 191S, the Steel Cor-; poratlon showed a surplus irrespective of the surpluses of the subsidiaries o S486.S8S.421. With the subordinate concerns, the total approximated $60n.noo.000. ' Huge Cwk Kaaarra. This, be It noted. Is a real and quick surplus: over half of It In cash; the remainder readily marketable securities, mostly United States government bonds. Since then the status has been further urengthened, probably by not less than J 150,000,000. The net tangible assets are hove. Jl. 000.000. 000. which include nbout $150,000-,000 bills receivable. It Is easy to see with what convcri-i ence the corporation could continue to: ray dividends-let alone intertj marge. u,uUSu .v lu. x lor two yearn. , But something would be working, even if the workers were not. The $300,000,rno cash or more is out on interest; bonds are yielding handsomely. The sufferers immediately and ultimately would be the employes and the U- ' S. government, i". enormou3 income irorn tne net earnings of the corporation. Smallar Companies Seady. And If the apparently inevitable strike by the United States teel men extends to other steel companies, it will be a visitation which the latter are relatively i ... .- ... i jt the big organization, ah are eiupenuously flush of funds. The Inland and Mark plants could retire their securities capitalizations and still have money 'n the treasury. The union leaders. If they are cognizant of finance and can intelligently interpret a balance sheet, must be aware of what the men are confronting should the straggle resolve Itself into one of monttary resources. It may be they are counting heavily on the psychology or .isn't it patholoRy? of current economies to bring the corporation to their terms always providing that they and not the rank and file are the strike impulsion. Doubt Time Is Blpe. If eo. here, again, they may have an Incorrect calcus. Few economists, fewer ociologists. believe that a conflict to

Sceiies

4ti ' - J&Si. intern, I

. 'S o if o Oi --

Strikers parading through city U brin their cause before the pewp. at left. At right, ctnkig union men awaiting news from "t h front l t union fieadquarters. Below, national jruard detachment entering mill to protect employes and property In ewe f ?tmworkman and familr eating a sidewalk after evictm f row home beca t f inabilrf y to J rent. Tbexe are artuH pictures tka.durnir

aerioua strikes in pasttha end between capital and labor can be staged in these times. So long as money (though slightly vitiated here, strongly debased abroad) Is super abundant, employment easy ness flourishing, a decisive classes is out of question. and clai nusih ol WILL STEEL PLANT BE ABLE JO BUILD? Plans for Inland's New Extension May Be Knocked Out By Big Strike. Will the threatened steel strike retard the plans of the Inland Steel for Its proposed S5.00O,000 improvem-m? That is the question that business men of Indiana Harbor are asking. At the time that th Tplans fnr the Inland $15,000,000 housing proposition were announced it was also announced that the Inland Company planned extensive additions to their plant in Indiana Harbor, which were made possible by the now housing proposilion. These plans included the erection of twenty new sheet mills, many additional open j j hearths, etc. The plans for the improvements were drawn some time ago and it was announced that work might be expected to start at any time. Work on the improvements has not yet started and now It is probable that work will not be begun before next spring, and perhaps not then. It is understood that a groat deal will depend upon the results of the coming strike. RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT PLANNED FOR STATE ' IMJirol?lTlnd?8Vp,r,i'9!. chinery for simultaneous evangelism by counties in Indiana will be set in motion here next Tuesday when the first resional conference on evangelism plannod by the Church. Federation of Indiana

win be addresse by Dr. Charles Liar. ,A(, .!,, , . ,

Goodell, 6f N;w York, executive seer tary of the commission on evangelism "of tne federal Christ in America. From here the Rei Goodell will go to Marion and other ritis for pnnfprpnrp. xvitn naitnrt and ------ I - laymen, preparatory to evangelistic! campaigns to be held in October and i November. Rev. W. W. Lincberry, j Jonesboro: the Rev. S. S. Aikman. Crai ,,. i the Rev. W. B. Freeland, Wabash, and Rev. E. L. Day. Marion, are, members of the evangelistic committee of the state federation which will conduct the campaigns. BANK CUSTOMER KILLED IN HOLD-UP (INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE! GRAND RAPIDS. Mich.. Sept. 19 Robbers early today robbed the Grandville branch of the Grand Rapids Savings Bank. A customer who was in the bank at the time showed fight and was killed by the robbers who escaped. The amount of money secured is not yet known. Aie you reading The Tiroes f

U. S. May See If

'h 2& 'F1 r - NAMES HIS Complying with the ordinance passed Tuesday etening by the Hammond city council, Mayor Brown has named the committee of three which will attempt once more to bring ie Standard Steel Car Co. and its striking employes into conference in th hope of ending the strike. The committee Is composed (ft Sam Skufakiss. councilman from the Sixth ward; Joseph Millar, councilman from the Second wurd, and H. S. Voorheis, councilman at large. Mr. Skufakiss has been active in trying to get the aflaTr settled satisfactorily since the strike was called July 18. and was a member ot the mediation committee before with Mayor Brown and Sheriff Barnes. According to the plan proposed in the ordinance, thfs committee from the city council will call upon the Standard officials and representatives of the' employes and if possible cne 0f the Judges of the courts of the county will bo selected to act as arbitrator at a hearing which will be arranged later. It waa ppecifted in the ordinance that the Agreement of the Standard officials to meet with representatives of the workmen at this hearing would not be considered a recognition of the unions or the principle of collective bargaining. The committee was not completed until this morning, so no action has been taken by it- as yet. It "is hoped th wage dispute can be settled and thi men c;in get back to work. The bis steel strike has complicated matters an i I it is feared that een though work shall' I be resumed at the plant the men might he called out later in sympathy or lai-1 ! off on account of lack of material. Manv of the men liv-inc in Vast Unm. mord who had Eald that tney WOuld go back at the Standard riant, I j.ave socured jobs ciBftwheP anJ eah : mprnin(r th Ciir, . lr,,,t,f, Bnl, j are seen walking to work. Some of! "i"' sre wonting on construction loo I 1 w hjch- may last a month longer before ' ; the .weather puts an end to that kind; of work. ! . . 1111 L f 1 TIT I" II t - . T i niboiui or .ArwO tw rr ACC p a -if Ill UlAdd IvACili r INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICC1

MAYOR

BROWN

CQMMTTEE

SAN DIEGO. Cal.. Sept, 19.-Standing burgh 'where the men are not well orin a P.ate glass cage and speaking into ,p mcetings have bften C,:LtI1C",.tair.atUS .tatv-Wi"J f.hr0W broko, up and there is likely to be trou-

ion... ii iifvij. i-e ma I u I or n mile. President Wilson, who arrives here! this afternoon, will probably have the largest audience of his country-wide tour when he makes-his address at:the great city stadium at Balboa Park. The stadium has a seating capacity of forty thousand and it is fully expects that the crowd gathering to hear the president's address will equal, if not exceed that number. The cage is made of plate glass :ind Is a little larger than a telephone booth. The front side will remain open and those who have experimented with the apparatus, said that the faintest whisper can be carried to all parts of the huge stadium. .

Steel Strike Is

V rf t JO THE GREAT UNREST ESTABLISH BRANCHES. r INTERN ATIONAL NEWS SERVICE1 CHICAGO. Sept. 13. Arrangements for directing the strike of the steel workers in the Chicago district have been completed, union leaders here declared today. Strike headquarters have been established for this district in the federation building in Chicago wiih branches in South Chicago, Gary, Indiana Harbor and Jollet. John Fitrpatrick, chairman of the committee of steel strike leaders, is here today and will personally direct the etrike in this district. NO ESTIMATE POSSIBLE. f INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE PITTSBURGH. Pa. Sept. 19. It would be impossible to give any accurate estimate of the number of workmen who will quit work next Monday, It was said at strike headuarters today. Applications for membership in the unions were said to be coming in by the hundreds daily. "There is a mistaken impression abroad," said Secretary "N". H. Foster, today, "'that this strike is against only the plants of the U. S. Steel Corporation. Every non-unionized steel works In the country will be affected. OIL WORKERS PREPARE. I INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON, Sept. 19. Oil work ers In "California, Texas and Akl.ihonial are preparing to strike. American Federation of Labor officials announced loday. The oil workers in the union, one of the youngest bodies affiliated with the federation has approximately 10.000 members. The men demand higher j wages, shorter working hours and better conditions in the camps. KEEP AWAY FROM MILLS. (INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE 1 ' CHICAGO. Sept. 19. Theodore Vint, international organiser and presid ?ni of I the South Chicagi La.bor and Trades Assembly. today appealed to the men to Keep away irom me mms ana me po- . . . - . 1 :m - . I "ce.'aurlng the strike. j .There should be no bloodshed here." I Vind said. "You can prevent if. The I t.. ., 1 n- V,lr.nriVri 1. i TMtble. Hut we should avoid violence hett." THE SITUATION IN SOUTH. (INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, Ala.. Sept. 19. The effect and extent of the steel strike set for next londay continued problematical here today. Although approximately 30.000 men are employed in the various plants of the Tennessee Coal Iori and Railroad Co.. in and around this district, officials of that company decline 'o make any statements. While officials cf the union declare that the plants will be badly crippled by the walkout, at the same time admitting tnat not all tne

Called

3

9 THE TIMES is prepared by its leased wire service to give the fullest possible news of the great steel workers' struggle impending. It hopes to give its readers the most accurate facts obtainable of all eventualities as its news columns today show. If you are not having THE TIMES, delivered to you regularly do so now by all means. men are organized. The Tennessee company is a subsidiary of the V. S. Steel Corporation. AFTER 6-HOUR DAY. (INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE CLEVELAND. O.. Sept. 19. The Tnited Mine .Workers of America will make a fight to the finish for the six hour day. Upon recommendation of the committee on legislation the convention today voted to change the constitution of the union to make the six hour day, one of the fundamental objects of the organization. The change strikes out the words eight hours," and substitutes "six hours." STRIKE IN SYMPATHY. f INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE! DETROIT. Mich.. Sept. 19. Officials of the Lake Sailors Union 'announced this afternoon that the sailors at this port had voted unanimously in favor of a strike on ore-carrying lines In sympathy with the strike of the steel workers called for Sept. 22. Two hundred and thirty-nine ballots were cast. A vote of the marine cooks and Stewards Union a W"ater-t and the Marine Firemen's. Oilers, enders and Coal Passers Vnion is in progress and tabulation will be completed Saturdfiy. WHAT CAUSES TROUBLE. t INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS. Ind., Sept. 19. "La- '. Vior is ridinc for a fall unless nroduc()on js lncreaSed." John E. Lloyd, president of the .Natlonai Retail Coal Mer - chants Association, declared in an ad - dress before the closing session of the convention of Indiana dealers here. ln - . .r9.H u9 unit hni.t.r hour will .v,o i f

tion. he said. "It is not the high cost ! ward the impending strike. -The qucsof living that is causing social unrest." , tion was asked, in each case, whether said Mr. Llovd. "Ft is the high est of! the man would or would not work in lack of production." i case an attempt was made to effect a - j strike. Of the 170.123 men interviewed

THEY TOOK OFF THEIR HATS NEW YORK. Sept. 19. Dyring the of - fcial reception of Admiral Conse. of the liMTrluiTinMii ucaic crouirn Italian navy at city hall, the band struck up. "Auld Lang Syne." and one patriotic citizen thinking it was 'The Star Spangled Banner" took off his hat. Nearly every one else in the crowd fol lowed his example. Now the leader ot the band is mystified was it the play ing. or the ignorance of the people!

COU

I

Wilson Gets Letter From Strike Heads At Pittsburg. INTERNATIONAL NFW3 SERVICE! PITTSBURGH, Pa., Sept. 19. Preparations for the nation-wide strike of all the organized workers in the steel industry next Monday were being speeded today. After dispatching a letter to i President Wilson denying his request to defer the strike until after j the industrial conference on Oct. 6 ! several members of the national! j committee, composed of representj atives of 25 international unions, I left the city. j At the last session a formal vote to j defer the strike was considered. This j was defeated. Then a motion re-iffirm-I ing the decision to strike on Sept. 22 was unanimously adopted. j WHAT IETTIE SAID. J President Wilson was told in the let ter that "after a thorough, calm and deliberate review and study of the entire situation mora than 2.000.000 organized ! men indorsed the strike and set Sept. 22 as the date thereof." The whole blame for the strike was placed on the head of Jiidge Gary, rhairman of the steel corporation, who refused to receive the leaders in conference. - ' "Win or lose, the strike is inevitable and . will . continue until industrial despotism will recede from the untenableposition now occupied by Mr. fiarv." the nresident waa told. HOW KAXT Wilt OO OUT, j The one ouestion that was on' the lips i of everyone today was: will come out?" "How many men The ene question cannot be .answered before Monday. The generaj belief was j that the organiaition of the workers has j not. been as successful as the labor lead-i ers claim. The skilled workmen are! known to be opposed to the walk-out. j ONE CONCIHJT CLOSES BOWW. ' Anticipatlng the strike the McKees-! port Tin Plate Co.. an Independent concern today closed down its hot mill it Pnrtvue throwing 1.R00 men out of work. The finishing department, where 1.200 are employed, was kept going be cause of congested business. Unsettled conditions was given as the cause for the shut down. This was the first instance in this district of any of the steel plants closing. ErrOBTS TO rUTIKT TB.OTJBI.E. Reports from the many steel communities around Pittsburgh today told (Continued on page flve. U. S. STEEL ! OFFICIALS TAKE VOTE 82 Per Cent, of Workmen at Gary Works are Said to Oppose the Strike. Eighty-two per cent of the men can vassed by foremen of the Gary works, the United States Steel corporation piant. aeciare tney are not in favor of striking next Monday, according o an official statement issued by steel offi ciais yesterday afternoon. Ten thou sand, one hundred and twenty-five men wre interviewed and 8,302 said they didn't want to strike, the officials claim. The Gary sheet and tin mills, where there are three shifts of eigit hours each, will be operated in spite of a strike at the Gary works, according to authoritativa information, or at least an attempt will be made to keep these plants runfring. Enough raw material is on hand to keep the sheet and tin mills going fox three months, it is said. Company's Statement. i The statement issued relative o the! . canvass tal;cn or the Gary works eniPloyes follows: "That the strike sentiment does not 1 run high among the mill men was conj clusively proven by a canvass made in the different departments of the Gary, J works and just completed today. Every employe of the big mill was Interviewed to determine the attitude of the men o - 8,302. or 62 per cent of the total signti fled their intention of staying at work. A-great many of the remaining IS per J cent stated that they wjuM rather work I tnan go on a sinc. ii is now apparent j that if any real strike enthusiasm ever - did exist among the men who work In the mill they are fast taking nuo account the actual conditions of employment, the lack of any real reason for complaint, and the serious consequences that would result from a strike. The result of the canvass shows cleafrly tbat -I the men are largely doing their 'own 1 thinking."

m READY

Independent; Issue Circular to All of Their Employes. (INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE! YOUNGSTOWN, O., Sept. 19. Presidents of three big independent steel companies employing 27,000 workers today appealed to their employes to remain loyal and to continue work after September 22. The appeals were issued in pamphlet form, printed in nine languages and will be distributed to the men today and Saturday. In , each case it is stated that the, policy of the "open shop" will be continued. , H15T SXOir STATMfXWT. The statements were prepared by President A. J. Campbell, of the Ynunpstown Sheet and Tube Co.: President V. A. Thomas, of the Brier Hill Ste-l Co.. and President Thomas J. Bray, of the Republic Iron and Steel Co. Both the Briar Steel and Sheet and Tube companies point out that under the open shop policy any employe may or may not, as he chooses, belong to a labor orgamzation. but It is not necessary f6r an employe to join any such organization to retain his job. F SO TIDES "COWTACT." President Campbell states that 't he employes representation plan now in effect throughout the works, provides communication and means of contact between the management and the nitn on matters pertaining to industrial relations. "The company will continue to .-al w th tha employes under tha provisions i of this plan. It is the intention to operata the plant Monday. Sept. i-. snu thereafter the same, as usual." President Bray states tnat anaer tn company's ojien shop policy, the practlce .will be continued "of the compan; to meet us cmpiojes euner mnwuu.. ... or by committees to discuss any matters affecting working conditions, wages, etc." WIX.Ii OPEN AS TJSTJAX. President Thomas states tiat "in Justice to all of our employes we have always a square deal and this company will continue to deal with its employes rirlv ii it has done in the past. H j is the desire of this company to operate Its plants Monday. Sept. 22. the same as usual, and we would therefore call upon every employe to evidence his loyalty by reporting for work and conscientiously and energetically doing his duty so Continued" on paga five.) TVIll CITY EXPECTING NO TROUBLE Inland and Steel Tube Plant Heads Say Only Few Men Will Go Out. Residents of East Chicago and Indian Harbor today read with interest the news andyStatements of the steel strike committee and Chairman Gary, of the steel trust. In the Indiana Harbor district f East Chicago the chief interest is manifesUd because of the number of industries which figures in steel production. Answering statements to to how many of their men would be involved the heads of the two largest local plants, Inland and Steel and Tube of Amerin, said "that organization had not affected them, that the pluns would run next weck.and that if there were any men who quit it would only be a few." Both of these plants have had steady schedules. The Inland, for instance, weeks ago adopted the S-hour day 3 shift) plant, increased wages, and instituted other changes. Acording to offit cials of the company, this as well as the savings and bonus plan the company has will cause the men to remain M work. Men, who would go out mxt Monday, it is pointed out, would lose their bonuses. At strike headquarters, which was recently opened up in Indiana Harbor, a meeting will be held tonight. The ori ganizers are also making arrengemcn's for a rally on Sunday Those in attendance at the steel unionizing meeting last Sunday were told by general organizers that Indiana Harbor is the weak lin. in the strike plan. Organization work was not started it Ir.iiana Harboj until recently, although organizers had been there a year ago. If any of th emen should go out no trouble is anticipated by the authorities, and at strike headquarters it was sa'd that the nen would conduct themselves peacefully. Plant officials ' expect no trouble, and assert that fully 90 per cent of the employes of any plant that rany be involved will continue to work. T"if industries at Indiana Harbor plan to pay off men who do not come to work, regarding them as havfng quit their posl tions.