Capital And Labor Fight

CAPITAL AND LABOR FIGHT

WAR DECLARED AGAINST MASTERS AND PILOTS' ASSN.

U. S. STEEL CORPORATION PROPOSES TO FIGHT.

BIG IRON ORE TRANSPORTERS BEING TIED UP.

Cleveland, Sept 17. - One of the greatest contests between capital and labor ever fought out on the great lakes is threatened as a result of a strike of mates on boats of the Pittsburg Steamship company. Indications are that within a week the biggest individual fleet flying the American flag will be tied up and that the United States Steel Corporation, owner of the fleet, will begin a finish fight with the Masters and Pilots' association.

The fleet of the Pittsburg Steamship company, the lake marine arm of the steel trust, consists of 117 vessels. They are engaged in carrying iron ore from Lake Superior and Lake Michigan shipping points to smelters on Lake Erie and at South Chicago.

All day Wednesday, as fast as trust boats reached their docks on Lake Erie, their mates have quit work. Crews of all the steamers have then been discharged and the boats ordered tied up. Twenty-six ships have already been thus removed from service on Lake Erie, and no settlement of the trouble is in sight.

Ten days ago there was complaint that Captain Frank Rae, employed on a boat of the trust fleet, was not a member of the masters' association. Then came charges that the steel trust had agreed to employ only union masters on its boats. This was denied by trust officials. Finally the dispute broke out in open war and the mates began quitting their posts. Apparently hoping that a move toward laying up the affected boats would check the strike fever, General Manager A. B. Wolvin gave orders from Duluth for the steamers Colby and Manola to proceed into winter quarters.

Instead of quieting the trouble, more desertions took place, until today indications are that the entire fleet must stop.

Since his first sweeping order to lay up boats deserted by their mates, General Manager Wolvon has sent no word to Cleveland officials of the company. He is expected here shortly, when it Is believed he will make a formal declaration of war on the masters and pilots.

The Masters and Pilots' association has a membership on the lakes approximating 1.400. Its members command almost all the boats sailing in both the freight and passenger traffic.