CHICAGO NEWSPAPER STRIKE

West Coast Times, 25 June 1912, Page 1

CHICAGO NEWSPAPER STRIKE

SERIOUS^RJOTING,

PUBLIC WITHOUT PAPERS,

LONDON, May 10,

Chicago is in tho throes of a bitter newspaper strike, and citizens purchase the small shoots offered in the streets at the risk of personal injury.

The strike is due to tho refusal of tho “ Chicago Examiner,” and the “Chicago American,” two of Air. Hcarst’s organs, to renew their special agreement with tho Chicago Pressmen’s ((machine minders) union regulating tho number of machinists to be employed at each press. Hitherto Air. Hearst has employed more machinists at each machine than anv other

newspaper proprietors who arc members of the American Newspaper Publishers Association. That Association liars a contract with tho Pressmens’ Union regulating this quasi ion, and Air. Hearst notified the Union that he henceforth intended to avail himself—as a member of the Association—of the terms of its contract. '1 lie machine men refused to accept th’s change or submit the issue to arbitration, and they marched out of the offices of the “Examiner” and the “American” half an hour before the time of going to press.-

The other newspapers at Chicago promptly supported Air. Hearst, and announced that the Pressmen’s Union had broken contract with them and would be no longer recognised, though tins labour conditions would bo continued ns before. They added that they Were prepared to light the Union to a standstill, even if the struggle should prevent the publication of the newspapers for a month.

With the aid of the non-union machine men four of the morning; newspapers and lour of the ('veiling newspapers in Chicago succeeded in issuing four-page editions devoid of advertisements in place of tho customary sixteen and twenty-two- pages. Just two days later, before tho hour of publication, the stereo-typers struck in sympathy with the machine men, and their example was followed by the electricians and newsagents. The compositors have an iron dad agreement with tho publishers, and there appears to bo no prospect that they, also will break their contract.

The publishers recruited assistance from other towns, but without much success. People struggled bravely to secure copies of tho .shrunken dailies which were hawked by burly negroes. All the newspaper offices are surrounded by powerful guards of police,, and additional bodies of policemen, each thirty strong, have been assigned to protect the delivery carts. Only by forcing his way through the mob of hooting strikers can an ordinary citizen purchase a copy of Ms favourite journal, and when ho has secured Ms prize, which costs him anything between 3d and Is, lie is obliged to invoke tho aid of the police to escort him to a place of safety.