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Labor History - 52: Homestead Strike III

May 1, 1972

Labor History - 52: Homestead Strike III

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Title
Labor History - 52: Homestead Strike III
Creator
Wright, Fred, 1907-1984
Contributor
Lerner, James, 1911-2003 (contributor)
University of Pittsburgh (depositor)
Contributor
Lerner, James, 1911-2003
Date
May 1, 1972
Identifier
ue13.3.1.052
Description
This cartoon shows that while scabs were brought into the plant by the National Guardsmen, many strikers and union leaders were charged with numerous offenses. In November, the strike collapsed and strikers went back to work, many of whom were fired. Caption 1: National Guardsmen started escorting scabs into the Homestead plant and 7 strikers were charged with murdering a Pinkerton dick. But still the Carnegie Steel Co. could not get the mill going. It persuaded a Grand Jury to indict 167 workers on six counts including murder, rioting and conspiracy. The strike leaders were jailed and denied bail. For the rest half a million dollars bail was ordered. It couldn't be raised. Caption 2: To these charges was added one of "treason" against the strike advisory committee and 34 were held on this. State Supreme Court Judge Paxson told the trial jury that the "foreigners" among the laboring population had to be taught a lesson about what liberty means. The jury thought otherwise and all strikers were acquitted. But the expense of the legal defense and the time this took was a heavy burden. Caption 3: By November the strike which had begun in July was proving too great a burden to the workers. Strike relief dwindled. The fight had to be called off. When the workers returned to their jobs, company superintendent Charles M. Schwab made them line up for him to choose those he wanted to rehire. The strike broke the union, the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin workers. Carnegie plants were never organized-until the 1930's. UE News, Vol. XXXIV, Issue No. 9
Type
still image
Genre
comics (documents)
comic strips
layouts (printed matter)
Subject
Strikes, Scabs
Source
Labor History Series (Series 13.3.1), Fred Wright Publication Plates (Subgroup 13.3), Fred Wright Papers (UE.13)
Collection
Fred Wright Cartoons
Contributor
University of Pittsburgh
Rights Information
In Copyright. This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/