The story of the strike against the Bessemer Engine Works sixty miles north of Pittsburgh in the small Pennsylvania town of Grove City.

‘The I.W.W. in Grove City’ by Frank Morris from Solidarity. Vol. 4 No. 10. March 1, 1913.

(Special to Solidarity.) Grove City, Pa., Feb. 28. The Bessemer Gas Engine Co. of this town has been carrying things with a pretty high hand.

Wages have been down to the existence level and many of the wives of the workers have been compelled to take in washing or seek employment as domestics in order to keep the wolf from the door.

The wages have been so miserable that men have been compelled to ask for over-time work in order to make an existence for themselves and their families.

All this time the company has been very careful of the morals of their employes, refusing to employ anyone who was known to associate with the demon drink or to use cigarettes. They even went so far as to try to close the roller skating rink for fear that this simple pleasure might have a demoralizing effect upon the workers.

The treasurer of the concern, Mr. Fithian, teaches a bible class at the Presbyterian church, and many of the workers are members of the class. Mr. Fithian also makes Fourth of July orations and tells the workers about their grand (?) and glorious country while he skins them to the limit on the job.

The Bessemer gas engine has a reputation because of its cheapness, and upon this reputation, gained by squeezing the life out of the workers, Mr. Fithian, Mr. Carruthers and their associates have been piling up dividends.

A few months ago the shop was Taylorized. They began to speed up the machines and to specialise the work. The premium system was introduced. The men worked to the limit of their endurance, but most of them failed to make the premium.

The busy season came on and orders had to be filled. The company compelled their already overworked and underpaid slaves to work overtime or quit. The discontent began to spread. Many of the men objected to overtime at any price; others wanted time and one-half.

The men decided to organize. Someone suggested the Machinists Union. The iron molders in the Bessemer foundry, who are members of the I.M.U. were consulted. They advised them to organize the whole shop in one union. Some of the militants among the molders sent to New Castle for an I.W.W. organizer, and he arrived here on Feb. 12, and Local No. 23 of the I.W.W. was formed.

The news spread and reached the ears of the officials, who declared that they would not stand for their men being organized.

On the second day after the organization was established two men were called into the office and asked if they were members of the I.W.W. They replied that they were, and intended to stick to it. They were discharged. The shop committee immediately went into the office and secured their reinstatement.

Mr. Fithian addressed a meeting of the men and stated that he was not opposed to having his men organized, but he would not stand for the I.W.W. He laid down a plan of organization of his own and  offered to bear half the expense of building a clubhouse for the men. His offer was turned down unanimously.

On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the company posted up a letter to the men stating that those who desired to remain with the I.W.W. need not report for work, on the following day. The men sent to New Castle for the organizer, who advised them to go to work and make the boss fire them.

The next morning the men found themselves locked out. They retaliated by declaring a strike, picketed the shop en masse and paraded the streets with a banner inscribed as follows:

UNITED WE STAND.

I. W. W.

The company is worried. Th citizens are with the men. Everybody in the town knows the conditions under which the men worked and have pledged their support in the fight.

The demands at present are as follows:

A flat increase of 10 per cent in wages for all workers.
Time and one-half for overtime.
Reinstatement of all strikers without discrimination.

The fight is on. The men are determined to win and put Grove City on the map. Only a few scabs are working and there has been no break in the ranks since the first day. The molders declare they will furnish no castings for scabs and that they will break their contract if necessary to assist the strikers.

The business agent of the I.M.U., Berry, of Pittsburg, came here and received a hot reception at the hands of the molders. He brought with him an organizer for the I. A. of M. by the name of Shaw, and McGrath, organizer for the pattern makers. They failed to divide the workers and left town.

It looks at this time as though the company will come through in a few days, but if the fight continues relief will be needed by many of the lower paid workers. So if you have any spare change, it can be put to good use in this fight.

Send all donations and communications to Earl Saunders, 305 Bessemer Ave., Grove City, Pa. FRANK MORRIS

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/solidarity-iww/1913/v04n10-w166-mar-01-1913-solidarity.pdf