110 Years Ago, 1916 transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

“State mediator summoned here by city officials. Condition considered serious by Mayor Carroll Thornton on account of the persistent demands to the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. — conference said to have been held at General Fireproofing plant Tuesday — situation at other strike-affected plants unchanged.”

“Mayor Carroll Thornton today addressed a letter to Fred C. Croxton, of Columbus, chief mediator of the state industrial commission, asking him to come to Youngstown to assist in adjusting the labor differences between employers and employees. The mayor states that the labor situation looks more serious now than at any time since the trouble first started, because of persistent attempts made by labor organizers to get employees of the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. to strike.

“This action by Mr. Thornton was taken only after serious consideration on the part of municipal officials, and was advised by Safety Director James H. Nutt, who has been a moving factor in arranging conferences between the manufacturers and the men, which however have proved unavailing….

“In his letter the mayor points out that a number of conferences have been held but without result, and he asks the official state mediator to try and use his good offices in bringing the disaffected elements together.

“It is hoped by municipal officials that Mr. Croxton’s intervention may be the means of adjusting the differences and ending the trouble. Mr. Croxton has had considerable experience in arbitrating labor disputes, and has adjusted many strikes in this state. He was called here following the East Youngstown Riots in January and succeeded in ending the strike, which existed at that time….

“A conference between officials of The General Fireproofing Co., and a committee representing the strikers of the plant was said to have been held Tuesday forenoon and another was arranged for the afternoon it was reported.

“Nothing was given out by officials of The General Fireproofing Co., concerning the meeting Tuesday forenoon. No definite results of the conference are believed to have been obtained….

“A report was circulated Tuesday that there has been a split in the ranks of the members of the Sheet Metal Workers’ union at the plant of The General Fireproofing Co., but this report could not be verified.

“Conditions at the other strike-affected plants remained practically the same. Tuesday, President Julius Kahn, of the Trussed Concrete Steel Co., declared that more men came to work again Tuesday and that several of the departments are being operated in fairly good shape….

“Conditions were unchanged at the plant of The Republic Rubber Co. Officials stated that no picketing is being done. No conferences have been held. It is still reported that former employees of the concern continue to send written communications to the officials inquiring when the plant will resume operations.

“The employees of The Ohio Automatic Sprinkler Co., are still out and no immediate prospects for settlement are in sight.

“At the plant of The William Tod Co., the press shop is still in operation and common laborers are still working. There is no change in conditions at the plant of The United Engineering & Foundry Co. The Lloyd Booth department of this concern is still idle on account of the strike of the machinists.

“No demands have been made at the Ohio work of the plant of The Carnegie Steel Co., The Republic Iron & Steel., or The Brier Hill Steel Co.

“A number of smaller contract machine shops are still tied up as a result of the machinists’ strike.”

• Compiled by Dante Bernard, museum educator at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society