The Seattle General Strike was a work stoppage by more than 65,000 workers in Seattle from February 6-11, 1919. The strike began in shipyards when workers were refused pay increases after two years of World War I wage controls. Most of the city's 110 local unions, including members of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), joined the walkout in solidarity with the shipyard workers. Although the strike was non-violent and union members continued to meet the city's basic and emergency needs, government officials, the press, and much of the public viewed the strike as a radical attempt to subvert U. S. institutions.
This front page of the Seattle Daily Star from February 7, 1919, reprints a special edition message from the previous evening from Seattle Mayor Ole Hanson. A direct note to the strike committee indicates that Hanson will use federal protection for "essential enterprises" if the strike is not called off, and encourages people in Seattle to "show their Americanism" by going about life as normal. The front page also includes a note from the publishers of the Seattle Star affirming they will continue to publish "an American newspaper," along with several articles about operations around the city continuing and federal troops ready to intervene.
Caption information source: http://depts.washington.edu/labhist/strike/index.shtml
ID Number: 2019.3.52
Date: 1919
Physical Description: 1 newspaper (4 p.) : color ; 17.5 x 23.75 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
