The strike, when it came, was inaugurated ostensibly to compel the manufacturers to grant recognition to union “representatives” of the workers. Steel company officials claimed that its real object was twofold--to force upon the industry the “closed shop,” and to overthrow the social scheme upon which the American Republic was grounded. Labor leaders throughout the struggle consistently denied any intention of forcing a closed shop. And it is true that they at no time demanded this in so many words; but the closed shop would have resulted inevitably had they won. One has only to examine their demands to realize this. And the lust for power on the part of the leaders of organized labor was used by the radicals as a tool with which they hoped to gain a much greater goal than the closed shop--the nationalization of the steel industry and, using that as a wedge, of all American industry. In fighting and smashing the strike the Steel Corporation performed an invaluable service, not alone to its stockholders or to capital, but to the vast majority of workers who claimed the right to work at their own volition and not the dictates of self-appointed leaders; a service to the American public at large. Says Mr. Charles Piez, one-time head of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, in a recent article in _The Independent_: The real or imaginary wrongs of the workers played not the slightest part in the decision to organize the steel industry. It was a citadel of the open shop that was the subject of attack, it was the last barrier against complete and final unionization of American industry, against which Foster and Fitzpatrick combined their wits and resources. And it is to the everlasting credit of Judge Gary that he successfully resisted this attack, for it is to the interests of the public that the principle of the open shop be sustained. [Illustration: (_Upper_) Part of the Duquesne Works] [Illustration: (_Lower_) Detail of Unloading Ore--a Hulett Machine] How important to the labor unions was the hope for organization of the Steel Corporation is obvious. Between 500,000 and 600,000 workers are engaged in the industry, the Corporation alone employing about 275,000. Possibly another half million are employed in closely allied industries. And the steel trade, as well as these allied industries, has for years looked to the Corporation for guidance on important questions of public polity. Hence, United States Steel’s adherence to the open-shop principle was a deep and rankling wound in the side of the labor unions. [Illustration: Making Wire Rods--Old Method]