The Washington herald., 1912-11-30
MAY PROBE STEEL
! MILL CONDITIONS
American Federation to Ask Con-
gress to Probe Condition
of Workmen.
OPENING GUN IN WAR

The dispatching ola Congressional
committee to Pittsburg to conduct per
sonaI investigation into the industrial
conditions obtaining in the vast plants
of the United States Steel Corporation
win be asked in q resolution. to be in
troduced in the House at the request OF
the American Federation of Labor, soon
after Congress meets.
This move, the first in a carefully
planned campaign which the federation
has decided to wage against the Steel
Trust, was announced yesterday by
campaign is to force the trust to recog-
nize the American Federation Of Labor
and permit the formation Of labor or
Plantations among its employees
I'VE viii use all means within the
law to get for the workingmen their
true rights and freedom, and to thwart
the methods Of espionage and blacklist
ing of all workers who seek to organ
ize for their protection" said Mr.. Com
pers yesterday in announcing the plan.
I'VE feel certain that the House viii
grant our demand, as the Democratic
majority in this Congress has been espe-
cially responsive to the voice OF the
people. 1T win be the first move in a
general fight on the Steel Corporation
and the 'benefcent trusteeship' by which
the corporation hopes to control the lives
and souls Of its employees"
Warning for Years.
The Steel Corporation and the fedora
ton have been at war for years. The
corporation has steadfastIy refused to
recognize the federation, and has sue
ceeded in preventing the formation of
"a MIA ffnng amnlOVRR
The exact wording OF the resolution
has not been decided upon. 1t may call
upon the Committee on Labor Of the
House to make the investigation or 1t
may call for a special committee, such
as the one which recently has completed
an exhaustive investigation into the
financial operations and the Steel Trust.
Representative w. B. Wilson of Penn
sylvania is chairman OF the Labor Com
mittee, and Mr.. Wilson was defeated for
reelection. While the investigation
might easily be completed during the
short session, II is extremely doubtful II
remedial legislation in conformity with
any report which the committee might
make could be rushed through before
March 4.
In view OF the fact that Mr.. Wilson
will not be a member OF the Sixty-third
Congress, which probably would be call
ed upon to deal with any proposed leg
isIation growing out Of the investiga-
ton. il is considered probable that a
special committee will be appointed.
headed probably by Representative A. o.
Stanley of Kentucky. who was chairman
of the special Steel Trust committee, and
who has at his command a vast fund of
information which would be of use in a
probe of the industrial conditions OF the
big mills
II a special committee is decided upon,
Representative Augustus Gardner of
Massachusetts probably would be select
ed as the ranking Republican member,
Mr.. Gardner was the Republican leader
OF the Stanley Steel Committee, and
wrote the principal minority report.
John Mitchell, second vice president of
the American Federation of Labor, called
at the White House to-day and conferred
with President Taft concerning the in
dustrial commission which the President
will name within the next two weeks.
Under the act of Congress creating the
commission, three OF its members are to
be labor men, and Vice President Mitch
ell Is understood to have given the Pres
ident the names of the men favored by
the Federation, although neither the la
Dor leader nor the White House would
discuss the matter.