New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-18
WALSH SEES ALL
LAWBREAKERS ALIKE
Personal Liberty Violator
and |. w. w. Crank
Much the Same.
ANSWERS CONTRACTOR
AT INVESTIGATION
Two Paterson WeaverS Testify as
TO Causes of Strike-Police
Are Praised.

Paterson. y J., June l7.-Hisses greeted
John w. Ferguson, a Paterson contrac-
tor. to-day, when he gave the United
States Commission on Industrial Rela-
tons what he described as the limo
cent bystander's" view Of the strike. Mr..
Ferguson was called because last year. in
conversation with counsel for the commits
sion, he had said that he thought the
community would be justified in taking
any steps. legal or illegal, 10 rid itself OF
foreign trouble makers
lie said yesterday that he did not mean
exactly Illegal" but that he thought the
police might meet incoming l. ". w
leaders Ike big Bill Haywood and send
them back by the next train. Kisses and
jeers came from the audience. Chair
man Frank p. Walsh raped for order
Mr.. Ferguson stuck 10 his guns.
Don't YOU think, he asked. turning to
Commissioner Walsh, that Il is better
10 strain a point OF law in taking pre-
ventive measures than TO let things go
until, finally. you have violence resulting
in fifteen or twenty deaths?"
"1f you seek my personal opinion" said
Commissioner Walsh, Il must say that !
see no distinction between the man who
advocates breaking the law in respect TO
personal liberty and the I. W. W. agitator
who advocates breaking the law in re-
spect to violence and the destruction Of
property. such as the blowing UP OF
mills"
The commission has had the greatest
dificulty in getting any silk workers to
testify. The men approached declared
that they feared the blacklist il they ap-
reared as witnesses and told the truth.
To-day. however. two weavers testified.
Edward Zuersher. secretary and treas
urer OF the local branch Of the !. ". W.,
said that the more immediate causes. out
side OF the installation OF the four-loom
system, were abuses by employers.
At the time OF the strike, he said one
mill. which is still in operation. employed
girls under contract. The girls agreed to
leave half their salary for q year with the
firm in return for learning the business.
At the end Of year. If they were not dis
charged. they would get the balance in a
lump sum Many Of the girls, he said,
were discharged before the end Of the
year.
Louis Magnet, another weaver, who be-
longs to no labor organization. said that
cutthroat business methods and industrial
depres sion had induced the manufacturers
TO lower wages and increase their output.
DR.. Andrew F. Mcbride, Mayor Of Pat
erson during the strike, said that there
was no doubt that the textile workers
had some real grievances. About three
fourths of them. however, he said, came
out "for a lark" thinking that the strike
would last only a day or so.
Michael Dunn, prosecuting attorney,
said that a thorough investigation of the
killing Of an Italian workman, who was
not connected with the strike In any way,
had failed 10 produce any evidence to fix
the crime on the private detective whom
Henry Marelli accused. The /. w. w, said
Dunn. had provided gorgeous funeral,
but had done nothing at all for the mans
widow, who had yesterday applied TO the
authorities for aid.