The sun., 1919-09-26

of its own and the President r. unable
to get a hearing. The men insist that
the President Of the United States ought
to be respected"
Then It would appear that because
Judge Gary refused a conference you
ordered strike of the entire industry,
whether It involved merely the United
States Steel Corporation or notT' asked
Senator Jones'
THE other companies had known the
situation and should have treated with
us IL they had wished" was the reply.
You didn't see the officials OF the In
dependent companies but directed your
entire efforts at getting a conference
with Judge Gary, and when he refused
TO meet you you ordered strike
throughout the entire industry whether
Judge Gary's company was involved or
not?" asked Senator Jones.
Other Companies Knew Facts.
IF the other companies are not sub
salaries of the Steel Corporation they
knew at any rate that our men were
organized and would meet them in con-
ference" replied the witness. when
Judge Gary refused the men quit work.
Any company that wished to do 30 could
have settled and continued running.
trict are four union mills that are now
running"
How about President Wilson's re-
quest that you delay the strike until
after the October conference in WASH
ington?' asked Senator Phipps "If you
were able to delay the strike pending
conference with Judge Gary why should
you not as well have compiled with the
Presidents request to delay It until after
the October conferenceY'
For the reason stated in our answer
to the President" was the reply. 1T
contained eleven points and about three
reasons We're given under each point.
We answered him fully, while Judge
Gary did not answer at ALL"
In answer to questions by Senator
Phipps the witness told his own story
briefly. II am by trade horseshoer,"
he said. II represented the Chicago
Federation Of Labor as organizer and
for eighteen years have been its general
organizer. I.-was president of the Chi
cago Federation of Labor sixteen years.
1 have had no experience in steel mills"
Didn't Know Rates of Pay.
Senator Phipps demanded to know
the witnesses knowledge of the steel
business, rates of pay, conditions Of
Noihi NllHtsS Sdlu uo knew THESE
only from meeting the men. He did
not know the wages of different classes
of men in the industry. The business
was on a basis of 40 cents an hour
for day laborers in the Chicago dis
trict, which he declared was less than
the general rate in that region. He had
not visited the men a, work in the mills
because union organizers were not per-
mitted in the mills.
THE industry is on the basis of a
twelve hour working day." he said.
That gives the men no home life what
ever. 1t Is not a question of money.
They want chance for happiness The
average worker never gets a chance to
kiss his babies night or morning. They
are demanding decent standard and
mode OF life"
Senator Phipps asked a series of
questions designed to show that in fact
the industry is not entirely on a twelve
| hour basis, and witness said It was
true that some departments might be
on an eight hour basis and that a few
highly skilled men might get $40 or
$40 day for eight hours work; but
he insisted that the thousands of ordi-
nary laborers worked twelve hours at
40 cents an hour.