The Washington herald., 1919-10-03

W. 80.
ITSELF, GARY TELLS
SENATE COMMITTEE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
against this country, decided by the
boardf" asked Chairman Kenyon.
Mo- said the witness. The aues-
ton was never raised
Dlans Fereigners.
But yea think foreigners are re-
sponsible largely for precipitating this
striker
Yes: but n we had known there
was . substantial number, of the kind
Of foreigners who are resorting to
violence and who. I believe, are under
the leadership Of outsiders, We
wouldn't have employed them"
Senator Phipps, Republican, Of Colo
RADIO. asked II It was possible before
the war to secure necessary labor
without employing foreigners. ana
Mr.. Gary replied in the negative. add
ing:
AT no time would we employ q man
who we believed, disloyal to this coun-
try. even IL 1t would have been necss-
sary to close down our manufac-
tories"
May Have Imported Labor.
Senator Mcclellan. Democrat, Of Ten
nessee, asked II the corporation. be-
fore the war. had imported foreigners
under contract. Mr.. Gary said 1t had
not. but that before the contract labor
law became effective 1t was possible,
but not probable, that foreigners had
been imported.
IF you have no unionism." Senator
Kenyon asked. who - going to speak
for the men? How can individuals
without unions present their views?"
Judge Gary replied that. as has been
frequently done, individuals or COM
mittees Of workmen could present
grievances to foremen. superintend-
ents, managers or even higher ofhcials.
Let me understand your position.
Senator Walsh. Democrat. Of Aassa-
chusetts. said. You recognize the
right Of men to Join unions. You let
them stay in your plant when they
join"
That's hight" Judge Gary re-
sponded.
Denies Justice.
We'll. now, what good 10 II to them
to belong to unions" Senator Walsh
persisted, IF when they join you re-
fuse to discuss anything with their
representatives.
rs it right" Judge Gary countered.
for 10 per cent Of men who may be-
long to unions to dictate conditions for
the other 30 per cent
But your position Is the same
Senator Walsh continued. even II 90
per cent OF the men were organized
you would not confer with their repre-
sentatives."
"I haven't said So" Judge Gary re-
torted. My position Is the same.
That question has not come up. We
shall not do anything to in1ure the
open shops"
VIII Not Arbitrats.
Lets settle that point right here"
Senator Walsh broke in. will you
confer with any representative Of or
ganized labor today to help settle this
striker"
II will not" Judge Gary returned
positively.
Senator Walsh and Mr.. Gary en-
gagged in a spirited colloquy over the
latter's refusal to see the labor lead
ers, the former stating that the strike
committee claims to represent 2o0, 900
men.
Not Of our men," Mr.. Gary sharply
interjected. They mean men Of the
whole steel industry. They represent
only a small, a very small. minority
Of our men"
"If you were convinced that 80 per
cent Of your men were organized and
represented would you confer with
81
NO" said Mr.. Gary But think
under certain hypothetical circum-
stances. I'm sorry IL differ with you.
or with others"
I'm sorry for hundreds OF thou
sands of suffering families" Senator
Walsh retorted.
Gary Disagrees-
Mr.. Gary protested that his position
had not been fairly explained and
added, with careful choice OF words:
Il put ourselves squarely upon the
issue that this Is a question Of the
open or closed shop. Now as to what
will bring about the closed shop we
must decide. time to time. depending
this particular time, there are many
things to take into consideration.
You speak about the public. I will
agree with anything and everything
you say regarding that The public
interest is the first and highest con-
sideration, no matter how It may
effect you or me.
''At the present time, in my judg-
ment, taking into consideration all
the facts and circumstances, the
union leaders or sornehodv actino for
a comparatively small minority of
foreigners. have brought about this
strike, which Is no more nor less than
N attarnrat q r.nixaEit.- A..