New-York tribune., 1919-09-18

The committee held it's farst session
at II o'clock this morning with
practically a complete attendance, and
with other labor leaders Sitting in"
The afternoon session convened late
and lasted less than two hours. At
its conclusion Fitzpatrick said that no
formal statement concerning the COM
mittee's deliberations and conclusions
would be given to the public until after
tomorrow afternoons session, follow
ing which the members would return to
their respective districts to direct the
progress Of the strike. The committee
would not remain in session during the
strike
Promise Peaceful Strike
If both sides follow out their ex-
pressed intentions the strike will be a
very quiet one. The labor men say
they will simply desert the plants and
forget about them, and the managers
say that they will make no efforts to
run crippled mills, but will simply shut
them down and wait for the men to
come back from their fishing.
The labor leaders professed to have
and the Steel Corporation are about to
get the surprise of their lives" said
one committeeman.
he opinion generally entertained
here is that the Steel Corporation vel
comes a strike at this time. assuming
that one is inevitable, as it is believed
that the strike will affect skilled labor
more than unskilled, and that at this
season of the year it will be easier to
replace the unskilled men than slater.
Some Fear Explosion
The corporation point OF view is that
Cf bo kn ,o;~
mons during the recent organization
drive are not keen for a strike and
that there are many un-Americanized
foreigners among them whom it will be
difficult to hold in line long under the
pressure Of unemployment
At the same time there is an i'll
concealed apprehension that the strike
may be loaded with dynamite which
will explode and crock the boat" for
the whole country, and there is a cold
fear that, Notwithstanding the pacific
intentions now expressed, the newt
able outcome of hundreds of thousands
of men out of work will be rioting and
/ bloodshed
The strike, if realized according to
programme, will affect the ore mines
of the Northwest, the ore boats on the
Great Lakes, and every phase of the
great steel industry from coal mines
and coke ovens to blast furnaces, roll
ing mills, structural steel shops, tin
mills, etc. There are few unionized
plants that will not be affected by the
strike, but they are comparatively neg
ligible.
Reasons for Gary's Stand
Judge Gary's letter, which ended the
hopes of q conference and a compro-
mise, was as follows:
"Not long since | respectfully de-
clined to meet for the purpose of dis
cussing matters pertaining to labor at
our various plants number of gentle
men representing certain labor unions.
They claim this furnishes cause for
complaint and have stated that they
intend, if possible, to prevent a con-
tinuance of ouperations at our mills
and factories.
II deem it proper to report in a let
ter what heretofore has been said to
you verbally. | entertain no feeling of
anlmosity toward these gentlemen per-
I sonally. and would not hesitate to
meet them as Individuals; but | did
not and do not consider it proper to
confer with them under the circum-
stances
Gives Reasons for Attitude
The declination was made for two
I reasons: First. because | did not be
lieve the gentlemen were authorized to
speak for large numbers of our en-
ployes whose interests and wishes are
Of prime Importance. Secondly. be-
cause d conference with these men
would have been treated by them as a
recognition Of the closed shop method
OF employment. We do not combat
labor unions as such. We do not ne
gotiate with labor unions, because it
would indicate the closing Of our shops
against non-unlon labor, and large
numbers Of our workmen are not NOM
/ bcrs of unions and do not care to be.
"The principle Of open shop is vital
to the greatest Industrial progress and
employer and employe. 1t means that
employment that he selects, and under
such terms as he and the employer may
agree upon; that he may arrange for
! the kind and character OF work which
he believes Wsll bring TO him the lar
/ gest compensation and the most salts
factory conditions. depending upon his
own merit and disposition.
Stiles Personal Ambition
"The closed shop means that 40
man can obtain employment in that
/ SnOp except juIpuyN ana upon lNe
terms and conditions imposed by the
labor unions. He is compelled to join
the union and to submit TO the dicta-
ton Of its leader before he can enter
the place Of business. If he joins the
union he is then restricted by its leader
as to place Of work, hours of work (and
| therefore amount Of compensatory and
advancement in position, regardless Of
merit; and sometimes, by the dctum
of the union leader, called out and pre-
vented from working for days or weeks,
| although he has no real grievance and
he and his family are suffering for
want of the necessities Of life. III
short, he is subjected TO the arbitrary
direction OF his leader, and his per-
sonal independence is gone. Personal
ambition to succeed and prosper Is
st1ed
'The principles Of open shop is vital
to the greatest industrial progress and
prosperity. 1t is of equal benefit to
employer and employc. 1t means tha,
every man may engage in any line OF
employment that he selects and under
such terms as he and the employer
may agree upon; that he may arrange
for the kind and character Of work
which he believes will bring to him the
largest compensation and the most
satisfactory conditions, depending upon
his own merit and disposition"
ut is appropriate to further cmpha-
size what has been said many times in