Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-25
Fitzpatrick Admits Steel
Workers Had Union
Thrust Upon Them.
INITIATIVE TAKEN BY
LABOR FEDERATION
Senate Committee Begins investigation
of Steel Mills Strike-Fitzpatrick Ad-
mits Only Little More Than Half OF
. Workers Have Joined Strike Ranks
Charges Steel Corporation Sought to
Defeat Closed Shop Policy.

the united STATES Steel Sorpoldtioi
consent to meet the representatives OF
the men, the nationwide strike could
not be called off, in the opinion Of John
Fitzpatrick. chairman Of the strikers
com:nittee, as expressed today at the
senate Investigation.
"The $4,000 men on strike are going
to demand from the United States
government justice, decent justice.'r
Fitzpatrick was 4ate in arriving and
hurried to the senate room, which was
crowded with interested persons. He
was accompanied by William H. Ru-
ben. counsel for the steel strikers, who
at the outset of the hearing, asked
what assurance had been given by
Judge Gary that he would appear next
Wednesday. Senator Kenyon replied
that Judge Gary had telephoned him
that he would be present next We'd
nesday. Mr. Ruben requested that
there be placed in the. record corre-
spondence between Joseph Tumulty
Samuel Gompers and Fitzpatrick. Sem
ator Kenyon asked Ruben to read the
letters.
Fitzpatrick opened his statement
with what he said was brief history
Of labor conditions in the steel indus
try.
with the creation Of the steel cor
poration campaign was begun with
the object Of pushing organized work
ers out Of the Mills" he said. "A great
sum OF money, ] don't know whether 1T
was $o.00O.000 or $20,000,000, was ap-
propriated." In recent years labor has
begun to realize the tremendous i'm
portance of the steel industry.
while we were getting the eight
hour day and better conditions in 9TH
er places the steel mills were operat-
ing with longer hours. Labor then un-
derstood the Importance of controlling
the steel industry and at the last con-
vention of the American Federation OF
Labor the strike was authorized.
ii First Unions Formed.
Fitzpatrick said the tWenty-four
union heads met in Chicago about a
year ago and formed committee to
organize the steel workers. Men and
money were ready, the witness said,
but the funds were so limited that in
itial efforts were confined to the
Calumet district.
1.-THE men in the steel mills" he con-
tinued, were looking for relief. They
had hope. They responded in large
numbers and 1t was only short time
until we had successful organiza-
ton"
Until that time there had been no
unions in the steel mills?" asked
Chairman Kenyon.
= NO" l.g"
"About that time the steel corpora
ton was resorting to every effort to
force action on the part Of the men
to prevent labor organizations from
spreading their influence. They an
nounced the eight-hour day and we
know that was an effort to prevent
our organization"
Senator Jones asked whether the em-
ployes had asked the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor for recognition or
whether the federation had Initiated
the movement.
Didn't Ask for Organization.
"The Federation Of Labor initiated
the movement"
"Was there no movement Of the men
asking the organizations" asked SEN
ator Jones. 1 ?,
"Why was 1t incumbent of the
American Federation Of Labor to or
ganize the steel men?" asked Senator
Jones.
ut was bad spot in the Industrial
organization. In the steel industry
the hours are long, the wages small,
and the treatment-you can't describe
the treatment-and so for the benefit
Of the men in every industry it was
deemed beneficial for the men to or
ganize the movement.
"How many men are employed In
the steel mills" asked Senator Ken
yon.
"we figure about 100000" replied
Fitzpatrick.
Union Men In Minority.
did you have the total number OF
men who voted on the strike!" asked
Senator Wolcott, Of Delaware.
mo, each union took Its own vote"
aDid you have any figures to show
the number Of men who voted IN each
union ?" II. NJ r. =. i5
"No, each union got it's own figures
and reported what per cent had voted
for the strike"
Fitzpatrick said 100000 out OF 50o,-
mn in the steel industry were In the