The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-09-25
WOMEN AND CHILDREN SHOT IN
FIGHT To PREVENT STEEL MEN
ORGANIZING, FITZPATRICK SAYS
Strike Organizer, First Witness
Before Senate Committee. Says
That Corporations are Reapon-
sible for Cruslties.
GoMPERs WILL 90 ON
THE STAND TOMORROW
Fitzpatrick Tells of Efforts to
Organize Men and Tells Why
Strike Could Not Be Put Off
TIL National Labor Conference


~ rae Associarsn rarss
WASHINGTON Sfa. 25.--scnatc
Investigation of the nISIl,ab-sssfte strike
Of t1ef1 uofkeff 90 N trafuifss ufn4her
rs-un,iini nriion cun bc taksTs by tins
Nucfui GOtcrtumfiif WRs Opriu,t today
with John Fitzpatrick. chairman rf
the union csHantii1cc cosllfnclina flln
auikst as the nssa wins8.s hcfme the
ctlucation anal labor committee.
Fitzpatrick was late In arriving
from PlitHburg. and hurried 70 the
committee room, which wan crowded
with senators. representatives. ana
others interested. He was accompan-
led by william H. Rubin, counsel for
Chairman Kenyon Of the senate
committee Investigating the steel
strike announced today that Samuel
Gompcrs. president Of the American
Federation OF Labor would be calico
before The committee tomorrow.
Fitzpatrick. In opening his tes,i-
mony. charged oppression Of steel
workers.
What do you mean by .hatYs
asked Senator Smith. democrat. Geor-
gis.
Charges Indusfdati0ns.
AN kinds Of intimidatsons. through
Men given the choice OF tearing
up their union cards or quitting their
jobs Slot like Fannie Selieua, one OK
our organizers at Breckearidge, Pa.
Pressed for an explanation. Filzpat-
rick introduced photograph of a
dead woman
she spoke al one Of our meet
inGr." he said. when the gunmen
shot an old man. she tried to protect
some children with her altlrtA. Then
the order was given: XIII this ono,
too And they shot her"
"a news dispatch from Pittsburs
on August s6 reported the killing OF
Miss seilens. hut said she was an or
Fanlzer for the United Mine Workers
and was Killed In lahUr riot near
the plant of the Allegheny Coal aud
Cuke company near Breckenridgc,
"a. n ed not appear that she was
concerned in orsanization for the steel
strikeJ
Po.niing his finger at various meni-
bers OF the committee and waving \
photograph, Fitzpatrick said n picket
"a man sixty years Of ago-wss shot
down in cold blood. Several children.
he said. were attracted by the firing.
came around the corner OF the ailey
and SAW the children. Then the gun
men appeared. She was afraid tho
children would be shot. She reached
down ana pulled up her skirts and
pulled them around the children In a
corner. Immediately. the gun men
fred and killed her"
who were these gunmcng" asked
Chairman Kenyon
They were employees Of the COM
pany hired % terrorize the COM
muniiies" Fitzpatrick answered. The
deputy sheriits and gunmen are act
/ ing all together"
wIurrsss Questioned.
what you mean 70 say" said Sem
/ aior Walsh. democrat. Massachusetts,.
ia that directly, or indirectly. these
men were influenced or directed by
| the steel corporation"
Yes. they are mill guards" Fitz-
Public oniriaiss" asked Senator
I Walsh.
They are sworn In as deputy sher-
| ms" the witness explained. we
don't know where their pay comes
! from"
III Is a fact that the shooting oc-
i CURED In connection with coal
strike and before the steel trouble.
isn't nf' asked senator Ihipps. re-
publican Colorado.
"Rut she was shot TO put the fear
into our people" Fitzpatrick said.
"lias there been a prosecution if
Z that case" senator Smith asked.
ITS our experience tina; YOU can't
get any prosecution OF cases like
that" the witness said.
The fact IL that the trial In that
ease has not been held, isn't ~" Sem
ator rhipps asked,
e want that point clear"
Fizpatrick said he had no infor-
nation on the subject. lie branched
on into. events al Hammond. lncians.
whore there were fatalities In thu
standard Steel Car company strike.
and said orders had been lssaed to
trest labor rough.
-.
the steel corporation. has hf' asked
srnato, Phipps.
I'VE feel an these companies are
under the domination Of the steel
corporation" Fitzpatrick returned.
That brings up my question again. ,
said Senator Walcott, How many OF
your membership really work for the
we don't know how many OF thesa
companies are subsidiaries Of the steel
corporation" Fitzpatrick replied. we
organize anywhere"
An of I've af0. .o0o now on strike.
Fitzpni rich said ln reply to senator
. kenyon, arc members of the Ameri-
, can Federation of Labor.
Fitzpatrick said The charge that
, mfsf 10 the strikers were aliens was
"a bugabo0 raised By newspapers con-
noiled hy the steel corporation" ITO
added that since the war. English
speaking workers had manned thu
/ mills.
Wilson nroueht In
President Wilson tried 20 get a
r conference with Judge Gary for tho
uniOn committee, Fitzpatrick sald.
"Did he tell you 80 In 80 many
. wordsf' senator Kenyon asked.
I'VE say him, aid he convinced ul
that he had tried" Fitzpatrick re-
Z sponded," ana that his efforts had
! been fruitlesa."
Since this strike al Mckeesport. q
4 the witness said. the opposition u