Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-09-25

negie Steel company, would be shut down by the end of the week. 1 Secretary Foster announced today that 342,0O0 men in the industry are on strike and that the situation was we'll in hand. Go To Senate. Pittsburgh, Sept. 24.-The fight of the striking steel workers in the Pittsburgh district for the right of free speech and free assemblage, will be carried to the United States sen- ate. John Fitzpatrick of Chicago, chairman of the national committee 1 for organizing iron and steel work l CTS. announced tonight at the close of the committee meeting. He said he would leave at once for Washing ton to present the strikers appeal to the senate committee Investigating the strike, before which he will testify tomorrow.
 Mir. Fitzpatrick declared that the situation was critical in this district because of brutal assaults by the state police on strikers. He charged that they had clubbed and run down women and children with their horses at Clairton, Homestead and McKees- port.
 "I am taking sufficient evidence to Washington to present our case," the chairman added Ut is our intention to demand that the constitutional rights of the workers be upheld by the federal government"
 Frank R. Walsh, former chairman of the national war labor board, wired tonight that he would arrive in Pitts burgh within few days to takeA up the fight of the workers for free speech and free assemblage and in- vestigate local conditions, MT. Fitz- patrick said.
 Although disinclined to talk about the committees meeting today, Sec retary William z. Foster said that a subcommittee had been appointed to meet with the presidents of the four railroad brotherhoods to discuss mat ters pertaining to the strike" He refused to go into particulars regard ing the purpose of the meeting with the railroad chiefs.
 According to MT. Foster, another committee was appointed to meet with Sheriff William s. Paddock of Allegheny county, and make a pro- test against the actions of the state
 MT. Fitzpatrick declared that the strike was the unions answer to MT. Gary's declaration that it did not represent the majority of the en- ployes in the United States Steel corporation. "We have conclusively proved that Mr. Gary is wrong," he said. When asked if he would com mnnicate with MT. Gary and again demand a conference, MT. Fitzpatrick said that he would not.
 "When MT. Gary refused to comply with the request of the president of the United States, we feel that in calling this strike we are supporting the government" said the strike lead- CT. 'The workers are loyal to the government and are determined to stand back of President Wilson in his fight for democracy. We consider our action is in support of the nations chief executive. who is being defied by Mir. Gary" He said the "next move" was up to MT. Gary and that the only possible hope for settle ment would be the granting of the steel mems request for a conference. There is no possibility of gen. eral strike growing out of the steel workers walkout," MT. Fitzpatrick de- clared. "All talk of general strike is ridiculous" he added.
 MT. Fitzpatrick asserted that the steel workers strike was an "Ameri- can strike" He said that reports that only foreigners had walked out of the plants were false and mot sub- stantiated by fact"
 "I defy any one to prove this is not an American strike," said MT. Fitz- patrick.
 Although large numbers of for eign-born workers have walked out. many American born men have joined our ranks. Of course, it must be re- membered that large numbers of foreign-bor men are employed in un- skilled labor in the steel industry"
 According to Foster, considerable part of the committees time today was taken up with discussion of the Bethelehem Steel company's case. He said the company had been sent an ultimatum demanding that the union be granted conference at once. If no reply is received from the Bethlehem officials by o'clock tomorrow after noon. he indicated that a strike would be called in the plants of that com pany.