Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-10-02

nad no connection Win the Incident
'"rhis strike has been conducted in many
respects like other Strikes" Mr. Gary
continued. "only worse in some of its
features. The large majority of our work
men were not desirous of engaging in a
strike. They wree not members of any
labor unions, having declined to become
such year after year.
Throughout the war our workmen were
loyal. While It is true that there is a
radical element of foreigners at the
present time, it is only doing justice to
say that in my opinion, tho majority of
the foreigners were good citizens"
Judge Gary said about half of the cor
poration's workers might be foreign born.
THE men did not strike of their own
violation. They were taken out by the
constant effort of union leaders to bring
about strike. Threats had been made
We have great deal of hearsay testi-
mony that families were told their chill
dren would be killeded. their houses
burned. if the men did not 20 out. Large
number of men remained away from work
because they were afraid.
"If you exclude these, who did. not
think there was sufficient protection
l think 1t Is fair to say that not over
2S per cent. of our employees struck
from work was about 40 per cent"
Judge Gary said the men were re-
turning to work. More returned yes-
terday than on any day since it
started" he said.
Senator Mckellar, democratic, Ten
nessee. said it was contended that
the hours Of labor in the steel mills
were unusually long
II want to refer to wages first
said Judge Gary. 1.-THE lowest wage
rates paid by the corporation to nm
skilled labor working 10 hours . day
are AZ cents per hour in our basic
eight hour day plan--42 cents per
hour for eight hours. and for the
| hours over eight time and a half.
That is at a rate of SO cents an hour,
making S4.62 per day.
THAT is the cheapest pay for men
Some boys may get SO a day.
THE highest earnings of rollers
are s32.56 per day. They roll the hot
| metal into sheets. The general aver
age wage of all manufacturing plants,
not including executives. admnistra-
| tors and statesmen on July /, 1919 was
SG.27 per day"
Judge Gary explained that some
| men work eight some ten and some 12
hours day. Men arc permitted to
work only eight hours If they desire.
he said, when the labor is unusually
hard.
The present average wage of un-
skilled laborers OF the corporation,
the witness said. is IS per day, and
of the skilled s6.70.
"Under the open shop practice" he
| said "thc man is treated according to
his merits"
Judge Gary said 6S.2S4 of the cor
poration's employees worked twelve
hour day; 199.S96 a ten hour day and
ss,9O4 averaged an eight hour day. He
| said teh general average of wages in
manufacturing plants of the corpora
alton was S2.9a in 1914 and s627 in
| 1919.
How much do you pay superinten-
dcnts:" asked eSnator Kenyon.
"As high as $1,000 or $4,000 a year"
How many rollers have you at ss2 a
day." -
| I believe there's oaly one, hut there
are many at s29. SIS and SCI day"
"Ten or twelve"
"Oh, more than that
THE rollers the witness said in
answer to Senator Phiprs, perform no
manual labor. hut are paid for their
| skill. They touch a button, or pull a
| lever" he said.
| What we'd like to know is what
caused this stril<e?' interrupted Senator
! Walsh of Massa chusetts.
Judge Gary, Mr.. Gompers and Mr..
! Fitzpatrick told us the cause of this
strike was your refusal to meet the men s
committees" Senator Kenyon said
| THAT ought to bring us to the point"
! They ought to know; they called it,"
Judge Gary retorted.
There was no reason for this strike.
| The men didn't want IT, They were
satisfied with their Jobs. It was the
union leaders who wanted the strike"
| How do you know they were salts
fed?" asked Senator Johnson, republican,
of South Dakota.
you were not in the mills, among the
men, We're your
They have told the officers Of our
corporation So" Judge Gary said
! 'Our foremen and superintendent
| know It. Our men are able to come to
| foremen and superntendents at any time
and make complaints and get adjust
ments. They can even come before the
chairman of the board If they desire
J 1t is always our practice and they know
how the men feel"