The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-19

EVERY PLANT NOT
ON UNION BASIS
TO BE AFFECTED

could not comply with his request to
postpone the strike, They are:
"(l) Mr.. Gary has asserted that his
men need no trained representation In
their behalf in presenting theig griev-
ances, Notwithstanding that they can
neither economically, by lack of means,
nor intelligently, by lack OF schooling,
cope with him or his representatives.
"(2l That ever since the men started
to organize. a systematic persecution
was instituted, beginning with discharge
and ending with murder, recalling to us
viyidly the days of Homestead and the
reign OF despotism In Russia,
"fSl Through the efforts of the rep
resentatives of the steel industry off
cials In various localities have denied
the men free assembly and free speech
Instances arc too numerous where meet
ings have been suppressed men ar
rested, tried on various unfounded
charges, excessive ball required and
cruel punishment imposed, all without
warrant In law and JUSTICE
'Q) As one of many examples, IN
the city Of McKeesport, meeting held
by the men within their, constitutional
rights was broken up and mon arrested
and thrown into jail, charged with riot,
and held to the excessive ball of $4,000
each, while one OF the hrelings of the
steel industry, arrested for the murder
OF woman speaker at breckenridge,
Pa, IL being held under ball of, but $2,-
500. Another patent example u Ham
! mond, Ind, where four defenseless
union men were charged upon and killed
| by hired detectives OF the steel indus
| try. and witnesses In behalf of these
survivors have been 80 intimidated and
maltreated that the truth Of the killing
was suppressed,
Guns in Plants.
"(b) Guns and cannon have been
| planted In mills, and highly charged
| electric wires have been strung around
| their premises.
"B) Armed men in large numbers are
| going about intlmidatlng not only the
workers but everybody n many com s1di
i tion Of sympathy with the men.
Y fst7l Men have discharged In increas-
| ingly large numbers day by day. Threats
and intimidations are resorted 10 for
the purpose OF putting the men In fear
and prevent them from the exercise OF
their own free will coerced into signing
statements that they are not members
nor will become members of any labor
| organization, and threatened with evic-
| ton, blacklist. denial Of credit and star
| vation
| "(s) That forced decline Of the mar
| ket would be imposed, so as TO Wipe out
| their holdings In stock, which they were
4 induced to purchase IN years past.
| Threats 10 move the mills and to close
them up indefinitely,
! "te) That an organized propaganda
| for yilification of the American Fedora
| tion OF Labor. spreading rumors that
the strike will be delayed and that such
delay Is only a sell-out.
| "G0) Showing no opposition to the
men Joining dual organizations. A a
result OF this propaganda, the |. w, W..
Ia making rapid headway In some OF the
districts,
"ui) That the real reason for opposi-
tion to otganized labor representation
on behalf of the women who have griev-
ances liz that the steel industry Is pre-
pairing to cut wages. and to lower the
Istandards TO prewar times, and to re-
turn to 4 condition that encouraged the
padrone system so prevalent in that
particular industry"