The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-09-25
FITZPATRICK
BEFORE SENATE
COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON. sept 25-"Iong
/ hours. bad treatment and wages below
! the pauper line were responsible for
/ the American Federation Of Labor in
itiating the unicnlzation Of the steel
/ workers IN August 1918 and were the
underlying causes OF the present steel
strike, John Fitzpatrick. head Of the
steel workers national COMMITTEES. de-
! eiarcd before the senate education and
/ labor committee investigating the big
!, stee, strike when It began its hearings
TODAY
| THE steel industry for is or 20 years
| has been the bad spot In the industrial
/ situation. Fitzpatrick added
| FL has had tendency to drag down
| and backward the rest OF the organiz-
| ed labor movement Just as one rotten
/ apple VIII contarrinate a whole barrel
OF good apples
lie admitted that the American Fed
grafton of Labor had initiated the or
ganization Of the steel workers with
out any formal application from them
bur declared the American Federation
Of Labors attention has been directed
70 the rotten conditions in the steel
industry by protests from the work
ers.
The hours are long. the wages are
small and the treatment-you can't de-
scribe it,
The eiEht-hour day was the hrst at
tempt ~ thwart organization" Ffta-
patrick said
The men wouldn't pay any attention
70 promises. so we went into the Pitts
bureh district. feeling that we had the
legal and citizenship rights TO meet and
discuss these questions The first ONO
sition we met was In McKeesport. We
were met with all kinds of resistance.
We We're told that We couldn't have 4
meeting Of any kind in a hall or a
vacant lot"
ne national committee then took the
matter up with the mayor" Fitzpatrictz
said. and the mayor Of McKeesport
said We absolutely couldn't meet"
Fitzpatrick outlined the efforts Of the
American Federation of Labor 10 ar
ganize the steel workers during tba
past few years. leading UP to Judge
e'ars refusal To meet with the labor
The men responded in large num-
hers Fitzpatrick said IN q short
organization"
"sNSt' r FITZPATRICK said.
was an organizer Of the carmen oT
ment.
The steel corporations wer. -.so-,
Ing 70 every method TO prevent the or
ganization.' said Fitzpatrick.
The American Federation of T.sh,r
initiated the movement 10 orv.rizo III,
steel workers" Fitzpatrick said q, rar1,,
70 question from Senator Jones Of
New Mexico.
We went TO Judge Gary's Office W.
sent in our cards. lie sent out word
asking 10 be excused from a personal
interview. asking that We submit our
business IN writing. We submitted orr
proposition and Immediately Rot an an
swer from Judge Gary stating thar he
dldnt think we represented the men and
mat the corporation would continue in
rs Old way taking the best care Of
the mon they could"
II Judge Gary had consented 10 n
conference would this strike have been
cailed!" asked Senator Kenyon.
No. sir, replied Fitzpatrick. Il don.r
think So don't think the calling ~
conference would satisfy the 34O oa1
men who have left their employment
Ehey have struck because of the brutal
Ity in the industry and they arc roing
70 ask the United States government IA
give them Justice
At the time had the presidents cor
fernece been called :" asked senat n
Kanyon.
No, sir; it was an frnpossibilitv 10
set -
i was then that Fitzpatrick flashed
photograph Of Fannie snellinrs lvin-
upon bier
There is an instance" said FItzna.-
TICK. This woman was an organize
Whiie she was trying to protect child
rem ,he order was given Kill this one,
and they fired.
The advice or the president Of Tho
chamber Of Commerce in Chicago was
70 use machine guns against leaders
70 treat them rough The next day four
men were killed and fifteen wounded =,
the Standard Steel Car pIant"
How was the selection OF your com
mittee to present demands made?" asked
Senator Phipps
BY the presidents Of the twenty four
international unions, answered Fitzpa.-
rick
Fitzpatrick said that he would furbie,,