Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-09-19
STRIKE WATTS
WIRE From GARY
Men Are Ready ID Walk Out,
Says Fitzpatrick.
CORPORATION HEAD DEFIANT
Declares He viii Not Yield and the
Company VIII Conduct Its Works
as an "open shop"-Writes
Long Letter.

al committee for organizing iron and
steel workers went into session here
to take definite action on the matter
of postponing the strike of iron and
steel workers, called for Septm0er %.
Before going into the meeting John
Fitzpatrick, Chicago. chairman of the
national committee. said that unless
the report was a last minute" teIe-
gram from Ebert H. Gary, chairman
of the board Of the United States
Steel corporation, no postponement
of the strike. as requested by Pres
ident Wilson until after the industrial
conference at Washington, October 6.
would be considered.
Men Fully Organized.
Fitzpatrick said the men were fully
organized and prepared to walk out
next Monday.
The meeting of the national com
mittee was called primarily to make
preparations for the proposed strike.
Chairman Fitzpatrick, when asked
concerning The postponement Of the
projected strike said that thought Of
such action was dream
The Carnegie Steel company gave
out a letter from E. H. Gary, Chair
man of the United States Steel cor
poration, addressed to the presidents
of the subsidiary companies setting
forth the reasons of the corporation
for declining to deal with labor unions
and explaining the attitude Of the
concern toward its employees.
1t was reported that telegram has
been sent to President Gompers of
the American Federation of Labor,
asking him to attend the meeting of
the national committee here. Labor
leaders @efused to discuss the report.
The letter states that the corpora
ton does not combat labor unions as
such and that is does not negotiate
with unions because ii aould indicate
the closing Of the shops against non
union labor
1T is the settled determination of
the United States Steel corporation
and its subsidiaries" the letter states,
that the wages and working condi-
tinos Of their employees shall compare
favorably with the highest standard
Of propriety and justice"
Stands for Open Shop.
The letter dated New York, Sept.
is, is in part as follows
Not long since | respectfully de-
clined to meet for the purpose Of dis
Wssing matters pertaining to labor
1T our various plants. number of
gentlemen representing certain labor
unions. They claim this furnishes
cause for complaint and have stated
that they intend, If possible. To pres
vent a continuance of operations at
our mills and factories.
Il deem it proper to repeat in a let
ter what heretofore has been said to
you verbally. l entertain no fesling
of animosity towards the gentlemen
personally and would not hesitate to-
meet them as individuals; but did
not and do not consider it proper to.
confer with them under the cireum-
stances.
THE declination was made for two
reasons: First, because ! did not be-
lieve the gentlemen were authorized
to speak for large number of our EN-
ployees. whose interests and wishes
are of prime Importance. Secondly,
because conference with these men
would have been treated by them as
recognition of the closed shop
method of employment. We do not
combat labor unions as such. We do
not negotiate with labor unions, be
cause it would indicate the closing of
our shops against non-union labor;
and large numbers of our workmen
are not members of unions and do
not care TO be.
1.-THE principle of open shop is vi
tai 10 the greatest industrial progress
ana prosperity. II is of ulua pene-
fit to employer and employee, 1t
| means that every man may engage
in any line Of employment that he Sc
lects, and under such terms as he and
the employer may agree UPON that he
may arrange for the Kind and charac-
ter of work which he believes win
bring to him the largest compensation
and the most satisfactory conditions,
depending upon his own merit and dis
position.
Calls Unions Tyrants.
"rhe closed shop means that no
man can obtain employment in that
shop, except through and upon the
terms and conditions imposed by the
labor unions. He is compelled TO join
the union and 20 submit to the dicta-
fion of its leader before he can enter
the place Of business. If he joins the
union he is then restricted BY its lead
err as TO place of work. hours of work
land therefore amount of compensa-
tion) and advancement in position. re-
CARELESS of merit: and sometimes. by
the dictum Of the union leader called
cat and prevented from working for
days or weeks, although he has no real