The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-26
THE RICHMOND vIRGINIAN-FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER &C. 1919


nies they would be driven ont OF bus
iness: every kind of tactics were EN-
paoy~d to terrortxe the workers and
keep them from Joining the union.
Long before the strike was called oc-
CURED the murder Of Fannie Shell
inTr at Brccktnridge"
Fitzpatrick described the death of
Miss sneliings. who was an organizer
Tor the union and displayed to the
committee n photograph OF her head
after the killing. He charged that
she was deliberately shot down by
deputy eheriffs employed by the steel
companies.
Enumcra ting the steps taken ht the
strike leaders to avoid a strike, F1tz-
patrick said that after having been
rehnffed by Judge Gary the commit
tee came 70 Washington and laid the
case before the executive committee
OF the federation of labor. Then the
case was taken 10 the President on
August SO. The President was un-
willing 10 act. Fitzpatrick said. until
he was assured that they could delay
The strike II a conference with Judge
Gary WAS arranged; Judge Gary was
asked "a meet the committee and re-
fused, Fitzpatrick said.
Says strikers Speak English
Asked about the charge made by
representative Cooper. of Ohio, In the
mouse that a majority of the strikers
were aliens. Fitzpatrick said there
were few Of the workers who cannot
speak English, and asserted that if
they were good enough to work for
j uuge Gary they were good enough
70 join the organization" He CON
tended that the men have been randi
" Amerfcanized, especially since the
war began.
F1tzpatrick was bitter in his de-
,TUnciauon Of the conSta bulary, and
the methods employed TO break un
Tathertngs of the strikers. He de-
Jared that IL the strike were not soon
. heckeo 1t would spread to other dis
er1cts and might involve the entire
United States.
Repiying to questions by Senator
fnipps of Colorado. as 10 the wages
pa1d the men. Fitzpatrick admitted
lhat some of the skilled workers get
as nigh as $40 or $40 day for eight
tsa Work. but said the majority of
the workers get 40 cents an hour and
arc cnta PEELED to work twelve hours
FITZPATRICK said he had never
in the steel mills, that his oc-
supa1lon was a horseshoer, but that
for the last eighteen years he had
lone nothing but act as organizer for
Sht Chicago Federation of Labor.
Are the strikers all members Of
the a #. of l.. ?" was asked.
es; there are near 1000, 600 mem
oers now. When we asked Judge
ANY for a conference we had about
10000 Then when we showed the
men that he had refused the confer
snce they joined in great numbers
during June and July. We asked the
members to authorize the conference
with Judge Gary and so 900 moro
came III before the vote was taken on
that question. bringing the member-
SNIP up $4,000 or $4,000. When
Judge Gary refused to meet MS. we
saw the A i. of l. executives and
they undertook to enlist Prestden,
Wilson in our behalf. Mr.. Gompers
was to assist us and arrangements
were made by which we saw President
wilson the next day, The committee
was named by the president of the
twenty four international unions thar
were involved
CALLED STRIKE AS PROOF.
The fact that about $40 900 men
are now striking" he continued.
SHOWS that we. did represent them.
j udge Gary. however. would not con-
cede that we represented his en-
l
was 10 call the strike and close the
mills. The program of terrorism was
on aud we had to tell the
men that IL they wanted to save
themselves and their cause they must
leave the mills. VS. have doubled our
mem hership since the strike began.
we allowed the non-union men to
vote as well as the union men on the
question of striking. using a separate
"a rfSNr,
about 100 per cent for the strike. l
was informed that only two voted
against it,
Did the president tell you that he
tried to arrange the conference?
asked Senator Kenyon. did he tell
you that Judge Gary refused. al
though he was asked by the presi-
dent 2"
Yes, we gathered from the presi-
cent that Judge Gary had refused II
conditions continue as they ara in
western Pennsylvania now, you can
De assured that the strike will not be
confined Ia, the steel workers alone
II the authorities in Pennsylvania re-
tuse TO recognize the right OF the peo-
pie In the steel districts there il no
~! lsHJgr what viii happen In. Nona o.
stead the mounted gunner rode their
horses right into the kitchens of the
WORKERS homes. one of these Cos
sacks. as we cali them, rode his horse
INTO the home OF a woman who was in
her kitchin with her child. a kettle of
food was tipped over from the stove
ana the woman WAS Scaided.
In Clarion, last Sunday, n meet
Ing was held at which our organize RS
addressed the men, urging them to
avoid all disorders and strictly obey
tho law. While it was in progress,
without warning, seven of these
horscmen rode right into the gather
ing, pulled the speakers off the stand
and arrested them
What law were those mon violat-
Ing when they were arrosted?" asked
Senator Kenyon.
mo law" was the reply. They
were ,gneeting on the common and
there was no disturbance what ever.
What is the duty of this Pennsyl-
vania state constabulary inquired
Senator Kenyon.
Tt IS strike breaking organiza
ton. don't know that ii has any
other use
GARY REFUSED CONFERENCE.
In Mckecsnort the police and
mounted gunner allowed no meetings
to be held The people are so ter
rorized that two people don't dare To
talk together on the street The
horsemen ride into any group and
club and beat the men. This is done
with the acquiescence Of the authori-
ties. In Charlton, Homestead Du-