Evening star., 1919-09-25

OulsklrtS OF c1ttoS ana elooWuSIos 0uA
the men came and signed up: BY MAY
we had something over 10000 men in
4he various districts. These men
wanted to take immediate action, but
we prevailed upon them to wait until
bther points were organised.
The first effort to obtain . CONFER.
ence with Judge Gary was nAde iast
May. the witness said. This was by
the tin workers.
They received an answer. stating
that the corporation would not meet
the representatives Of labor: but
would do business as they had In tho
past" said Fitzpatrick
After the steel situation had been
discussed at the convention last juno
of the American Federation OF Labor.
President Gompers wrote Chairman
Gary, Fitzpatrick said. adding:
''That letter was ignored.s absolute
~. There was no reply.
i Says Organizers Jailed.
! In continuing tho steel workers. or
,ganization. Fitzpatrick said. the union
organizers were -jailed and opposed
in every possible way" Finally, on
July 20. he said. the twenty-four steel
unions representatives decided to
take a strike vote OF the men.
THE Organisations responded unan-
lmously." the witness continued, and
on August 20 we had reports that 50
per cent Of the men the unions were
authorised their representatives to
call q strike II they were unable to
get . conference with the corporation
heads"
did you have tho total number of
men who voted on the striker" asked
Senator Wolcott, democrat, Delaware.
NO; each union took it's own vote"
did you have any figures to show
the number Of men who voted in each
union?'
4 90 Per Cent Vote to Strike.
mo, we didn't get them. Each
union got its own figures and report
ed whatever per cent had voted for
twenty-four unions was SO per cent"
Fitzpatrick said 100000 men out Of
BOO, 900 in the steel industry were in
union when the strike vote was taken,
but added that when the workers saw
hope $4,000 more joined"
ated he said $4,000 had Joined the
strike.
I'VE compiled the vote and author
1Bed q committee to approach Judge
Gary and get a conference" he said.
1--WE went to Judge Gary's office and
ne 6SuI OUT wOIQ dShluk 10 DC C4CuSSu
from a personal interview, but saying
we could submit our proposals in
writing. We did so. and got a letter
from him saying that he did not
consider US to be representatives OF
the men,"
Blames Judge Gary.
IF Judge Gary had consented to
this conference would this strike have
been called?' asked Senator Kenyon.
'No," Fitzpatrick responded.
IF Judge Gary consents now will
he strike go onT
Eyes. they are going on now. in my
opinion. until they get justice"
"At that time had the Presidents
sndustriai conferences been calledT
'We'd be Interested in having you
tell US why you couldn't postpone the
strike until after that" continued
Senator Kenyon.
'The date had been set" Fitzpat-
rick said. 'If we had waited we
would have been shot to pieces.
Intimidation Through Bosses.
what do you mean by thatf.. asked
Senator Smith. democrat. Georgia
"An kinds OF intimidation, through
the business men," Fitzpatrick said.
Through the bosses. Men given the
choice Of tearing up their union cards
or quitting their jobs. Shot like Fam.
4as %..n1iS snsl,iSs.. 9 e Of our orEani.ers At
Pressed for an explanation, FitEpat-
xick introduced = photograph Of dead
-shs spoke at one Of our meetings"
he said when the gunmen shot an
old man. she tried to protect some
cAildren with her skirts. then the or
Ger vas given. KIN this one. tool"
Who were these gunmen you talk
aboutr demanded Senator Kenyon.
Pointing his finger at various MEM
ners OF the committee and, waving
the photograph. Fitzpatrick said q
Dicket-a man sixty years of age
children. he said. were attracted by
the firing.
"This woman" he continued, ~came
around the corner of the alley and
saw the children. Then the gunmen
dren would be shot She reached
down and pulled up her skirts and
pulled them around the children in
corner. Immediately the gunmen
dfed and killed her"
who were these Runmen?" asked
Chairman Kenyon.
Hired to Terrorixe.
They were employees Of the COM
pany-hired to terrorixe tho commu-
ntties." Fitzpatrick answered. 'The
deputy sheriffs and gunmen are act
ing al together"
what you mean to say" said sena-
Tor Walsh. democrat. Massachusetts,,
sis that directly or indirectly these
men were Influenced or directed by
the steel corporationr'
Yes, they are mill guards" Fitx-
patrick replied.
Public ofiicials!' asked Senator
Walsh.
They are sworn in a. deputy sher-
iffs." the witness explained. I'VE
don't know whore their pay comes
from"
TT 10 = fact that this shooting oc-
Cured in connection with q coal
strike and before the steel trouble.
isn't ttT Senator Phipps, republican.
Of Colorado, asked.
Shot to Put Fear in People.
But she was shot to put the fear
INTO our people," Fitzpatrick as
We feel all these companies are
under the domination Of the steel corr
poration," Fitzpatrick returned.
That brings up my question again, I"
said Senator Wolcott. How many of
your membership really work for the
steel corporation?'
We don't know how many Of these
companies are subsidiaries of the
steel corporation" Fitzpatrick re-
piled. I'VE organize anywhere."
All Of the $4,000 now on strike.
Fitzpatrick said, In reply to Senator