The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-05
SENATE INQUIRY MAY
NOT BE RESUMED
Non Union Men Testify
Against Steel Strike.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4.-owins to the
Indifference displayed by the striking
operatives of the steel industry there is
strong prospect now that the hearings
before the Senate Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor, which ran out of wit
nesses to-day. will not be resumed.
AT the same tmo that the decision
was reached by the committee to hear
the nor-union employees OF the corpora
lions involved In the strike the labor
leaders were informed that the COM
mittee willingly would give ear to ten
or more OF the strikers. The non-union-
lists appeared to-day. Thus far not even
an intimation from the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor leaders that they had
transmitted the invitation to the strik-
ers has yet been received by the COM
mittee.
Also the prospect of the Kenyon COM
mittee tourneying to PittsburR has
dimmed. 1t had been the intention of
Chairman Kenyon (Ga.l to move his
committee to the metropolis of the steel
and iron trade Monday To-day It be-
came evident that a quorum of the COM
mittee could not be obtained for this
purpose. One by one the Senators
pleaded urgent business in Washington
which would preclude their accompany
ing Senator Kenyon on his mission of
inquiry.
The oncoming debate over the Shan
tung award, scheduled in the Senate for
the first days of next week. and the
slender prospect OF It's termination before
Friday. made 1t quite evident that most
OF the Senators would consider the duty
of remaining in Washington as dominat-
Kenyon to put 1t of and so tonight it
was determined that postponement was
obviously necessary. A further dispos-
ing cause to indefinite postponement
working in the minds of the Senators is
that the strike Is near collapse.
Regarded Strike Unnecessary.
At to-day's hearing non-unionist
operatives were heard in criticism Of
the strike policy of the unions. Four
witnesses told the committee that the
strike was unnecessary and uncalled
for under the conditions of employ
ment. which they described as entirely
satisfactory.
T. T. Davies OF New Castle, Pa. and
Joseph Smith of Homestead described
the programme enforced upon the
unionists by their leaders as possessing
"all the elements of a conspiracy"
Some of the foreign born workers. they
asserted, hope that Sovietism will be
tho outgrowth of the effort to halt in
dustry.
Mr.. Davies told the committee that
he represented the opinion of 5000 tin
plate workers, and said that It was
bruited about the plant for weeks pre-
ceding the calling of the strike that the
foreign element was planning the use
OF destructive tactics which would
paralyze the operations of the tin plate
mills.
Some of the assertions OF the radical
element, Mr.. Davies told the committee.
were that once they won the strike COM
mittees and not owners would run the
mills. The assertion was also made that
President Wilson and Sam" Gompers
were in sympathy with the strike move
ment.
When the strike was called, Davies
said he and other workmen who sought
to get into the mills at New Castle we're
attacked by pickets at the gates.
They whipped the city police, they
whipped the county police" Davies said.
land beat men trying to go TO work.
There were 500 foreigners around the
mill gates. and until returned soldiers
took charge of the situation there was a
continuous light"
Davies said his own earnings were SIT
a day as a roller. He added that he
was Y. NJ c. A worker in France dur
ing the war.
Davies told the committee that when
mill employees had grievances they could
appeal TO the foreman. and II dissatis-
fed could go to the superintendent He
related several instances in which indi-
viduals and committees from the work
ing force had secured adjustments.
IT don't know of any labor union
which has anything to offer u.s." Davies
said. Most OF US have been members
| Of unions. A union man Is In danger of
being called out whenever any agitator
gets infamed with Bolshevsm. and has
no redress against it,