The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-10-01
(Ey Associated press)

WASHINGTON. Oct. l. - ut has
been charged that during the pending
strike the subsidiary companies have
been guilty Of attacking and mistreat
ing employees" said Judge Gary this
afternoon in testifying before the SEN
ate committee.
There isn't vestge of truth in that
statement. Photographs were display
ed here, and it was said woman was
killed. This photograph has been
posted all over America, with a line
over, it Mrs. Fannie Sellins' body
ghoulishly mistreated by the sSeel
trusts fiendish crew. She was shot
at Breckenridge, Pa. We have no
works there, no men there. If she was
killed, it was without even the knowl-
edge Of the steel corporation or any
of it's employees"
Hasn't your company investigated
that matter, in view of the CHARGE
asked Chairman Kenyon.
The verdict Of the coroner's jury"
said the witness. made it certain that
no agent of ours had the remotest
connection with her death"
Il have the certified copy of that
verdict" said Senator Phipps.
IL HE Ln2I.
I'VE have discussed the incident
with some of our people," Judge Gary
resumed. Not because we thought
they might be guilty, but for informa-
ton. Our orders and our policy are
against any activity which could lead
to anything of that kind"
R. V. Lindabury, counsel for the cor
poration, said the woman was killed
RI ctrilyo cf rna1 mir IIT 20
Gary said in his opinion the shot
themselves" He added that his com.
pany had no interest in the coal mines
where the riot occurred.
Senator Phipps read a certified copy
Of the inquest record in the case. The
jury'S verdict said the killing was by
persons unknown and that the deputy
sheriffs involved were firing in self
defense.
Company Had Guards.
Chairman Kenyon asked whether
deputy sheriffS were sworn in at the
corporations plants and We're on the
company's pay roll.
Il should say yes" said Mr.. Gary
so far as know they have had moth
ing to do with any of these outbreaks.
He added that it was possible that one
of the companies guards had partici-
pated in disturbances since the steel
strike began, but pointed out that Mrs
Sellins was killed before the strike
started.
Referring to testimony of President
Gompers, of the American Federation
of Labor, that Jefferson D. Pierce, a
union organizer had been beaten by
company agents while attempting to
organize unions in the steel mills and
died from injuries, Judge Gary read
an affidavit which he said had been
sent to his Office on September 81 by
| Pierce's son.
81 was with my father the night he
received his INJURIES said the aft
davit. and he said they were not
| caused by any agents of the steel
corporation"
Injured by |. w. w.
"He was injured by a member OF
the l. w w. faction which was en-
deavoring to gain control of the or
| ganization. I wish to refute most
emphatically the charge Of Mr.. Com
pers that his death was caused by any
agent of the United States Steel cor
poration. He died one year ago Of
cancer, resulting from the wound.
Judge Gary then took the statement
of John Fitzpatrick, chairman of the
| steel strike committee, that men haG
been killed at Hammond, Ind, during
the steel strike.
1--WE have no connection with the
Standard Steel company there" he
said, and no connection with the in
cident"
This strike has been conducted il
many respects like other strikes" Mr.
Gary continued; only worse in some
of it's features. The large majority o.
our workmen were not DESTROYS of en-
gaging in a strike They were no
members of any labor union, having
declined to become such, year after
year.
! Throughout the war, our workme1