The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-11-08
''BARBARISm"
SAY SENATORS
OF STRIKES
Senate Committee Blames
Both Workers and Employ
ers for Steel Walkout-
Public Has First Rights.
RECOMMENDS COURTS

! INV -
| WASHINGTON. Nov. s-Character-
1z1ng all strikes as industrial bar
barism" and declaring that there is
no place In this country either for In
dustrial despotism or labor despot-
ism" the senate committee authorized
to Investigate the steel strike today
presented a report covering its hear
ings both in Washington and in Pitts
burgh and critcising both the work
ers and the employers in the contro-
versy which resulted in at least par
tial disruption of the steel industry
The committees main conclusion,
concurred in by all members was ex.
pressed In the statement that the pub
lie has right to demand that capital
shall not arrogate to itself the right
to determine in its own way those in
dustrial questions and it is the same
as to labor. and the duty is upon con-
gress to provide some way OF ad
justing these difficulties
AS a permanent preventive of
strikes, which the committee con-
cedes "are apparently the only way
for labor to secure even its just de-
mands If employers refused to grant
them, it Is recommended that con-
gress authorize the establishment Of
some such mediation agency with
well-defined powers as the recently
dissolved war labor board.
/ Compulsory Powers
This board would have the power
Of compulsory investigation" the re-
port adds ON this subject, but not to
the extent Of compulsory arbitration.
A just decision of the board would be
endorsed by the public. There is
good sense enough in the American
people to bring about an adjustment
Of these difficulties"
Committee members who conducted
the investigation were fairly mani
nous in the report though leaving
open points on which they could not
agree. The report was signed by
Senator Kenyon Of Iowa, chairman.
and Senators Sterling. South Dakota !;
Phipps, Colorado. Republicans. and
Mckellar. Tenn: and Walsh, Mass,
Democrats.
Treating OF the causes Of the strike,
the committee In its report expressed
the opinion that the walkout was pre-.
cipitated by the determination OF the
American Federation OF Labor to or
gantze the steel industry. Wages are
not factor In the strike the COM
mittee held being high enough to give
no reason for dissatisfaction. Hours
OF the workers. however. the senators
believed. are too long.
RadIcaltsm Promised.
Further behind the strike the con-.
n1ttee found was massed "a consider
able cement" Of revolutionary radi-
cal1sm OF which It Is said. there Is no
question but that William T. Foster,
secretary of the general strike com
ndttee was leader. With Jacob Mar
golis, attorney for the !. W. w. and
assistant in organizing the strike, Sec
retary Foster came In for unspartng
condemnation. Despite Fosters par
; ttal disavowA Of his former syndioal.
list doctrines, the committee failed to
be convinced that the strike leader
has had little change Of heart" hut
on the contrary, "he is now in the
full heydey Of his power"
} "The laborers in the steel mills had
} a Just complaint relative to the long
hourse OF service on the part Of some
OF them and the right to have that
complaint heard by the company"
J forme findings.
"Th.. had the right to have repre-.
J sentattves Of their own choosing pre-
} sent grievances to the employers.
Some members Of tho committee be.
| lieve that more friendly relations
would be maintained between employ
er and employe II the representatives
who are chosen to present grievances
to the employers were actually work.
ing in the industry and that such rep.
resentatives ought not to be from out
side the industry.
Working Hours Too Long.
With the system of working hours
IN the steel industry the committee
disagreed strongly and cited as one
objection thereto the existence OF
large numbers Of non-English speak.
ing working men in the mills, who
, should be given opportunity to become
AmericaniZed.
Eve believe that a large majority
( Of the men actually working in the
r mills work 10 and ~ hours" the re
> port said
Men cannot work 10 and - bours
: day and attend classes in nigh,
: schools. An shour day with a livinp
, wage that will enable men to support
their families and bring up their chill
: dren. according to the standards o1
9 American life -ht to be a cardira
s part. Of the ino, rial policy and the
sooner the principle is recognized the
9 | better It will be for the entire coun
! try"
Sketchfng IN brief the history ot
the industry. the report dealt with
the efforts OF strike leaders to ge
Judge E. H. Gary. chairman OF the
United States Steel corporation to {
conference. far enough to point ou
that committee members felt symra
4 thy with the principle Of collective
= bargaining. but did not believe the
8 steel strikers had taken the rgh
course.
q 1.-THE representatives selected (fo1
r bargain1ng) should be those who be
|. neve in the principles of American
government" the report said on thi:
Q point Judge Gary could we'll have
|. objected to receiving man with thu
t views of Mr.. Foster. He did not pu
hts refusal on that ground, but rathe
q put 1t on the ground that the man die
9 not represent the employees. though
I himself conceding that 10 to Is pc
o cent Of the men in the mills wert
hal Si1y