The sun., 1919-10-02

AGAINST the majority, IL Is immoral
These men were rank outsiders. They
! mad announced their purpose TO organ
ize the steel industry. not for the pur-
pose OF getting better pay, for we never
heard of their twelve points Of grievance
at that stage, but In order to force
union control on the industry. Do You
realize what would follow from that7"
What was there in the letter which
these union leaders sent to you which
even suggested that they wanted to dis
cuss the question or the open or the
closed shop?" asked Senator Walsh.
was 1t not merely a courteous letter
asking conference7 Don't you think
YOU would stand better before the coun-
try now II you had received them?"
Real objects of Unions.
Their letter was courteous. and I
think my reply was courteous also"
replied Judge Gary. But their speeches
/ and announcements at the Atlantic City
and St Paul conventions had informed
me what were their real objects"
They said that they represented
twenty-four International unions" sug-
gested Senator Phlpps. Are any OF
these organizations Incorporated with
authority to negotiate on behalf OF its
members and to enforce its contract7'
II understand not" replied Judge
Gary.
Does not Incorporation Of a union
greatly affect the employees as to their
, ability to contract, and to enforce their
agreement asked Senator Phipps
rs it a general practice Of unions to
keep their contracts?" retorted Judge
Gary, Their contracts cannot be en-
forced at ALL"
What proof have you," asked Senator
Walsh. that the men who desired to
consult with you did not represent your
employeesT'
81 believe they did not. and It has
proved So" was the reply:
Frankly, I,concede the undesirability
of negotiating with Union leaders. At
| an earlier time a Mr.. Tighe wrote me
| that he would like to meet me with a
| committee concerning our relation with
our men. I replied that we did not
negotiate with union leaders as SUCH
although we did not combat them, and
that he must excuse me-
He did not publish that correspond
! ence, but In a report to his organization
| merely said that we were in correspond
ence on the subject. That was all he
sand. and as n result some of the news
papers reported that we had changed
our policy and were corresponding with
Tighe about It.
| minds of our men and that some OF them
Joined the union because they thought
we had changed our policy toward the
unions. If we, were to recognize the
| unions the men would all Join them at
once. In the present case the labor move
was merely an EFFORT to build up a case
for the future. 1 said to our associates
| that l would meet the committee but
| not as union leaders"
"DOaS that attifuda Y-aa oh - 4l,a
Of refusing to meet Mr.. Gompers?" asked
| Senator Kenyon.
Wouldn't Meet Gompers.
Yes. 1t does" replied Judge Gary.
But you are going to sit with him
| next week in this labor conference
what is the difference" urged Mr.. Ken
yon.
II don't consider that I am going to
sit with these gentlemen as leaders of
! union labor, We can't recognize the
union shop and unionize our industry"
would conference with these men
have that effect?' asked Mr. Kenyon.
Yes" replied Judge Gary, their let
tiers showed that they were union lead
ers asking to discuss matters relating to
our men. with all courtesy we must
consider the welfare OF those among our
employees who are opposed to labor
unions"
You could not deal with the repre-
sentatives of the unions as such because
Il would destroy the principle OF the
open shop?" suggested Senator Borah.
That is very good statement of It,"
replied Judge Gary.
You wouldn't refuse to see the at
torney of a man with whom you had dis
agreed? asked Senator Walsh\
"A lawyer comes to one we'll recon-
mended; you know that he really repre-
sents his client. These men didn't, as
thought" said Judge Gary.
Even II they had been employees of
your own, but had been representa- tives
OF organized labor, you could not have
dealt with them. then. because they were
union men?" inquired Mr.. Borah.
III they had told me that they were
representatives of Is per cent. OF our
people, and could talk to me on behalf
Of them. II is quite possible I would
have seen them," replied Judge Gary.
THE fact at the bottom OF all this is
that these men did not represent your
employees. as I understand It," said Mr.
Borah.
Il don't think they did," replied Judge
Gary. I'VE are not willing to do any
thing we believe is equivalent to estab-
fishing a closed shop. Industry must
proceed untrammelled by the dlctation of
labor or anybody else except the en-
ployer. the employee and the Govern
ment"
Then the public has an interest in
itT' asked Mr.. Kenyon.
THE highest of all interests, Sens-
tors" replied Judge Gary. "All private
interest must yield to It,"
"ItSs claimed that the Steel Corpora
TONS opposition to the unions is such
that great fund was set aside to de-
stroy them" suggested Senator Phipps.
No Anti-Union Fund Raised.
mo such fund whatever has been es-
tabllshed, We found when the COM
pany was organized in 1901 that SONS
of its subsidiaries were dealing with
the unions others were not We in
structed them to go on as they had
done before. In few months a strike
was called in an effort to organize all
| our employees. II failed and the men
returned to work voluntarily without
| any concessions. The Illinois Steel men
! were expelled from their organisation.
''rhe workers. finding that they were
getting nothing out OF the unions, be-
gan to quit paying dues and leave the
unions"
do you maintain among your work.
| ers any secret service rganization ?"
asked Senator Walsh.
II can't be very specific about that"
replied Judge Gary. 81 think at times
some OF our companies have used secret
service men. That Is frank; perhaps