The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-09-26
AGREEMENT 0F i, 8. STEEL CO.
ARB|TRATE WOULD END STRIKE
FITZPATRICK TESTIFIES
FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
Painted Lurid Picture of Con-
ditions in Steel District
Makes Peculiar Charges

WASHINCTOE, sept. H5.--Appcar!ng
as labor's first witness IN the senate
investigation of tho steel strike. John
Fitzpatrick of Ihi"aEo, chairman Of tho
strikers committee. declared today thar
m agreement by the United states Steel
corporation tu arbitratc differences with
it's employees would result in an imm"di-
ate end of tho walkuut. which h" said
now affects $40. 600 mon.
F'Itzpatrick's statement came after
six hours recital bcror" tho senate labor
committee nf tho efforts :" organize tn"
stool workers and of TN" conditions
which led up to the strike. Had Judge
Elbcrt II. Gary. chairman Of IN" hoard
"f the steel corporation. met IN" work
crs' COMMITTEE" tn" men would moi haN"
walked out Fitzpatrick said. la; an
agreement for a cunfcr"nC" now would
not result III III" men r"trrning /" work.
Samuel GompsrS. president or IN"
American Federation "f labor ana
chairman of IN" first committee formed
10 nrganIZ" ih" steel workers. viii b"
hear by tho romInilt"" tomorrow. ON
Saturday William l.. Foster. secretary
nf the workers committee. who has
been charged by REPRESENTATIVES cooper.
Republican, Ohio. wi'h spreading l. ".
". propaganda. viii T." heard Judge
'iary is tN appear neat Wednesday 10
present tho sr""l corporations side OF
~" controversy
Reign Of Blood and Terror.
In his r"cItal today Fitzpatrick paint
I'd a lurd piCtur" OF conditions III the
steel districts of western Pennsylvania.
II" declared there was 4 reign Of blood
and iron there with deputy sh"riffs,
paid "Eu7lmcn" and renns! !Sania state
ronStabulary AS iis rhi"r opponents.
Murder and assault Of steel workers
wcr,. Of everyday occurrence. h" all"g
cd and in thus connection he SkctCh"d
dramliically the story Of tho killing OF
on" woman. an organizer Of min" work
CTS. which occurred before tho steel
S';rt. was called.
F':tzraIr.ck'S dcduct:ons from this cc
currrnr' led to sharp questioning by
senator's
"No you f"cl ;hat III" steel company
officials directly ordered thr killing Of
this woman" asked Senator Sr"rling.
Republican. South Dakota.
"i".. do" Fitzpatrick responded.
Elscwhcr" IN rh' steel industry. tn"
witness said. striking w"Ck"rs were
meeting with fair rr"Htm"n'.
General Purposes.
Describing the grv"raI purposes "f
rh" strike. Fitzpatrick said nrGa-izai ion
of m" stool industry had been decided
upon L. rhr American Federation NJ
Labor hc"auS" II WAS "a bad spot in the
industrial situa: :ton.-. with th" mon
forced +" work long hours at small
wages and und"r had conditions.
With tho actual calling of the strike
a list nf twclv" Demands had b"rn made
upon which N" - unions had combined.
Fitzpatrick said. These demands in
cluded recognition "f rnll"ctiv" hargan
ing tn" eight hour day. reinstatement
with pay Of all mrn discharged fui
union activities and adoption Of the
"ChrCk Oft system. ny which tn" conn
paniccs would collect union dues from
m" mon. Wages w"r" not specifically
nl"nt ionr8
un rhis last subject Fitzpatrick had
tw" views. "Th" industry pays less
than uaup"rs get II" said at on" point,
hut several times later h" assert "u that
money wa$ $40: In" ISSu".
IT'S "nnii'inns.' h" declared. 9Th"
hours are trr-Iblc. IN" m"n toll us. TIL"
conditions ar" awful. Their women
want moro happiness"
referring tu $50 a day as m" wage
drawn 10y highly skilled St"ol workers.
Fitzpatrick said this was "A mere pit
'ancc for tho work they do" Average
wages II" said. were around forty cents
an hour.