The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-10-02
Gary Made a Positive State
ment in Senate Inves-
tigation To-day
IN RESPONSE TO
SEN. WALSH'S QUERY
Witness Denied Hiring For
eigners to Prevent the
Unionizing of Plants

Washington, d. c., Oct. 2.--Charges
OF union leaders that the United States
Steel corporation employed many for
eigners in order to prevent the unionizing
of its men were denied to-day by Ebert
Fl. Gary, chairman of the corporation 5
board, when he resumed his testimony
before the Senate committee investigat
ing the steel strike
WAS the question of employing for
eigners who possibly had feelings against
this country decided by the board 2"
asked Chairman Kenyon
NO." said the witness, "the question
was never raised"
'But you think foreigners are respon-
sible largely for preeipitating this
striker"
"Yes, but if we had known there was
a substantial number of the kind of for
eigners who are resorting to violence
and who ! believer are under the leader
ship of outsiders, we wouldn't have en-
ployed them
"lf you have no unionism," Senator
Kenyon asked, who is going to speak
for the menl How can individuals with.
out unions present their viewsg"
Judge Gary replied that as has been
frequently, individuals or committees of
workmen could present grievances to
foremen, superintendents, managers or
even higher officials.
Judge Gary analyzed steel strikers as
belonging to three classes First there
aye Americans, he said, "then a large
number Of fofeign-born workers, and
finally small minority Of foreigners,
not over Is per cent of the total, who
are actually engaged in promoting the
strike"
Chairman Kenyon read principles of
the war labor board promulgated during
the war, guaranteeing the rights of col
lectiye bargaining to employees and asked
if Judge Gary indorsed that.
"lf YOU mean what the labor unions
call collective bargaining, no" Judge
Gary responded. "If you mean organi-
zation of plant committees to present
grievances, yes
"T'd like to know what the difference
is between YOU and the labor unions, /"
said Senator Jones, Democrat, New Mex
leo.
Unions are endeayoring 20 compel em-
ployers to contract with them" Judge
Gary answered. .and when that is done,
non union men cannot be employed"
What good is it for men to belong
TO unions" asked Senator Walsh Of
Massachusetts,, ''if when they join you
refuse to discuss anyshing with their
representatives y
rs it right" Judge Gary countered,
"for 10 per cent of men who may be.
long TO unions to dictate conditions for
the other 90 per eenti'
"But your position is the same" Sen
.ator Walsh continued "even ii 90 per
cent of the men were organized. you
would not confer with their representa-
tives.n
~ haven't said So Judge Gary re-
piled That has not come up"
Lets settle this point right here, -
Senator Walsh broke in "Wil YOU con
fer with any representatives of labor
to-day, TO help settle this striker"
u will not, !" Judge Gary returned.
IF you were convinced that so per
cent OF your men were organized and
represented, would YOU confer with
them?" asked Senator Walsh.
NO" said Mr.. Gary. I'm sorry if
differ with you, or with others"
"Im sorry for hundreds of thousands
Of suffering families" Senator Walsh
reiterated.
Judge Gary protested that his position
had not been fairly explained and added,
with careful choice OF words:
I'VE put ourselves squarely upon the
issue that this is a question of the open
or closed shop. Now as to what will
bring about the closed shop we must
decide, from time to time, depending
upon the facts presented