The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-25
Witness Says Troops Used To
Intimidate Strikers.
A. T. of L. Organized Industry
Because of It's Influence.
LABOR CAMPAIGN YEAR OLD
Charge Steel Corporation Tried
To Gust Union Workers.
Fitzpatrick Declares 3 $4,000
Men Are on Strike.

Washington, Sept. 25-Even should
the United States steel corporation
consent to meet representatives of the
men, the nationwide strike of steel
workers could not now be called off,
in the opinion of John Fitzpatrick
chairman of the strikers committee,
as expressed today at the opening of
the senate labor committees investi-
CATION Of the strike.
THE $4,000 men on strike" Fitz-
patrick declared. "are going to de-
nand from the United States govern
ment Justice, decent justice"
Senate investigation of the nation
wide strike Of steel workers to deter
mine whether remedial action can be
taken by the federal government was
opened today with Fitzpatrick as the
first witness before the education ana
labor committee.
'sRottcn Apple of Industry"
The steel industry's open oppres-
sion of labor is the rotten apple OF
the industrial situation" said Fttz-
patrick
Just as a rotten apple will contain
mate the entire barrel, so the steel in
dustry is doing to the entire labor slt-
uation," he declared.
This is the reason. Fitzpatrick de-
clared. why the steel industry must be
organized now. Bad conditions in the
steel industry, he said, were used to
prevent getting better working condl-
tiOns in other occupations.
Hearing Was Crowded.
Fitzpatrick was late in arriving from
.gs.I TO fraf fafrf1 mi r
tee room, which was crowded with SEN
ators, representatives and others inter-
ested He was accompanied by VIM.
N. Rubin, counsel for the steel strik-
ers, VINO at the outset, asked what as
surance had been given by Judge Ell
bert Il Gary. chairman of the board
OF the United States Steel Corporation
that he would appear before the CON-
mittee next wednesday.
Senator Kenyon replied that Judge
Gary had telephoned him that he
would be present "Wednesday, and add
ed that until that time I'VE will not
question his being here" Rubin re
quested the committee place in th'
record correspondence between JOSEPH
Tumulty, secretary to the president
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor, anC
Chairman Fitzpatrick regarding eff
forts to postpone the strike. Senator
Kenyon asked Rubin to read the tele
grams and letter which already hav'
been published.
Fitzpatrick opened his statemen
with what he said was a brief histor.
Of labor conditions in the steel in
dustry.
with the creation Of the steel cor
poratiOn a campaign was begun will
7 the object of pushing organized work
ers out OF the mills" he said. "a
great sum of money, I don't know
whether 1t was $4,000. 900 or see, 900
600. was appropriated. In recen
years labor has begun to realize thu
tremendous Importance Of the stee
industry and its influence on other in
dustries.
while we were getting the eight
hour day and better working condi
tions elsewhere, the steel mills still
operated with very long hours AM
with wages below the proper line
Labor understood then the necessit,
OF organizing the steel industry 10
the purpose of controlling its effect
on the others. and at the last tw,
conventions of the Federation o
Labor the step was authorized"
Began Campaign Year Ago.
Fitzpatrick said representatives q
"a international unions affiliated witt
the American Federation of Labor me
in Chicago about years ago, an
effected a campaign committee I
organize the steel workers. Samue
Gompcrs was elected chairman an
VIM. u. Foster. secretary. Men an
money. the witness said. were Assem-
bled but funds were so limited tina
the initial organization efforts wer
confined TO the Calumet district. in
cluding Chicago and Gary. Ind.
THE men in the steel mills" Fitz
patrick continued. were looking 70
relief They had no hope. They re
spOnded in 'arEe numbers and IL wa
only a short time until we had a yer
successful organization"
up to that time there had been n
U,onfiDued On pngo Two