Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-09-29
VICTORY FOR THE
STRIKING STEEL
WORKERS CERTAIN
Samuel Gompers Says the
Men Will Win Because Their
Cause is Just; Public 0pin-
ion Leans Toward Workers.


! New York. Sept. 2S.--Vlctory fol
the striking steel workers was pre-.
dicted tonight ~ Samuel Gompers
president Of the American Federation
of Labor, who on tho eve of his de.
parture for Washington asserted that
the strike "in all proeAbility'' viii ht
discussed at President Wilson'S in
dustrial conference to begin In Wash
ington October 6.
THE steel workers will win because
their cause is just" said Mr.. Comp.
ers. He contended that public opin-
ion leans toward the strikers in their
fight for collective bargaining and
said that important developments in
the steel situation are looked for in
Washington this week The lowering
of labor standards would "precipitate
a calamity" he added.
The labor chieftain decried the at
titude taken by Judge Gary, chairman
of the board of directors of the Unit
ed States Steel corporation and char
aeterized the charges that the strike
was inspired by radicalism and aliens
as false
Asserting that he had the highest
personal regard for Judge Gary. he
said; The time has'passed when a
corporation can regard It's employees
as wards"
Defending John Fitzpatrick. chair
man of the strikers national commit
tee, and William q. Foster. secretary
of the steel workers union, from
charges of radicalism. he said:
You have not heard of them max
ing revolutionary speeches in this
strike" and added that both of them
had renounced radical theories years
ago.
Judge Gary's refusal to meet these
men, on the ground that they do not
represent majority of the employees
on strike, was censured by Mr.. Comp
ers. who said that judge Gary would
nave been in better position to know
Il Fitzpatrick and Foster represented
the men had he conferred with them.
1T Is unthinkable that this strike
will be lost said Mr.. Gompers. ut
IS bound to win, because the men are
IN the right. They are striking for
better living conditions. Throughout
The world the mind of the worker is !
awakening to his right to enjoy fair |
play, He realizes that 1t is this for
which he made sacrifices during the |
lark days of the war Any lowering
of labor standards or wages now
would be a calamity 1t would bring
about crisis. With lower wages con-
would decrease. and with
ess consumption there would neces-
'arily have TO be curtailment of pro-
iuctien. Reversely. recognition of the
principle of fair play on the part of
employers will increase our prosperity.
In support of the contention that
he strike was fomented by agitators,
t has been pointed out that William
!. Foster, secretary of the national
ommttee for organizing iron and
teel workers, once advocated syndi-
alism, and that John Fitzpatrick,
hartman of the committee, was an
Extremist. These men long ago have
enounced these preachings. Besides, (
they still believed in them today, ;
ou have not heard of their making I
ny revolutionary speeches in the
resent strike. {
Just because Fosters record has {
cen unearthed and it has been found |
nat he once advocated syndicalism is
o reason why 100000 or more work '
IS should be discredited. The con- q
uct of the strikers has been admira-
Ie The good order alone has dis
Iovedi the statement that the strike
as stirred up by revolutionary in
rests