Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-20
RESUMES INQUIRY
T0STEEL STRIKE
Senate Committee Examines
!. W. W. Attorney MargoIis,
"SyndicaIist Anarchist"
WOULD NOT DEFEND WIFE

Res'Im:ng its investigation Of the steel
strike. the Senate labor committee to-
day examined Jacob Margolis Of Pitts
hurgh. who said he was an attorney for
TIE ]. W., ". and ''syndicalist an
archist." He refused to take oath. but
E,ade affirmation as to the truth, OF
what he would tell the committee.
I'VE want to have a pretty frank
talk with you about the strike" Chair
man Kenyon informed him. "as to
whether 1t is Straightforward labor
movement. for better wages and con-
ditions. or a demonstration Of radicals
who wish to establish a new govern
mental and economic system"
Margolis' Views Startling.
Margolis said he had been opposed
to war. that he would not advocate
resistance to an army invading the
United States and that he did not be-
lieve in government. Pressed as to
personal application OF his views. he
told senators he would not resist the
action of a marauder who wanted to
take his coat or attack his wife.
The L W. W. have slightly diff
ferent plan Of organization from labor
unions" he said. Their object is to
create a new society within the shell
of the old. They are concerned with
the daily struggle for better hours
and wages, that also have the new
orientation toward social and eco
nomic change"
Says Foster Came to Club.
Margolis said he had been secretary
of a radical club in Pittsburgh. which
had been broken up during the war
by some persons unknown.
did w. q. Foster. secretary of the
steel strikers committee. attend your
meetings?" asked Chairman Kenyon.
YES, he came up once" Margolis
said, but said he did not want to mix
up with U.S."
Discussed Beliefs.
The witness said he had discussed
his beliefs with Foster several times.
and that they had Considerable diff
ference"
Foster believed that he could still
retain his integrity as a syndicalist
while going into the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor. and being a 'borer
within as he puts It," said Margolis.
Il didn't think he could"
His idea was to retain his views.
was it not. and get leadership in the
American Federation OF Labor with
which to forward them?" asked Sena-
tor Kenyon.
Something like that" Margolis re-
turned.
DO you consider Foster an anar-
| chist syndicalist?" asked Senator
Sterling. republican. South Dakota.
now" was tlTe reply. He has been
forced to abandon his old views"
Margolis said the American FEEDER
alton of Labor was 'in state Of flux
now"
out of the last seventy strikes in
this country" he said. "sixty-two were
unauthorized, showing the. great dis
affection within the ranks Of older
! labor unions"
| Senator Mex ellar, democrat, Tennes-
see. asked il Margolis could tell any
thing about the union Of Russian
| work ers."
| They are group of syndicalist
anarchists, who got interested in the
! movement after the Russian reVolu-
/ tion," said the witness.
Were they trying to organize a
soviet in this country" asked Senator
! Mcclellan.
political soviet" Margolis said.
Existing Locals of Society.
Senator Mcclellan developed that 10.
calls of this society were in existence
at Pittsburgh. Duquesne. Homestead
| and other steel centers in Pennsyl.
vania, and at Youngstown, Ohio. The
members. Margolis said, stand fol
ianarchistic communism"
| is there a Russian revolutionar,
committee in Pittsburgh now" asked
Senator Kenyon.
Il don't know of any," was the
reply.
I the Russia union at Youngstown, nt
/ urged the members to get behind Eos
ter's campaign for organization in the
steel industry, and that the Russian
unions threw their support to it, be-
| cause they believed Fosters move.
ment was practical them"
Chairman Kenyon introduced a SEQ.
4 <CoDtfpun6 A., Sn.onA Dc ca