Republican farmer., 1919-10-03
SECRETARY STRIKERS NATIONAL. UNION ID
 GIVE TESTIMONY
Steel Companies Say the Strike is Weakening But This is Hotly De- nied By Men Who Claim They Are Win ning--Arrest Five Men At Youngstown.

Interest in the steel strike today again centered in Washington where the Senate Labor Committee was continuing it's investigation of the controversy involving directly or in directly nearly 50O,OOO workers. FL bert H. Gary. chairman of the board of directors of the Un:ted States Steel Corporation, who testified yes terday that the "open shop" would be maintained by his corporation at all costs, resumed his testimony to- day.
 William z. Foster, secretary of the strikers' national committee, and the alleged, leader of the radical element in the strike, was in Washington prepared to follow MT. Gary on the witness stand.
 Reports from the steel districts showed little change. In the Youngs- town district where the steel industry has been paraIyzed since the strike began observers reported that more workmen entering the plant of the Carnegie Steel Company and increase activity of the pickets. The only dis turbance in the steel centers was re- ported in this district where one workman was beaten while on his way home last night and seven persons were arrested.
 Officials of the Bethlehem Steel Company of Bethlehem, Pa, reported today that not more than ten per cent. of it's employees now were out on strike while labor leaders claimed that so per cent. of the men were idle. No change was reported from the Pitts burgh district.
 Employers in the Chicago district declared that more men had returned to work in Gary, South Chicago, and Waukegan, but these claims were de- |nied by labor leaders who said that
 the big majority of employees are out and will remain out" One develop ment in the Chicago district was the announcement by the Mark Manufac- turing Company of Indiana Harbor Indiana, that it would resume opera tions with 50 per cent. of it's normal force of 1000 employees.
 Developments of the strike of steel mill employees in the Chicago district today were regarded by company off, cials as pointing to continuance of the gradual return to work noted in many of the plants yesterday. It was stated authoritatively that operation with 50 per cent. of it's force of 1000 workmen would be begun today by the Mark Manufacturing Company of Indiana Harbor. Indiana.
 From Gary, Ind, and South Chicago came reports of increasing numbers of employees returning to work with the resutant enlarged production. Similar reports came from Waukegan.
 Labor leaders maintained, however, the emphatic denials of claims by the company heads. "The big majority of employees still are out,'' they as- serted, ''and will remain out" Their absence, the leaders assert, ultimately will force the employers to terms
 Large numbers of pickets appear ed before the Ohio works of the Carnegie Steel Company here this morning, anticipating an attempt to plant again. following word that in creasing numbers of men were re- turning to work. Observers said the number Of men who entc<ed was much greater than on any previous day and that for ede first time some foreigners were among them.
 What police say was an attempt to start trouble at the plant of the Youngstown SheSt and Tube Com pany was broken last night by the arrest of five men charged with car rying concealed weahons and two charged with melting r&ot.
 A workman from the Carnegie Steel plant was severely beaten last night on his way home.
 Gradual improvement in the Beth lehem Steel strike was claimed today by officials Of the company, who said that not more than ten per cent. Of their workmen are now out. They de- clared that several hundred had re- turned to work yesterday and that
 more were expected today. A state ment by the company said that all de- garments of all the plants in this and other cities are working at practically full capacity.
 Strike leaders, however, make di- rectly opposite claims. They declared their ranks are steadily receiving rein forcements and that at least 80 per. cent. of the employees are out.
 (Continued on Page Five.)