Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-10-03
The Employers Side in the
Steel Strike


right of man to work irrespective of
whether he is a member of labor union,
is the sole issue involved in the walkout
by employees. Judge Gary is chairman
of the board of directors of the United
States Steel corporation He positively
declares that his corporation would never
yield to the demand that it employ in it's
plants only union men. The United States
Steel corporation, in other words, stands
squarely for the open shop as against the
closed shop as demanded by the unions.
1t was brought out at the hearing by tes-
timony of the employees that the men who
voluntarily responded to the strike call
were foreigners. This is sufficient state
ment. 1t is one that we'll balanced union
labor members should study over. I'm
|questionably foreign labor would like to
see the soviet form of government go into
effect in the United States. L. is unbeliev-
able that American labor has any such de-
sire.
The senate committee was also told by
employees that John Fitzpatrick, chairman
LOT the workers committee, and William
Il. Foster, secretary Of the committee, head
band of buccaneers who will overthrow
the government if they are not stopped
Another statement as startling was that
they are engaged in scuttling the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor
Regarding his refusal to negotiate with
the committee of the strikers, Judge Gary
offered the excuse that to have done so
would have been a departure from the com
|pany's policy to deal directly with it's en-
ployes and would have damaged the prest-
ige of the open shop policy. 1t is a rather
lame explanation. Realizing the serious
ness OF the situation that confronted the
steel industry Judge Gary and his associ-
ates could have at least given way far
enough to grant hearing. To have done
so would not have committed them to
closed shop policy.
Further discussing the policy of the COM
pany, Judge Gary said ''The general pub
lie now requires increased production
That may even necessitate increased hours,
up to the limit set by the willingness of
the workers and their health But there
is no use of talking about increased hours
and decreased production, and at the same
time roaring about rising wages. I'm in
favor of high wages, but there comes a
time when there is limit. Tn my view prices
are too high right now. The right way to
do is to lower them first and decrease
wages last. That is the policy of the steel
Industry"
There is good deal of common sense in
what Judge Gary says. AT the same hear
ing he denied the company he represents
mas mlstreated employees or that it was,
even in remote way, responsible for the
violent death of some of them He held
the cause of the strike was due to agitators
and not to mistreatment of employees.
1.-The men did not strike of their own
violition,' testified Judge Gary. 'They
were taken out by the constant effort of
union leaders. Threats had been made.
Families were told their children would be
Killed and their homes burned if the men
didn't go out. Large numbers of men re-
mained away from work because they were
afraid.
Regarding wages paid employers, Judge
GARY laid before the committee some very
Interesting information that the general
ko1If7iO will ho iptoroc+oJ -, ~