The Washington herald., 1919-10-02
OPEN SHOP WILL NOT
BE ABANDONED, GARY
TELLS COMMITTEE
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lEAAO NOMl1l ] ] EE'
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stances before the police force was
Blames Death on L w. w.
Answering another charge OF
cruelty. Gary said q son of JEFFERSON
David Pierce denied his fathers
death was caused by an employe OF
the United States Steel Corporation.
but instead was caused by an I. w.
w. member.
Gary, who arrived early. took his
seat at one end of the COMMITTEES
table with his assistants, statis-
ticians and experts banked around
him. heavily loaded with documents
and papers. Gary's own stenog-
rapher took the testimony verbatim
Committee Members.
Senators OF the committee were:
Chairman Kenyon. of Iowa; Phfpps.
Of Colorado: Page. Of Vermont; Nc
Kellar. Tennessee; Wolcott, Della
ware; Walsh. Massachusetts,; Ster-
ling. South Dakota; Smith. Georgia;
Jones. New Mexico; Gore. Oklahoma.
Chairman Kenyon gave Gary an
opportunity to make q full statement
as to the genesis Of the strike and
the issues involved before being
questioned
This strike has been conducted
In some of its features" Gary con-
tinued. The large majority Of our
workmen were not desirous Of strik-
ing. they were not members of any
union and had declined to become
such year after year."
When the United States Steel Cor
poration was furnishing about half
Of the steel used during the war. the
vorkmen were loyal. Gary said
Work of Radicals.
There was never any interruption
to any extent during the war;" he
declared while there Is Q radical
element among the men. it Is only
doing justice to say that the majori-
ty Of the foreigners are good citizens.
loyal to this country and loyal to
their employers"
Gary could not give the percentage
of foreigners employed.
Gary offered to submit exhibits
which ARE entirely antagonistic to
the idea that they are dissatisfied or
unwilling workers"
Kenyon questioned Gary closely
about the foreigners employed.
The strike was inaugurated by
union leaders," said Gary.
What union leaders," asked Walsh.
Workers Theatened He Says.
We'll. the A. F. Of L. Gary re-
piled. ''Workmen have been getting
a great many threats from leaders.
They say we obstructed them
The strike was preceded by prom
ises Of higher pay to appeal to the
cupidity Of the uneducated workman.
THE strike was called. the threats
had been made-we don't know how
many-to burn houses. kidnap their
children. etc.
Men stayed on strike because they
feared lack of police protection. But
when protection was assured them.
the men began returning to work, "
he explained.
Gary said he. would estimate those
who remained away. both on strike
and through fear. were 2S per cent
of United States Steel plants and
subsidiaries, and not over 40 pei
cent Of the manufacturing establish
ments at which the strike was
chiefly directed.
Tells Of Wages
More came back yesterday than
since the strike was inaugurated.
There has been q steady progress
sion in the figures"
Gary said he hadn't totaled the
figures on this point He said his
might be slightly incor-
rect. since they are estimated
The lowest wage rates, Gary said.
paid to unskilled labor working ten
hours a day is 42 cents an hour for
ten hours and time and a half for all
hours over eight, making $4.62 for the
ten-hour day.
That's the cheapest labor for men.
There are boys opening doors, some
of whom get g a day." Gary ex-
planned
Rollers Get s3z.5s q Day.
The highest wage Of the rollers"
is s3256 a day.
The general average Of hired en-
ployes, excluding executives. is 1871
a day for ten hours in the manufac-
turing plants, Gary said. and the un-
skilled average Is s. a day: skilled.
s6O.
In the open shop. Gary declared.
promotion is by merit.
Twenty-six and one-half per cent
Of all employees work twelve hours a
day.
Total employees working twelve
hours a day number 6.4s4: ten hours
SS.994. and eight hours, 8s.9s4. Gary
said
Machinery Largely Used
Work in the steel mills is large
ly by machinery. Gary explained.
It's hard work to work hard