The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-03
SOWING ANARCHY!
That Is the Charge Brought
Against Judge Gary.
Refusal To Arbitrate Steel
Strike Amounts to That?
TIGHE TESTIFIES IN SENATE
Says Gary's Wage Statements
Were Far From True.
Says Unions Seek "UniOn
Shop" Not "CIOsed Shop"

Washington, Oct. 3.-In refusing to
arbitrate the steel strike, Ebert H.
Gary, chairman of the United States
Steel corporation, lis sowing the
tee investigating the strike was told
today by Michael F. Tighe, president
of the union of iron, steel and tin
workers.
Giving a detailed history of union
activities in the steel industry, Michael
F. Tighe, president of the Iron. Steel
and Tin Workers union, told the sem
ate committee investigating the steel
strike today that the Cnited States
Steel corporation, instead of leading
the van in advancing wages" as Judge
Gary has claimed, has Jagged behind
eur organization.
Gary's Statements Untrue?
Information given you by Judge
Gary" Tighe said, was not first hand
evidence gained from practical knowl-
edge of the industry, but instead con-
sisted OF the statements made to him
by his employees, foremen and super
intendents. 1t was far and away from
being the truth about the industry"
Tighe repeated the charge that the
steel corporation early in its history
had appropriated 20.000.000 to fight
unions and gave names of his infor-
mants Gary denied this when he was
before the committee. Tighe read
want ads published in Pittsburgh in
1903 offerings jobs, "Syrians. PoHes
and Rumanians preferred, as EVIL
dence of attempts to break the strike
then being attempted.
1t was so obnoxious to public inter-
est that nobody dared sign it, Tighe
declared.
More Foreigners Hired.
From 1893 on there was a steady in
crease in the employment OF foreigners
in the mills Tighe asserted.
"a
toward the steel companies has met
with disapproval among the worKneh'
Tighe said.
"They would have charged us 'shak,
ing hands with the company ana
would have called US a mutual admir-
alton society" he declared. Antogo-
nism had to be shown by labor leaders
to hold the confidence of the men,
Tighe added.
s6S. coo Out October 4.
Tishe gave the estimated number OF
strikers on October l, as 36S,O00.
Trotestiug against connecting the
strikers and the A. F. of L. with the
.tvicieus element" Tighe charges thas
The .'rag tag and bob tail soums OF
the country are imported into striAe
districts, e.n.+or
walsh. Massa chusetts, Tighe said year
of losing their jobs kept higher PAID
emnloves from joining the unions.
There are about twenty contracts
with independent mills which Tighe
said resist wage increases because theS
f7ar granting them will put them at
diradvautage with the steel corpora
"Not After Closed Shop"
The unions. he said, had never
SOUGHT the "cIosed shop" but union
shops" .,+ SIGNS a
contract as to scales and working con
diuons it is a union shop ne e&'
planned. .,o-od
shop. isn't it?" asked Senator Sterling
Republican, South Dakota.
40" said Tighe. I'VE are not ask
ing for closed shops, and never have.
Hear Foster Today.
w. z. Foster, secretary of the gen
eraI strike committee whose views a;
q. radical have drawn congresslena
fire. was present at the hearing TO-DAY
prepared to testify after Tishe nae
concluded Armed with copies OF ms
book on "Syndicalism," members OF
the committee were ready for sharE
cross examination of Mr.. Foster.