Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-09-18
GARY'S REFUSAL TO
RECOGNIZE UNIONS
STRIKE
CHIEFS OF STEEL WORKERS Or
CARNATIONS ISSUE STATE.
MENT DEFENDING THEIR RIGHT
TO CALL WAlkOUT NEXT
MONDAY.

Pittsburgh, Sept. lS-Refore re-
Stunning their discussion Today ON mat
tiers in connection with the steel
workers strike called for next Mon
day, the national committee for or
gahizing iron and Steel workers is
sued statement that, having failed
to obtain "A conference with the Unit
ed States Steel Corporation that the
last and only hope is to strike until
such time as the corporation will
meet the representative of the men.
The statement follows;
I'm his letter Of Sept l6 to the
presidents Of he subsidiary compan-
les OF the United States Steel Cor
poration, Judge Gary AYERS that he
had two reasons in mind when he
refused to meet with the American
Federation Of Labor committee which
called upon him recently requesting
'oilel"itt loI lne purpose OF pre-
senting grievances Of its employees.
First, he did not believe lhat the
committee was authorized to speak
for large numbers OF he employees.
Second, a conference with the
committee would have been treated
by them as a recognition OF closed
of
IF these are the real rea4 sons ac-
tuating Gary surely they are not
sufficient to plunge the industry into
great labor conflict Judge Gary
declares hat he viii stand or fan
upon this false ground
The committee that waI,er upon
Judge Gary were the selected repre-
sentatives of the employees. And they
reques ed a conference for the pur-
pose of establishing the principle of
collective bargaining and some prac.
teal method of redressing grievances
Judge Gary denied their authority
10 represent the employees and refused
TO NEE them in conferences The
only way left for the employees to
convince Judge Gary that the com
mittee does represent the great BODY
OF he employees of the United States
Steel Corporation Is to cease work
Antil the corporation agrees to meet
their representatives on conference.
This, the employees have decided o
do on Monday morning Sept %
ut is unfortunate that the employ
are compelled 10 resort 10 a strike
in order 10 prove the authority Of
their selected representatives to pre-
sent their grievances But as there
is no other way, he proof. in The
form of strike will effectually re-
move all doubt in Judge Gary's mind.
'ln the second place, Judge Gary
sets up the question of the closed
shop which has absolutely no basis
whatsoever in the presenl controver.
sy. 1t is simply dragged in here by
Judge Gary as a bugabOo to becloud
the real issue
There is one and only one ques-
ton at issue and that is the ques-
ton of a conference, The employees
have exhausted every avenue of APP
proach 10 the corporation for the pur-
pose OF securing a conference and ev-
cry avenue has been closed to them
Their last and only hope is to strike
and now the employees declare that
they will cease work on next Monday
morning only such time as the cor.
pora ion will meet their representa-
tives in conference for the purpose
OF establishing humane and reasona-
BILE methods of dealing with the very
vital problems which affect their
lives, their homes and their futures.
JOHN FITZPATRICK.
"D J. DAVIS.
WILLIAM HARMON.
w. Il, FOSTER.
r. r. Men VOTING.
Louisville. Sept lS.--2OO, 900 rail.
way and steamship men Of the Broth
erhood of Railway and Steamship
Freight Hands, express and station
EMPLOYEES. have been Ordprnd m taka