The labor world., 1919-09-20
DOES JUDGE GARY KNOW?

Judge Gary denies that the United
States Steel Corporation discharges
workmen when it is learned that
they are members of labor organiza-
tions. We wonder if Mr.. Sheldon,
the manager Of the Duluth plant,
will also make the same statement.
We know of two cases of such
treatment at the local steel plant.
One was the case of boy 18 years
of age who when he left high school
secured employment in a local boiler
shop. Shortly after he went to work
there strike of boilermakers was
called. This young man is the son
Of railroad engineer and member
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers. His home training was
such that he believed it was wrong
to work during a strike. So he went
out with the other workmen. He
Joined the union and was elected
secretary because of the fact that he
had a better education than most of
the other workmen. He took little
part in the deliberations of the union
save to keep a record of the meet
ings. A spy employed by the firm
reported this young mans name to
the employer as one of the officers
of the union. They then had his
number.
Before the strike was over he OBJ
tanned employment at the steel plant
and gave up his membership in the
Boilermakers' union He was en-
gagged as a clerk to a. department
uperintendent, worked faithfully
and hard to make good, and was we'll
liked by all his superiors as we'll as
his fellow workmen. 1t was not
held that he talked unioniam while
employed at the plant. but in some
manner Mr.. Sheldon was informed
that the young man had served as
secretary of union just before COM
ing to work there, and one day his
superintendent, after leaving Mr..
Sheldon's office where he had been
hurriedly called, asked of him:
Were you secretary of a union of
strikers last summer" The young
man admitted the fact and he was
Immediately discharged with the
statement from the superintendent:
':In such case you cannot work
here"
The other case is one of a former
barber who obtained employment at
the steel plant as guard or special
police officer. When the armistice
was signed he was laid of and he
shortly after was given employment
at the shipyard in another capacity.
He joined the Shipbuilders' union.
This job didn't last very long and
when laid off at the shipyard he
again solicited employment at thu
steel plant. After going through al!
the red tape of the employment bu~
reau he was acc:pted for service and
was ordered to report fer duty the
following NOR hing.
In the meantime the management
Of the steel plant had learned that
the man had joined the union while
he was employed at the shipyard
and when he reported for duty he
was told in plain English that the,
could not employ him because of the
fact that he had Joined the Ship
builders union.
Mr.. Gompers charges that in the
east the officials of steel corpora
tions' plants are discharging unio1
men in large numbers. Mr.. Gar,
denies the charge and says that tn,
steel corporation makes no such dis
elimination against it's employees
"We are running an open shop,' h,
says, land we do not discriminat,
between union and non-union men
The attention of Judge Gary is re
spectfully called to the two case
related above, and if affidayits ar,
necessary to support our statemen
they can be easily furnished.
M1LtTAR1SM UNNECESSARY.