Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-10-03
GARY SAYS UNIONS
RUIN Of INDUSTRY
Steel Head Tells Senators the
Workers Were Satisfied.
OPEN SHOP IS ESSENTIAL
Fundamental and InarbitrabIe, He De
clares-closed Shop, He Asserts,
Means Less Production, Less
Work and Higher Costs


the United States Steel corporation
had mistreated its men, as charged
by union labor leaders. Judge Ebert
ii. Gary. chairman Of the corporation,
told the senate committee investigating
the steel strike that in his opinion
there was no basic industry in the
world which bad paid larger wages
than his company.
Mo Eeason for Strike.
.rThere is no reason for this strike"
Mr.. Gary said. "The men didn't want
it. They were satisfied with their Jobs.
It was the union leaders who wanted
the strike"
IF unions control industry In the
United States it means decay and a
dropping of production Mr.. Gary
told the committee.
1T means this country cannot keep
up in the race with tie world 1t
means the condition fear England is
in today"
The witness said the general aver
age of wages in manufacturing plants
of the corporation was SOS - 1914,
and 1927 IN 1919 In the coal and
coke works the average in 1914 was
$2.74 and In 1910 1926; tn the iron ore
works the averages were S2.7j and
$50. while in the corporations ship
building Yards this year the average
was 1888. In transportation work Of
the corporation, he said the 1914 rate
was S2.71 against $500 this year. Mis-
cellaneous employees received So 90 in
1914 and S4.4S this year
1T has been stated before this com
mittee," said Judge Gary, that the
steel companies have been guilty Of
.ill-treatment Of their employees. Some
statements have been made on misin-
formation and some absolutely without
foundation.
Points to Steel Wages.
Il wish to state, Mr.. Chairman, that
there Is no basic Industry In this conn
try, nor in the world in my opinion,
which has paid larger wages than the
United States Steel corporation and
repiaps not as large. nor has treated
their employees in greater respect and
consideration If as great
1T has been charged that during the
pending strike the subsidiary compa-
MES have been guilty of attacking and
Illustrating employees.
There isn't vestige of truth in that
statement Photographs were display
ed here, and it was said a woman was
killed. This photograph has been post
ed all over America. with line over
it, AIRS Fannie Selllns' body goulish-
" mistreated by the steel trusts fiend-
ish crew
"She was shot at Breckenridge Pa.
We have no works there, no men there
If she was killed. II was without even
the knowledge OF the steel corporation
or any of its employees
what we'd like to know is what
caused this strike" interrupted Sena-7
tor Walsh (Dem.) of Massachusetts.
Gary 6Ialnes Union Leaders.
MIR Gary; Mr. Gompers end Mr..
Fitzpatrick told us the cause of this
strike was your refusal to meet the
mems committee Senator Kenyon
said. THAT ought to bring us to the
point"
"They ought TO know--they called
it." Mr.. Gary retorted. There was
no reason for this strike The men
didn't want it. They We're satisfied
with their jobs. II was the union lead
ers who wanted the strike"
''How do you know they We're salts
.fiedg' asked Senator Johnson (Rep.)
of South Dakota. you were not in
the mills, among the men. we're you?"
They have told the officers of our
corporation so" Mr., Gary said. sour
foSemen and superintendent know it.
Our men are able to come to foremen
and 'superintendents Mt any time and
make complaints and get adjustment.
They can even come before the chair
man of The board If they desire 1t
is always our practice and they know
how the men feel
Fundamental Issue.
1.-THE newspaper reports said you
would not arbitrate." said Senator
Borah. 1T seems TO me that under
lying all this is fundamental issue.
and that your policy is guided by you
about it, Aside from wages and work.
ing hours. the country would like to
&now what is this fundamental issue
making it impossible for you to arbi-
trate"
1.-THE fundamental issue is the open
or closed shop" replied Judge Gary.
Gan men are permitted to work.
whether they belong to the union or
not. hut it is well known an oYnr tl'e
world and is the opinion of majority
of the people that the open shop is es
Sential to tie progress and prosperity
Of industry. The closed shop means
smaller production and higher cost.
In connection with the high .ost OF liv.
ing, this is most Important"