Evening journal., 1919-09-25
Steel INDUSTRY
CONDEMNED BY
STRIKERS CHIEF
Continued from First page.


clared, why the steel industry must be
organized now. Bad conditions In the
steel industry, he said, were used TO
prevent getting better working condi-
tions in other occupations.
Long hours and small wages in the
steel industry, he said. have tendency
TO drag conditions in other industries
backward and downward.
"But men don't want TO go backward
and downward, he said. "rhey want
10 go forward and upward"
lie described early attempts OF the
steel companies 10 drive out labor
unions.
"The hours are long and the wages
small--below the pauper line Fitzpat-
rick declared.
"rhe campaign 20 push organized
labor out of The mills continued relent-
lessly until practically every vestige Of
organized labor was removed.
But we were determined 10 organ
lie Tire steel industry at whatever
cost
Treatment OF labor dn the steel in-
dustry cannot be described" Filzpat-
TICK Ndlu.
Senators lisbsned attentlvely to his
recital Of attorpts TO prevent union
meetings in McKeesport, Pa, and other
steel centers.
'"1he steel companies were resOrtlng
10 every effort 30 thwart and prevent
action OF labor organizations, Fitzpat-
rick declared. Steel workers, Fltzpat-
rick said. expressed the deside for or
ganlzation and the A. y. OF L.. at +ts st.
Paul convention adopted resolutions fa-
vorlng the organization OF tho steel
korkers.
Fitzpatrick told the committee he
was glad ito cheerfully respond TO tho
Senaie's request for an investigation.
Attorney w. B. Rubin. representing
the steel strikers. appeared with Filz-
patrick. lie read replies Of union lead
ers TO President Wilson's request for a
postp0nement Of the strike until after
the industrial conference, October 6.
Samuel G0mpers, according 10 Rubin,
put the Presidents request before Ftz-
patrick. adding that he hoped the re-
quest could be needed without injury
TO the steel workers.
Fitzpatrick replied that any "vagueI
and indefinite posiponement" would
mean the absolute decentralization OF
the steel workers organization and that
defeat would be preferable to post
ponement.
Fitzpatrick said GOmpers and the
other labor leaders repeatedly but vain
ly, attempted TO obtain a meeting with
Judge Gary. Of the u. s. Steel Corpora
tlon.
But the enormous power OF the steel
harassed and jailed our
organizers, salda Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick said twenty-fOur interna-
tional unions asked their members
working in the steel Industry to take a
strike vote.
Senators questioned him as to the
number Of men who voted, but Fltz-
patrick said he had no figures.
"Every man in the steel industry
voted" he added, "and OF these % per
cent voted to strike"
Replying 20 Senator W0lcott, OF Della
ware, Fitzpatrick said 10000 men in
the steel industry had Joined the union
when the vote was started.
I'VE had One-ilfth Of the steel EN-
Dloyes and we felt we had a right TO
ask for consideration, Fitzpatrick ex-
planned.
"Then $1,000 voted for a strike. !
Niolcott suggested, which in |
vOlved 5O0OOO?"
"When the men saw a situation that |
night bring hope into their lives go |
100 Joined within 20 days so That when |
.he vote was compiled we had 10000 |
Fitzpatrick said "Our re-
ports yesterday showed 10000 have |
Joined.