Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-10-10
TRIES TO KEEP
VIEWS SECRET
Foster Seeks to Exclude Report
ers When Quizzed by Sen
ate Committee.
SAYS PAPERS ARE UNFAIR
Michael F. Tighe Answers Gary
Head of Steel Workers. Union Says
Mills Head Misinformed by His
Forenen and superintendent.


Washington, Oct. 6.-Charging that
he had not been fairly treated by the
newspapers, William T. Foster, secre-
tary of the steel strikers committee,
told the senate committee investigat-
ing the strike that he would answer
a question as to whether he was in
favor Of organized government if the
correspondents were excluded from
the room.
The committee took no action on the
request and Senator Mcclellan, Demo
crat. Tennessee, and Chairman Ken
ton, which had been put by the for
Iner. Foster said his views had
changed, but that he was unwilling
to say how far in the presence of the
correspondents.
When Senator Mcclellan first asked
his question, Foster laughed. The SEN
ator then read from book, which Fos-
ter agreed he had written, declaring
social revolution necessary in the
United States to secure workers
rights.
"Pve repudiated that pamphlet"
said Foster, ''but l don't want my
views banded about by lot of pre-
JUDGED lying newspapers to the dam
age of the strikers.
Foster said his own views had not
been used in the steel strike; that he
had adhered to the principles of trade
unionism." He explained that he was
raised in the slulns and that when he
wrote the book he was "a follower of
the Spanish, French and Italian union
system" Today, he added, he had "be-.
come a little less rad CAL possibly
and was "a believer in American and
English trade unionism."
Reading from the pamphlet on Syn
dicalism" a section saying that 'the
wage Garner proposes to ignore the
code of ethics and wrest from the cap
italists the Industries they have stolen
and bring about the revolution by the
general strike,'' Senator Mcclellan
asked Foster if he entertained those
views now?
"I'll say do not Foster said in
lowered voice.
Giving detailed history of union
activities in the steel industry. Michael
f. Tighe, president of the Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers union, told the COM
mittee that the United States Steel
corporation. instead of ''leadingNaae
van in advancing wages, as Judge Gary
has claimed, has Jagged behind our or
ganization.
Information given to you by Judge
Gary Mr.. Tighe said, was not first
hand evidence gained from practical
knowledge of the industry, but, in
stead, consisted of the statements
made to him by his employees, fore
men and superintendent. 1t was far
and away from being the truth about
the industry"
Mr.. Tighe repeated the charge that
the Steel corporation early in its his
tory had appropriated $20,000,00O to
fight unions and gave names of his
informants. The unions, he said, had
never sought the closed shop" but
.'union shops
when the management signs con-
tract as to scales and working condi-
tioAs it is union shop" he ex-
planned.
1.-THE effect is the same as closed
shop, isn't it?" asked Senator Sterling
(Rep.) of South Dakota.
mo- said Mr.. Tighe. "We are not
asking for cIbsed shops and never
have"
Mr.. Tighe read an advertisement of
1909. credited to the United States
Steel corporation which said: Men
Wanted-Sy rians, Poles and Rouman-
ians preferred"
"The gentleman's (Mr. Cary re-
marks about foreigners now" Tighe
remarked, "are not well taken in view
of that"
''Do you charge that from 1909 on
there was a steady Increase of foreign
workmen in ! the Steel company's
nnls?" asked Senator Walsh (Dem)
of Massachusetts.
"Yes, i do" Mr.. Tighe answered.