Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1919-10-03

bert III. Gary, executive chairman OF
the United States Steel corporation,
when asked for his opinion of the
proposition of John Fitzpatrick, lead
er of the steel strikers, that all issues
be submitted to arbitration. Il also
think" he added, that we cannot ne
gotiate or confer with Mr.. Fitzpatrick
and his associates as union labor lead
ers concerning our employees whom
those gentlemen have volunteered to
represent"
Washington, Sept 26.-Senate inves-
tigation of the nationwide strike of
steel workers to determine whether
remedial action can be taken by the
federal government was opened with
John Fitzpatrick, chairman of the
union committee conducting the strike,
as the first witness before the educa-
ton and labor committee. Fitzpatrick
told the senate labor committee that II
the United States Steel corporation
should now agree to meet the union it
would be too late to stop the strike as
the "men are going to demand justice
decent justice-of the United States
government"
An agreement by the steel corpora
ton to arbitrate questions raised by
the "a unions involved in the strike
would end the walkout Immediately,
Fitzpatrick told the senate Investigate
ing committee. He said he had no
authority to issue an order calling off
the strike, but was sure that the joint
steel committee, of which he is chair
man, would authorize such action.
Fitzpatrick declared the closed shop
is not an issue in the steel strike. 1T
is not even mOoted now" he declared.
The demands of the strike committee.
Fitzpatrick said, never were submit
ted to the steel corporation because
of Judge Gary's refusal to receive the
committee
Fitzpatrick opened his statement
with what he said was brief history
of labor conditions in the steel indus
try
with the creation of the steel cor
poration a campaign was begun with
the object of pushing organized work
ers out of the mill" he said. "A great
sum of money! don't know whether
it was 100000 or $4,000 00-was
appropriated. In recent years labor
has begun to realize the tremendous
Importance of the steel industry and
its influence on other industries.
'Wages Below Proper Line"
''While we were getting the eight
hour day and better working condi-
tions elsewhere, the steel mills still OPP
Grated with very long hours and with
wages below the proper line. Labor
understood then the necessity of or
ganizing the steel industry for the
purpose of controlling its effects on
the others and at the last two conven-
tions OF the Federation of Labor the
step was authorized"
Fitzpatrick said representatives of
"a international unions affiliated with
the American Federation of Labor met
in Chicago about a year ago and effect
ed a campaign committee to organize
the steel workers. Samuel Gompers
was elected chairman and William z.
Foster secretary. ~
1.-THE men in the steel mills" Fitz-
patrick continued ''were looking for
relief. They had no hope. They re-
sponded in large numbers, and it was
only a short time until we had very
successful organization"
Effort at Prevention Seen.
"Up to that time there had been no
unionism in the steel mills?" asked
Chairman Kenyon.
ssNo." Fitzpatrick replied. about
that time, October, 1918. the steel
corporation was resorting TO every eff
fort to force action on the part of the
men or of the labor organization to
spread their influence. They an
nounced establishment of the eight
hour day and we knew that was an
effort to prevent our organiza-
ton"
Senator Jones (Dem.) of New Mex
leo, asked whether the employees had
made application to the American Fed
Grafton of Labor for organization or
whether the movement had been in
Initiated by the American Federation
of Labor.
1.-The American Federation of Labor
initiated the movement" Fitzpatrick
replied.
WAS there no movement of the
men inviting the organizations" asked
Senator Jones.
mo, only as the men met in differ
ent localities and expressed their de-
sires."
why was it incumbent on the Amer
lean Federation of Labor to organize
the steel Industry" Senator Jones
asked.
1T was bad spot in the industrial
situation" Fitzpatrick replied. In
the steel industry the hours are long,
the wages small and the treatment
Won can't describe the treatment"