The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-04
DIRECT ANSWER
IS FORCED UPON
STRIKE LEADER
Author of "Syndicalism"
Pleads Slum Raising as
Cause of Early Course.
ADMITS 1. w. w. ACTIVITY
Foster Tells Senator's slack of
Industrial Democracy"
Caused Walkout.
Special pespatch TO TIE suN.


WASHINGTON, Oct. 8. william H.
Foster, secretary of the general COM
mittee in charge Of the steel strike and
author Of various pamphlets advocat-
ing revolutionary Socialism, appeared
to-day before the Senate Committee on
Education and Labor to explain his
views, past and present, on labor, syn
dicalism and kindred subjects. The
hearing room Of the committee had
been jammed in anticipation Of the in
terrogation Of the man whose violent
propaganda pamphlets had created
such a furor throughout the country.
Almost as soon as Mr.. Foster started
he was questioned about his views.
He twisted and squirmed, lodged and
ducked questions, and in the end did
not disclose with exactitude how he felt
now. He took the ground that his
personal opinions should not enter into
the question Of the strike considera-
ton at all.
Then 1t was explained to Mr.. Foster
laboriously that it was not his per-
sonal opinions, but the fact that he as
strike leader might be intoxicating
them into the strikers. Finally he
said he did not feel now as he did
when he helped write the wild eyed
views set forth in the pamphlet Syn
icaEsm."
Mr.. Foster, until recently at least
he advocate OF many terrible forms of
violence and revolution, was surprise
10 the committee. Instead of a man
able to put such theories into effect he
appeared as a pale, round shouldered
man, apparently without strength
enough to shatter pane of glass.
Foster Organized steel Car Men.
NJ Foster said he was organizer of
which numbers the craftsmen engaged
in building steel cars. He is secretary
of the general committee of the twenty
four International unions which are con-
Quoting the steel strike He explained
that the aim of unionizlng is to get
workmen into such body that they can
present their grievances in an organized
capacity.
THE present strike movement in the
steel industry" Mr., Foster said, 'is
closely related to past movements and
developments in that Industry. In earlier
years 1t was the disposition, II not the
policy, of the labor unions to restrict
their organizations to the highly skilled
men in the steel trades; or at least no
great effort was made to enlist the
others, the unskilled laborers, in the
union
"Tnis plan proved ineffective The
companies were strong enough to defeat
the skilled workers and it was found
necessary to get AL the men into the Or
'ganization.
AT all the mills, or nearly all, for
many years the men have tried persist
entity to effect organizations through
which they hoped to improve their con-
dition. Finally a movement was de-
veloped to interest all the International
Unions in the effort to organize this in
dustry II was initiated by the Chicago
Federation of Labor about eighteen
months ago. when a resolution was
passed asking the American Federation
of Labor to take up the matter and lead
ir the organization OF the steel industry.
Accordingly this resolution OF the
American Federation convention at st.
Paul on August 1. 1918. after con-
ference OF the presidents OF the twenty
Tour International unions. The commit
tee which is conducting the strike and
which represents more than 1000. 900
men is composed of the presidents of all
these twenty-four internationals and OF
mat committee am secretary,
Not In Active Charge of strike.
II am not In active charge of the
strike. for I am merely an organizer
and have charge of the office work deal
ing with the strike. The committee as
whole has all the authority and
exercises it as to the strike. In Pitts
burg there are at all times several OF
lhe members OF this committee attending
10 the strike.
y have no power and have nothing
70 do with making policies. handle
the financial matters. There have been
many misstatements circulated concern
ing my relations TO the committee and
my powers
AS matter of fact everything ex-
oep. the most unimportant details is at
tended to by the committee itself. II
includes the most important labor
executives, the heads Of the United Mine
workers. the machinists, Mr.. Tighe
president OF the Amalsanated Associa.
non and other such men. Every move
ana policy has been made known to the
entire committee before any step waf
-ler taken. II important questions have
arisen at time when there might be
.'H'y ten or twelve members OF the com
"ittee in Pittsburg. and even those wers
unanimous in their opinion as to whai
'nould be done. they have invariably