Norwich bulletin., 1919-10-04

Poster. secretary of the general com ruirtee conducting the steel strike, when confronted today before the sen ale labor committee with his writings z6vocaung various forms of revoIu- tfonEry socialism dec1ared under Erii.ns fire of questions that his views mad changed
 How much they had changed. Foster declined 10 tell the senators, unless they excluded newspaper correspond en-s from the room while he did it. This the committee did not do
 Armed with books which Foster has written during his career in labor cir cies- which advocated revolutionary socialism and sabotage and with copies of rhe | W W organization solidarity containing articles con rribured by him from Europe. where he went in 1911 as representative of that organization. Foster was pressed into a lengthy explanation of the doc rrires and views he advocated in 1914 and earlier years.
 Poster first attempted to parry the questions al the outset. refusing to answer until news per reporters were excluded from the room. on the ground that wing pTejudiced nevspa pers have riSconsrrued and miSrepresented my personal opinions with the whole idez Of injuring the cause of 800 900 Sre@l workers He was finally crowd rd into declaration. when Senator AcEllar- democrat of Tennessee. read i1E many quotations from his works. demanded that he say whether or not he still adhered to his beliefs.
 Those are not my views now" he said. ir a subdued tone after listening TO his own words repeat ted, decla ring the state to he a meddline- capitaIis- TIC institution and advocating violence n strikes and calm accordance of blcooshed necessary TO forwarding Of the revolutionary cause.
 President Gompers of the American Federation or Labor broke into the ex- snlna ton in irritated fashion al one point when Poster was standing on his objections to newspaper reports of his testimony
 Well they can't say anything worse about you than they have" the aged head Of the labor federation ad-
 At the outset of his testimony Eos Ter by direction of Chairman Kenyon outlined ar some length the reasons for The strike Senator McKeilar inter rupted him to ask:
 Are you in favor Of organized gov ernment9"
 Foster laughed
 T see you have that red book" he -SyndicaIisrn--
 T have and I'm going to read some or II Senator McKellar said.
 After reading several paragraphs the senator asked:
 'l~ that your beIief-'
 IL $ my composition Foster replied. The chairman has told me to tell about the strike I'd like to take up questions in order
 -E want an answer to that question. senator Mckellar persisted
 That was written eight or nine years ago" Foster a id At that time -EeII | may say I'm one who was raised in the siurns I've knocked ground seen many things didn't agree with Al that time was a fol- lower of the Spanish. French. Italian union system Today I've become a little less radical-possiblv-an a be- lever in American and EngIish trade unioafsm-~
 You are not answering my question. Do you believe in the doctrine of revo- luuon2 ," Senator McKe1Iar demanded
 I'd not include that if I were writ Ing d book again. Foster said
 That question can be answered yes or no perfectly well" Senator McKeIlar persisted.
 said There's been a great deal of publicity. the newspapers have treat cd us unfairly The organizers and the American Federation of Labor in this campaign have been misrepresent- cd They've tried to hurt 300, 900 steel workers by making me the issue I do uor feel that my answers will be properly handled by the press. If this committed wants to know my personal views. I'll tell them fairly and openly provided the press is excluded from the room
 Chairman Kenyon interrupted to say that his views were important
 My views have been changed" Eos fer said. but how far I am unwilling to say here before the press when my statements will be misconstrued. mis- represented and heralded around to the damage of these men. My own views have not been used ia this cam p7ign- have adhered to the principles a6 trade unionism.
 Tt has been charged that this strike fs an attempt to overturn our institu- tions-" Chairman Kenyon intervened. That revoIutionaries are leading it.''
 I've repudiated that pamphlet" Poster said. but I don't want my views banded about by lot of preju- diced. lying newspa pers to the damage Of the strikers
 T m willing to stand or fall on what I've done. not what I think. There has not been thing done which could be OoJections ble to a single organization concerned"
 May I say. MT. Foster, there are some members of this committee in sympathy with labor but utterly op- posed to violence" Senator Borah, re- publican Idaho remarked.
 You cannot render any better ser vice 10 your men than to tell us now what your views are. The reporters will send out the facts correctly, what ever the editorial pages say
 T can't agree with you.r Foster said.
 Senator Mckellar read another sec ton of the pamphlet "Syndica1isn' which said the wage worker proposes 10 ignore the code of ethics and wrest from the capitalists the industries they have stolen. and bring about the revo- luton by the general strike"
 Do you entertain those views now ?s Senator Mckeilar demanded.
 I'll say I do not" Foster said
 Attorney Rubin. for the strike com miILee read a letter from Judge Sam uel Aischuler of Chicago indorsing Fosters present union activities
 Are rolI q sxndicalisf nouE 2,, Sena