The Washington times., 1919-10-24

That the foreign element among the
steel z strikers and for American
rights and traditions is the assertion
of John A. Fitch, associate editor OF
the New York Survey. who was in
Washington yesterday, fresh from a
tour of the strike region.
Mr.. Fitch spoke at luncheon forum
given by the National Popular Gov
ernment League yesterday and ex-
planned various phases of the strike.
The leaders of this strike deserve
the undivided praise of the entire
country for the wonderful work they
have performed" Mr.. Fitch declared.
For months and months they held
the men in check and when they
finally did call strike it was simply
a movement to prevent a revolution
and in it's stead conduct an orderly
and peaceful protest against the
working conditions imposed on the
common laborer in the great steel
mills"
Mr.. Fitch has the various points OF
the strike situation at his finger tips
and has/long been an industrial in
vestigator. His writings on the sub
ject have attracted attention in the
past ten years.
Hard Fight, He Says.
The situation in the steel district
came to a head in September and
the many foreigners and common la
borers in the mills had begun to be-
lieve that their union leaders were
betraying them into the hands of the
Steel Trust" continued Mr.. Fitch.
Fitzpatrick, Foster and the other
leaders made hard fight to hold on a
htle longer, but when the strike vote
was taken and an overwhelming ma
tion was inevitable. Even then IL
was deferred several times and all
the while the Steel company officials
were discharging men who had be-
come active in the organization work.
The methods pursued in the Pitts
burgh district by the strikers have so
far been very peaceful, and il issthese
methods that will eventually win"
Mr.. Fitch was loud in his praise of
what the Steel Corporation has done
for the workers in the way of safety
appliances, safety drills, medical and
hospital attention. sanitary provisions
| and the like.
Object to Long Day.
THE companies have done every
thing to make working conditions
ideal in this regard" he said. "The
only objection the men have is the
long working day. The houses put
up by the company at places such as
Gary. Ind, are the best that could be
asked"
Discussing the collective bargain
ing issue, upon which the National
Industrial Conference split, Mr.. Fitch
| said that il was impossible for EN-
ployes to obtain the proper protection
! unless they were permitted to af-
filiste with their brother workers in
| other mills
"Is7it not reasonable that the men
be given the same right to employ
experts that the companies take in
! the hiring of attorneys superinten-
dents, etc? Judge Gary himself is an
example Of the expert outsider, the
accomplished executive, being brought
| IN to organize and manage great
| industry. Why should the men not
be given the privilege to be repro
sented by men of equal ability?
1t is true, as statistics show, tha.
the wages in the steel industry have
been advanced to point in excess
OF the rise in the cost of living. The
only thing the men are fighting for
right now is the eight-hour day, anI
they are going to get IT. They should
have 1t because it is basic Amer
| lean right"
Commenting on the report that in
the past the steel company has i'm
| ported foreigners for the common
work in the mills. Mr.. Fitch said that
he had never been able to find any
evidence OF this. On the other hand,
he said, all such immigration seemed
TO have been brought about by the
large steamship lines, especially the
German lines, which stimulated the
influx OF foreigners by advertisements
telling of the opportunity in the steel
district of the United States.
"Everyone. when pressed. will ad-