Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-26
JOHN FITZPATRICK
FAVORS PRESIDENT
,t SELECTING BOARD

SeltC lNG bUAhU
Continued from First paEc)
= the mon have been rapidly Amcrican-
tied. especially since tho war began
Fitzpatrick was bitter in his dc
nunciation OF the constabulary and the
methods employed 10 break up gather
inSs of the strikers. lie declared that
If the strike was not soon checked it
would spread to other districts and
might involve the entire United states.
,r K;npiyinee 70 Questions by senator
paid the men, Fitzpatrick admitted
That some of the skilled workers get
as high as $50 or $40 q day for eight
hours work, nut said the majority OF
the workers get 40 cents an hour and
are compelled to work twelve hours.
Fitzpatrci said he had never worked
in the steel mills, that his occupation
eighteen months he had done nothing
but act as organizer for the Chicago
Federation OF Labor.
Strikers Are Union Members.
Are the strikers all members Of tho
y. r OF l-."' WAS asked.
Yes; there are near 500 600 members
nov. When we asked Judge Cary for
he had refused the conference they
Joined in great numbers during June
and July We asked the members to
%, Gary and 10000 moro came in before
the vote Was taken on that question,
bringing the membership up 81. 600 or
$4,000. When Judge Gary refused TO
meet us, we saw thr \. +. Of l.. cXccu-
tivcs and they undeTtook to enlist Tres
ident Wilson in our behalf. Mir. Com
pers Was 10 assis; us and ARRANGEMENTS
were made by which VIC saw President
Wilson INC. ,p>N, day. The committee
twentE-four 1intcrnationd! unions mat
WcrC involved
The fact, that about $4,000 men
arc now striking" he continued. shows
that we did represent them. Judge
Gary. however would not concede that
we represented mis- employees and the
strike and close the mills The pro.
gram OF terrorism was already on and
we had TO tell the men that Il they
have doubled our membership since the
strike began. We allowed the non
union men to vote ms we'll the union
men on tho question OF striking, using
a separate box. The non-union mon
voted just about 100 per cent for the
strike. was informed that only two
voted against it,.
did the President tell you that he
tried TO arrange the rconterenGe?l asked
Judge Gary refused. although he WAS
asked by the PrcSident?'
Conference Is Denied.
Yes. VIC gathered from tho rrcsi- /
dent that Judge Gary had refused II
Western Pennsylvania no." YOU can
be assured that the strike Uil not be
confined 20 the steel workers alone. II
the authorities i'll Pennsylvania refuse .
TO recognize the right OF the people In :
the steel districts there is no telling .
what will happen. In Homestead the .
mounted GUNNER rode their horses
right into the Kitchens OF the workers /
homes. One 81 these Cossacks, as Nc
call them. rode his horse into the home !
O! u woman who was in her Kitchen .
with her child, a kettle OF food was
tipped over from the stove and the
woman was Scalded.
In Ciairion, last sunday meeting
was held at which our organizers ad :
dressed tho men. urging them 10 avoid .
All disorders and strictly obey the law.
warning. seven .: these horsemcn rode
right into the gathering, pulled the
speakers OF the stand and arrested
them"
VIVA, lsw ware those men violating
when they Mere a.yesicd:" asked SEM
ator Kenyon
no ~" was tho reply They we're
meeting on the common and there was
NO disturbanc" whatever
What is Inc DUTY OF this P"nnsyI-
senate Kenyon.
II is atrlhe. breaking orranization,
! don't know tha. /, has any other
in MeKeespo.t INC police and
mounted gunner allowed no meetings
TO be held. Tho people, are 20 Ter
talk together on the street The horse
men tide into any group and c'uo
and <bca, the men This l. done with
the acqutesnence q nc authorities. IN
'Keesport and -5,hs-- places uhc au-
tno-ities VIII no, ALLOW 'he man to
meet; thy arc clubocd and driven
away