Evening star., 1919-09-26

4 down to brasg tacksY' asked Chair
u man Kenyon. I'VE would like to know
h poned. as the President requested, un.
h til after the industrial conference"
Tried to Avert Strike.
h Mr.. Gompers discussed the situation
just before the strike, and told of the
Il efforts BY President Wilson to bring
H about conference between the men
end the Steel Corporation officials.
committee and suggested that the
4 strike be deferred" Gompers conelnued.
A general meeting was called and
the responsible officers of the union
resolved there to strike September ~.
unless Judge Gary. chairman Of the
4 poration. consented to a conference. .
Il got another telegram from the
President. asking me to use my efforts
i to secure delay. over long dis
to Mr. Fitzpatrick, asking that the
Presidents request be complied with.
\ He told me that the men were in such
4 q frame of mind that they could not
be prevented from striking, even
should the committee vote for delay"
what was this committeea" asked
Senator Sterling, republican, North
Dakota.
"The committee OF officers of the
| twenty-four international unions"
Mr.. Gompers said. which then rep
resented 10000 steel workers"
|: Men Voted Against Delay.
Several of the international union
officers had declared in favor of post
Pittsburgh on September II and Is,
and my letter was read. The actual
situation was presented to them. Or
ganizers who were working among the
men reported and those men who IA
vored postpOnement. reported that
they could not maintain their position.
They voted almost unanimously to
strike on the original date.
when they came in contact with
the terrorism Of the Steel Corporation,
the wholesale discharge of men, they
could not favor delay. They knew the
.. way, unguided, disjointed and leader
I less. Their choice was not that of
having no strike, but simply of hav-
ing disorganized or an organised
strike. under guidance Of experienced
men,"
do you know that union member
Ahip was the reason for this whole
sale discharging?" Senator Sterling
asked.
: Corporations are not used to CIV
Ing their reasons for discharging' en-
ployes." Mr.. Gompers responded.
'.Mr. Fitzpatrick told US yesterday
that If Judge Gary had met the COM
mittee there would have been no
strike," Chairman Kenyon said.
That is true" Mr.. Gompers con-
tinued, with one qualification. The
conference would have to be an ef-
fective consideration of grievances"
Would Avoid Lawyers.
Workers are commencing to have
Q better understanding of their social
rights to be heard through represent
atives of their own selection. to ap-
pear by counsel"
You mean by lawyer" Senator
Sterling interposed.
mo. thank YOU" Mr.. Gompers said.
The less they have to do with law
yers the better. The right to have
spokesmen with the courage, the in
telligence, the ability. to present the
evils and injustices Of plant and fac
tory lie. Spokesman who can stand
nc and argue with .nncsoyers.'
fapeSr are carry1fx communications
troni Secretary Foster Of the COM
nfittee.'T Chairman Kenyon began,
radical letters, signed. Yours for
revolution and carrying implications"
I've made a brief reference to Mr..
wrote book. No one could have a
greater antipathy to this ]. ". w. posi-
ton than Foster took IN 19f0sthan do.
His pamphlet on syudicalism. his attack
at Zurich. before the international labor
Econference. on James Duncan. who rep
Resented the A +. Of L.. all those things,
Dfe1udiced me. But he changed, took
. constructive position. In view Of what
he has since done % 9fAfroSe conditions
fe e the sSssss r T hss s1ss s e s.Rs
y3evs of the past held anp, to .in1pre HIS
sf11iess. 7 have no lfe1ftancy q say
1yI that these are not his views. 3.
He is not now an executive oflicer Of
- strike. He Is merely chosen to per-
IN the secretarial work"
HeHMr. Foster had not changed hi,
M on these fundamental princi-
yon would not have desired him
41nduct this striker Senator Ken
1sked II
3 would not have served with Fos-
FL he had mot changed his views.
Gompefg said = ;sl - :. = : :
keyerting to the subtects-of profit
the steel industry, Mr.. Hompers
eNed a.. statement by Director Cen
efsl rHines of the railroad adminis-
the steel corporation made 22 per
cent on its common stock. Price,
exing policies were also discussed.
"s-Hour Day Not Actuaity."
81 understood Mr.. Fitzpatrick to say
nat the eight-hour day was granted
Nng remarked.
.By the efforts of the War Labor
Board and the War Labor Conference
8oard," Mr. Gompers responded, "con.
6ttions were finally produced which in
oQced the corporation to order the
flght-hour day. But / understand it
efill is an order and not an actuali .
Mr. Gompers said he had no definite
information on wages.
This talk Of very high wages is In
terestfng. however" he said, "but its
. favortte pastime Of big interests to
Uy very high wages to a few exhibi-
ton men. It's like the carrots hung in
front Of the donkey's nose to keep him
moving FAST s
As to Wages and Profits.
Senator Sterling introduced a steel
Norporation statement which said that
average wages paid by 1t had in
6teased 130 per cent since 1913.
but the corporations profits have
Increased 400 per cent in the same
time" Mr.. Gompers retorted. This
question of averages-we1i, averages
can be brought to show mostly any
thing"
Employees are allowed to buy
etock?" Senator Sterling continued.
Yes, in the same way can become
Resident" Mr.. Gompers said.
I'D call your attention to the fact
that $4,000 OF them now own stock"