Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-23
senate DIRECTS
PROBE OF STRIKE
Kenyon Measure Orders Inquiry
Into Steel Suspension, to
Start Thursday
GARY FOR FIRST WITNESS
BY the Associated Press

Washington, Sept. 2&.-Invcstigation
Of the steel strike by tho Senate labor
committec was ordered today by tn"
: Senate. a resolution by Senator Ken
yon, Republican. Iowa. providing for
the inquiry and authorizing a report as
to whether any remedial federal action
could be taken was adopted without a
roll call.
Senator Kenyon announced later that
the Investigation would be begun Thurs
day and that tho first witnesses would
be Chairman Gary. Of tho United States
Steel Corporation. and John !. Fitz-
patrick. chairman of the national com
mittee organizing the steel workers.
Visits to the steel ccntrrs arc not
planned. he said.
Before the KENYON resolution wa,
adopted Senator Thomas. Democrat
Colorado. introduced one opposing
strikes and declaring that the SCnat"
'iviews with concern the labor situn
tion. Senator Thomas announced that
he planned to make an address to-
morrow on the resolution. which dc
clares that n man has CONSTITUTIONS!
right to follow any calling and that the
so o-called "cloScd shop is 'un- Am"ri-
can and detrimental TO American free
dom"
The Kenyon resolution vas discussed
briefly. Several senators expressed con
cern over the general industrial Situa-
tion.
'This strike seems to be the first
skirmish in industrial warfare. said
Senator Kenyon. Lot us face II and
find out the facts.
Publicity. Senator Kenyon and Other
members said. might hc helpful. Inc
senator explained that his resolution
was in tho interest of neither tn" en-
ployers nor employees, but 'th" great
third party-thc public.
Resolution Strongly Backed
The KENYON resolution was indorsod
BY Senators Knox. Republican, Penn
sylvania Owen. Democrat. OkIHhoma'
and Norris. Republican. Nebraska. Sen
ator Thomas said he did not oppose tho
investigation. but doubtCd whether it
would bring results. Senator Smith.
Democrat. South Carolina. said he was
concerned that Congress should BE- called
upon to fix industrial relations. bcli"v-
ing It tended toward socialism.
Senator Knox said that if reports that
steel workers on strike were largely
foreign born were true, there should be
an investigation by Congress to deter
mine the basis OF tho governments pol
icy in the future.
Gary's Attitude Attacked
Senator Thomas said the refusal of
Judge Gary to receive representatives
Of the workers was 'uniustiicd and
unwise' and that the strike was ''onC
of the developments that will put Amer
lean institutions to their supreme test.
He added that the Senate investigation
would require too much time. to be of
service.
Senator Kenyon said industry was in
"a rather ticklsh" situation and needed
every steadying influence. If reports
that SOC. 900 men are on strike are true
he added. Congress should not sit idly
by and do nothing
The Senate investigation of tho Paint
Creek, W. Va. strike several wars
ago, he said, had stopped the disturb
ance.
"Leaders of the strike and repre-
sentatives of the steel property own
ers,' he said in conclusion. can be
brought her. before the committee. and
we can ind out just what the matter
is. The day is gone by when either
capital or labor has the right to pro
cipitate such conditions on the coun
try