New-York tribune., 1919-09-26
Plan to End Strike
Put to Committee
N<,r York T,,beMs
U0Skfhofon Ruraan


Wdsktaatoa Bxrsaw
WASHINGTON, Sept. a5.-The strike
OF the steel workers will be called
on AID the men sent back to the mills
II the United States Steel Corpora lion
Will agree to have the differences sub
mitted 70 arbitration by board to be
appointed by President Wilson.
John Fitzpatrick. chairman of the
national committee of steel work
the strike, made this proposal today
before the Senate Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor, at the close of the
first day. of its hearings on the strike.
In reply to question asked by SEN
ator Kenyon, chairman of the Senate
committee, Mr.. Fitzpatrick said that
the consent of Judge Ebert n. Gary,
head of the Steel Corporation, to a
conference now would not end the
strike, but that the men we're willing
to submit their grievances to arbitra-
ton by board appointed by the Pres
ident, and that the members of the
committee which is directing the strike
would be willing to send the men back
to work on that basis.
VIII Ask Gary to Hasten
The committee made no effort to-
night to endeavor to secure an armis-
tice in the strike on the basis sug-
gested by the strike leader, but efforts
will be made tomorrow to persuade
Judge Gary to appear before the COM
mittee before next Wednesday, when
he WAS scheduled to testify, so that the
arbitration proposal can be presented
formally to him.
session and discussed Mr.. Fitzpatrick's
proposal to call the strike off imme-
diately after he had presented it. The
questions Of telegraphing President
Wilson Of the willingness of the
strikers to arbitrate and Of summon
ing Judge Gary before the committee
without delay were discussed at length.
NO action was taken on either matter.
however.
The committee was authorized
merely to inquire into the causes of
the strike, said Senator Kenyon
later. ut is not empowered to take
action toward ending the strike.
Cannot Subpoena Gary
The committee would like to have
Judge Gary appear without delay and
state his position on the proposition
o. Mr.. Fitzpatrick, but the committee
Is not authorized % issue subpoena
requiring him to appear. He vii! read
the proposal in the papers tomorrow.
without doubt, and if he wants to uc-
ccept 1t or to come to Washington be-
fore next Wednesday. ne can DO So"
The committee was urged by Fitz-
patrick to go to the Pittsburgh district
and inquire into strike conditions
there. This suggestion also was dis
cussed at length, but no decision was
reached Senator Kenyon said that
the cPmmlttee would not go this week.
at ann rate. as it intended to hear Sam
uel Gompers. president Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, tomorrow,
and' then hear William Z. Foster sec
retary and treasurer of the steel work
ers organization.
The chairman Of the strikers COM
mittee demanded prompt action bv
Congress or by the Senate commit
tee to "protect the rights" of the
strikers in Western Pennsylvania
where, he, declared, the PENNSYLVANIA
state constabulary and the other po-
lice and municipal authorities, which,
he said, "are owned body and soul'
by the Steel Corporation, are conduct
ing "a campaign Of terrorism"
Hints at Fearful Crisis
You are not going to have much
time Fitzpatrick declared 81 tell
YOU as d cltlZen ana father that this
is crisis, and unless the citizenship
of Western Pennsylvania are immedi-
ately given their rights, God knows.
what Will happen.
Some arm of the government must
step in and stop what is going on
there. The constitutional rights of
the men must be protected by the
United States government when thew
are not protected by the states or
municipalities. l ask Congress and
this committee to take such action as
Will give these men their citizenship
rights OF free speech and assembly"
The strike chairman, through his
proposal to call off the strike while
the differences of the men and the
company were being arbitrated, sought
TO shift respons ibility for continuing
the strike upon the United States Steel
Corporation.
Earlier in the day he had declared
that the twelve demands, of the steeel
workers, which were published as be-
ing the cause of the strike at the time
the walkout was called. were the basis