The Washington times., 1919-09-26
IS fighting
F0RDAY IN COURT
fcentIausd - - -

has been denied for many years, and
denied with all Of the power and
wealth and domination Of the steel
corporation. Not only denial by law
fuI means, but more often by unlavy-
fnl and brutal means.
'sEhe charge has been made that the
men now engaged in the strike are
foreiEners That may be true-and
no doubt S. But these men were
brought to the United States by the
Systematic efforts Of the steel corpora
tion and given preference over native
Americans or men already in
America
Indeed, there was q Eystematized
effort to eliminate Americans Com
pers said They have the harvest 70
sAt what time was this bringing
Ga OF men in practice2" asked Senator
Fhipps.
sFor twenty-five years, until just
before the war" answered Gompers-
Charges law was Brpken.
Compers declared, In an answer to
question from Senator Phipps, that the
practice had continued even after the
passage Of the law prohibiting the
Immigration OF contract labor he
said he later would submit records OF
Immigration and documents to prove
his statement
ssTbe hours OF labor IN the steel in
dustry have been abnOrmally long"
C0impers said.
.srhe attempt to organize on the
part OF the people themselves has
always been met with stern opposl-
tion from the steel corporations,
G6mpers continued.
Scores Hired Detectives.
s-Tbe re0uests came from the work
ers themselves that they be organ
iEed. Men making such EFFORTS were
spotted by the detectives and by
espionage. The detective agencies
1n the United States, two years ago,
cave fully so per cent Of their ac-
ffritieg "a dealing with agents in the
mills or mines, or engaging in spying
doEEinE men, or to provoke men
into contests prematurely, In order
that they may commit some overt
act or be forced into a premature
strike for which they were unorgan-
iEed.
s1Een were discharged for no other
reason than grumbling.
Men who had the temerity TO go /
TO any meeting we're watched and 1
tagged and discharged the next
morning.
aThe whole system Of espionage on
these workmen was greater than |
has ever been put upon the greatest /
criminal
Denied Assembly.
sgTbe pro2rietors Of halls rented for 1
meetings were told that the doors
must be locked.
Men meeting on private lots were
run down. charged against"
eCan you give instancesF' asked |
Senator Sterling.
yes. sir In McKeespOrt," said I
GomBers, II have been informed this I
morning that in McKeesport yesterday /
the order was given that no meetings
Of the iron and steel workers could
be held. Halls were closed against
them. Their Offices were closed
arainst them. Offices for which rent
has been paid have been closed.
sUnder whose orders?s asked Sgna-
tor Kenyon.
s.The mayor Of McKeesport," an
aWered GOmpers.
asBut IA 3. time OF strike, you would 4
expect to have officials on the alertf'
said Senator Sterling.
Steel OGiceB Open.
saThe alertness does not mean clos
ing Of offices; it hasn't closed the OF
nces Of the United States Steel Cor
pofation," replied Gompers. nave
no, hesItanCy in saying that the nrst |
dhty Of the authorities is to main
tain order, but in the maintenance Of
oRdeF the guaranteed constitutional
right Of our citizens must not be In
terferred with. The right Of public
assembly, the right OF free speech,
the right Of free press are guaran-
teed by the constitution. They may
be removed only for the preserva-
ffon Of the Republi 9, and not for the I
interests Of prohteeriny private cor
uabFation.
u know that many OF the officials
in Pennsylvania are under the dom
inatiOh Of the United States Steel
Corporation.
DodEes @Open shOP Query."
what Is the attitude OF the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor as regards
enployment with nOnUnion men
where Wou have organized?' asked
Senator Phipps.
'rThe. American Federation Of La
Dor has nothing to do with It. That
is for the National Trade Union to n
decide The National Trade Union
tries TO organize the workers." said
Gofnpers.
Senator Phipps. read letter written
by Judge Gary declaring that to meet
the men asking for a conference for
labor would be interpreted as rec
IGNITION OF the closed shop. The let n
ter denOUnceds the methods OF union
organizers. This country can not
stand for the closed shop" the letter
declared. 'It would be the beginning n
Of Industrial decay" and would mean
"euterprise war"
Wilson Fer Open Shop.
The letter which had been previous
" published, was followed bv a letter
signed by 'Dr. woodrow Wilson. de-
clarinE u am a fierce partisan OF the
open shop" This letter was written
IN 1909. Senatot Phipps also read a
statement Of President Wilson In 1907
declaring the labor class as foridajle
Is the capitslistic class
Nov, are you, on your own knoWl-
edge, aware OF any refusal OF an Of
dcial OF the steel corporations to meet
its own employes?" asked Senator
Phipps.
Let me answer your quotations Of
Or. woodrow Wilson" answered Com
peFs. Il think it Is unfair to quote
Io'IlI D-A-N-G-I-H-G Tn'onr
ProG cain, Americas foremost Dancing
MGGteE, and MEL H L Holt can teach