The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-10-01
STRIKE Is TEST
OF ENDURANCE
CONTINUED from page ~

| United States Steel corporation, it's
finance committee and chief eXecu-
tive in charge of strike arrangements.
In reply to Senator Wolcott, Gary
said he thought the Staying of Mrs.
Smelling occurred before the strike.
Senator Phinps read a certified copy
OF the verdict of the coroner's jury,
stating that she came to her death
during an attack on the sheriff's
deputies" and that this was justi-
fable and in self defense" and com
mending' the sheriff.
Gary said none Of his employees
were acting as deputies at that time,
but that he did not know whether any
ARE serving now.
"As rule they are not appointed"
The added Some of them may have
been under stress Of circumstances
before the police force was adequate"
Answering another charge of cruel
ity, Gary said son OF Jefferson Davis
Pierre denied his fathers death was
caused by an employee of the United
! States Steel corporation. but instead
was caused by an I. w. w. member.
l Gary said his concern had never
! had "the slightest connection" with
/ the Standard Wire company, Ham
mond, Indiana, where several strikers
were recently killed.
'-Our companies we're in no way re-
sponsible," he added.
/ This strike, (the present steel
strike) has been conducted like any
fother strike, only worse in some of
! its features" Gary continued.
THE large majority of our work.
men were not DESTROYS of striking,
| they were not members of any union
land had declined to become such year
after year"
When the United States Steel cor
poration was furnishing about half
the steel used during the war, the
workmen were loyal Gary said.
There was never any interruption
fof any extent during the war;" he de-
clared, while there is radical ele-
ment among the men, 1t is only doing
justice to say that the majority of
| the foreigners are good citizens, loyal
to this country and loyal to their en-
lployers."
Gary could not give the percentage
of foreigners employed.
Gary offered to submit exhibits
which ARE entirely antagonistic to
the idea they are dissatisfied or I'M
willing workers"
hSnyOu Idi CiooSiy
about the foreigners employed.
"The strike was inaugurated by I'M
I ion leaders, not by the men. The men
have not been seeking the assistance
of some one TO organ'za them"
what union leaders," asked Wal
Mass.
well the American Federation OF
Labor" Gary answered. ''Workmen
have been getting great many
threats from leaders. They say we
jobstructed them"
1.-THE strike was preceded by prom
Uses of higher pay to appeal TO the
cupidity OF the un-educated work
men," Gary continued. "The strike
was called, the threats had been
made. we don't know how many
to burn houses. kidnap their children,
etc"
"Men stayed on strike because they
feared lack of police protection Gary
declared.
| "But when protection was secured
the men began returning to WORK,
Gary explained. Gary said ne wouio
estimate those who remained away
| both on strike and through fear, were
los percent of United States steer
nlants and subsidiaries and not over
| forty percent of the manufacturing es-
Establishments of which the strike was
chiefly directed.
| more came back yesterday imam
since the strike was inaugurated.
There has been a steady progression
| in the figures" he said.
/ Gary said he hadn't totalled the
Figures on this point. He said ms
percentages might be slightly moor
rect since they are estimated
The lowest wage rates, Gary sald'
! paid to unskilled labor, working ten
hours a day, was forty-two cents an
hour orten hours and time and
half for all hours over eight, making
s4.62 for the ten hour day.
"That's the cheapest labor for men.
There are boys opening doors, some OF
| whom get SO a day" Gary explained.
The highest wage OF the rollers
! $32 sc a day.
The general average of hired en-
Moves. excluding executives, Is S6.2I
q day for ten hours, in the manufac-
| turing plants, Gary says, and the I'M
skilled average is IS a day; skilled
1870.
| In the open shop, Gary declared,
! promotion is by merit.
Twentysix and one half percent of
I all employees work twelve hours day.
he said, reading the following figures
as TO wages and hours of labor:
| Total employees working twelve
hours q day number CASA; ten hours
| SIS. s94, and eight hours SS,994. Gary
| said. In manufacturing plants. the
average wage of employees was s2.so
| in 1914. and 1927 in July 1913, an in
crease OF ia percent. In coal mines
controlled by the corporation wages
Increased from $2,74 in 1914, to s5,29
| in 1919. an increase Of 1913 percent.
ore workers jumped from S2.75 10
s.. 20 in the same period, 1913 percent.
Tremendous Success.
| PITTSBURGH, Pa. Oct, IA
| nrinted statement signed by Samuel