The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-26
Fitzpatrick Tells Senators
Men Will Return if Will
son Names Board.
ACT WOULD END STRIKE
Companies, However, Must
Agree to Join in Dis
cussing Terms.
CLOSED SHOP NOT ISSUE
Committee of Inquiry Hears
Story of Reign of Terror
in Pennsylvania Towns.
Special Despatch to THE suS.


WASHINGTON, Sept. 25.-The strik.
ing steel workers would be willing
to refer all or their grievances to the
arbitration of u board selected by
the President, John ]. Fitzpatrick,
chief organizer of the strikers, in
formed the Senate investigating COM
mittee late to-day. Replying to ques-
tions he said that If the companies
would be willing to do this it would
end the strike.
Fitzpatrick declared that he was
without power to call off the strike,
as that lay in the hands Of the
Workers National Committee.
But from my knowledge of the
men who have the strike in charge"
he declared, they would be willing
to send the men back to the mills
Oh that basis"
When Mr.. Fitzpatrick had con.
cluded the committee held an execu.
tive session. Afterward Senator Ken
yon (Ia.), it's chairman, said he
would think the matter over tonight
and decide whether to wire President
Wilson "a statement Of the proposl..
tion on behalf Of the committed : 80 Z
The committee determined to rush
Its investigation as fast as possible.
William z. Foster, secretary treasurer
of the strikers organization, will be
heard tomorrow. Judge f. H. Gary
probably will appear next Wednes.
day.
Charges Reign of Terror.
Fitzpatrick's testimony developed
many matters which will be subjects
or further inquiry. He charged that
reign of terror was deliberately in
stituted In the steel country, espe-
cially western Pennsylvania, long IN
advance of the calling of the strike.
lie said there had been murders, beat.
ings and refusal Of the right of free
speech and assembly since last June.
He claimed the municipal authorities
of that section were under domination
OF the steel Industries; that business
men In the towns had been threatened
that they would be put out of bust
hess If they did not support the pol
Icy of the employing companies.
Questioned by Senator Phipps
(Col), Senator Jones IN. NJ and
others Mr.. Fitzpatrick was pressed
to explain the specific demands of
the strikers at this time. He ad-
mitted that 1t was not q strike for
higher wages, but insisted that the
object was to get better working and
living conditions. For many years.
he said, the American Federation Of
Labor had sought to organize the
steel workers but had never succeeded
till now.
He denied that the strike repre-
sented merely the alien employees.
while the American elements wanted
to continue work. That cry, he IN
sisted, was used to mislead the pub
lie. The strike, he said, resulted
from the refusal of Judge Gary to
confer with the representatives Of the
men even after he had been asked by
President Wilson to do so.
Companies Fought Unions.
In opening Fitzpatrick recounte,l
the story OF labor In the steel indus
try. The companies had for many
years fought organization OF their
labor and had made appropriation OF
a great fund-he did not know
whether 1t was $2,OOO,OOO or $4,000
OOO--to prevent their organization.
From this he followed down through
the most recent efforts to uniOnize the
men, until early this year it was found
that about 100000 of them belonged
to the union.
The representatives OF twenty-four
Industrial unions Joined with the
American Federation a year ago to
pursue tho unionization OF the men.
Workers and money We're scarce, and
the steel companies fought the move
ment with all their power, but prog
ress was made and finally grievances
were formulated. The Steel Corpora
tion officials then refused TO confer
with the union representatives.
III Judge Gary had agreed to meet
the workers in a conference would the
strike have been called?" asked SenA-
tor Kenyon.
"It would not" replied Mr.. Fitzpat-
rick.
',If the conference could be held now