The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-19
LETTER TO PRESIDENT
Steel Workers Solemn Challenge
Rings Turnout Nation Today.

Steel Workers Solemn Challenge
Rings Turnout Nation Today.
Pittsburgh. Pa. Sept. 1s.-Labor's
challenge and announcement of its in
tention to fight for characterization
of industry made in a solemn letter
addressed to President Wilson, re-
sounded thru the country today.
No labor without representation"
is the slogan of the leaders of twenty
four unions whose members are en-
ployed in the steeIindustry and who,
on Monday, are scheduled to walk out
of the plants. Their strike is to be
continued until heads of the steel COM
panies consent to a conference with
the labor leaders, at which the griev-
ances of the men can be discussed and
adjusted.
Leaders for every strike district
have been appointed, arrangements
for picketing have been made, and
only Monday is awaited to throw a
large section of the country into a
titanic industrial struggle. as the labor
leaders claim; or reveal that the voice
of the workers as expressed thru the
union heads is not the voice of the
majority.
In Scathing Letter.
The letter to President Wilson in
forming him that it is impossible to
accede to his request for postponement
until after the conference in Wash
ington October s, was a scathing in
dictment of the United States Steel
corporation.
Its charges against the corporation
ranged from intimidation of workmen
in prevention of organization, arming
of plants with cannon and rifles and
on to murder. The president was told
that delay was no longer possible. The
history of the long fight of labor in
seeking recognition was recited, and
while regret was expressed that for the
first time labor could not favorably
respond to request from the presi-
dent, delay here means the surrender
of all hope"
Demand Representation.
The immediate cause of the strike
is based by the leaders solidly upon
the steadfast refusal of Judge GARY TO
meet the steel workers committee in
conference, this they declare was de-
NAL Of labors' right of representation
in industry in determining the condi-
| lions under which 1t shall work
All hopes for a postponement of the
strike until after the Industrial con-
ferences in Washington october 6, as
| requested by President Wilson, were
lost yesterday when the committee
voted down a motion to rescind the
strike order and adopted a systematic
motion favoring the walkout.
John Fitzpatrick, chairman of the
/ ana general
consul. draw a distinct line between
representation" and participation
Ready for Finish Fight.
The leaders are obviously prepared
to fight to the limit, and declare thai
the spirit of the men would not permit
of postponement. Whether public
opinion will support or be hostile to q
big strike at this critical economic
period is apparently not a matter oil
concern to Rubins or Fitzpatrick. Ru-
bins is a former criminal lawyer, and
says he has won more homicide case.
when public opinion was against him
than when 1t was with him.
Fitzpatrick declares that all news
papers are controlled by capital, that
they never print the truth about labor
1 anyhow.
Fitzpatrick left Pittsburgh last might
for Washington, where he. will give
President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor a copy of the let.
ter sent to President Wilson. Rubin.
left for New York, and most of tn,
representatives of the various union.
departed for their homes to maxi
final preparations for the strike.