The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-09-25
j A B0R HOLDS
STAND IN PROBE
OF STEEL STRIKE
John Fitzpatrick Is the First
Witness Called in Senate
Investigation
MOST, SIDES CONFIDENT
Steam Engineers in Illinois Plant
Walk Out in Sympathy
With Iron Workers
MOST SIDES CONFIDENT
By Associated Press

Interests in the great struggle in tie
steel industry shifted today to Wash
ington where the labor committee Vi
the senate opened an investigation
with the avowed intention Of discove.
ing IF the situation in any way Can
be relieved by federal action"
Meanwhile no radical change was
reported in the actual strike centers.
1t was labor's day in court for the first
witness called was John Fitzpatrick
chairman of the National Steel Work
ers committee. The employers jtura
will come next Wednesday when Ell.
bert H. Gary, chairman of the board OF
directors Of the United States Steel
corporation, presents the case for carj.
tai.
TO LAY BARE CAUSES
It is the expressed hope of the com
mittee that the investigation will lay
bare the underlying causes Of tbs
struggle which is threatening the econ
ionic interests of the nation. The com.
mittee also is expected to prohl
chafges made on the floor of the senate
and elsewhere that more sinister
motives are involved than the Osten
sible one of the right Of the workers
to organize.
ENGINEERS STRIKE
So far as actual conditions Of the
battle line were concerned the most
definite news came from the Chicago
district where both sides claimed speci.
tic and significant advantages. Steel
corporation officials announced that the
steel and slab mills of the corporation
at Gary, Ind, would resume part ope.
ration today, the most extensive re-
sumption claimed in the district since
the strike was declared. Otfsetting
this 195 steam engineers employed Il!
the Illinois Steel company's plant were
called out by their local, raising agai.
the possibility Of a general walkout
by this most important part Of the
workers. nM.i. .s.F
In the Mahoning valley district OF
Ohio the complete paralysis Of the in
dustry achieved by the strike con
tinued and the success on the Ohio
sector was emphasized by the closing
Of the plant Of the bar mill of the EN-.
pire' Rolling Mill Co.,, with the excep
ton of the sheet mill department
which. employees only 500 men. This
department is the only mill now
operating in Cleveland.
RETURN TO WORK
But the issue in the great Pittsburgh
area where both sides conceded the
struggle must be lost or won, remains
uncertain. Corporation officials aga,l
asserted today that strikers were re
turning to work admitting that the
number was not large, but terming j
STEADY"
These claims were as usual disputed
by the strike leaders. w. W. Foster
secretary Of the strike committee, cal
lied the situation "better than ever
and predicted interesting developments
within a few days.
He declined to be more specific.
POLICE MAINTAIN QUIET
Farrell, Pa, Sept. 25.-The boroughs
of Farrell and Sharon remained quiet
today. A full company Of 81 state 20
lice continued to patrol the principle
streets of Farrell.
Mass meetings have been forbidde;
by proclamation here and. at Sharon
The South Carnegie plant was III
operation today. Officials said more
men are returning every day.
WANT DECENT JUSTICE
Washington, Sept. 25.-Even should
the United States steel corporation
consent to meet representatives of the
men the national widestrike Of steel
workers would now be called off in tht
opinion Of John Fitzpatrick, chairman,
Of the strikers committee, as expressed
today at the opening Of the senate
labor committee investigating the
strike.
"The 355,OOO on strike,' FitzpatricH
declared, "are going to demand fror
the United States government justice
and decent justice.
TO MOVE COAL
Washington. Sept. 25.-In an effort
to meet the first effect Of the stee
strike on the transportation systems
the railroad administration today III
stituted system Of moving coal and
iron ore to the steel mills by permit
which will limit the quantities shipped
Continued on Page Two.)