New-York tribune., 1919-10-02
ism is not good for either employer or

employee"
Isn't it n substantial notice to the
men that the company doesn't want
them to belong to the unions when you
refuse to meet the union officials?
What is the good Of union If the
men cannot confer with their employ
ers through it? Is it merely social
organization ?" inquired Senator Walsh
Leaders Were Outsiders
"The organized labor leader should
not be allowed to talk with the employ
ers in behalf of few of the men,
when he knows that the company does
not make contracts with the leaders
Of unions, and especially when the men
are not requesting it," replied Judge
! Gary.
"lt would appear that some 40 per
cent were requesting it, inasmuch as
STRIKE" suggested Senator Walsh.
Your policy is not to deal with
union leaders" suggested Senator
Gerry, of Rhode Island. "Do you mean
when they represent the men and are
numbered among your employees, or
merely when the union leaders are
outside the number of your employees"
1--WE arc willing to hear committees
Of our own men; they are always vel
{ NVAhS' tSpilSN OuNEC NalN. III tnlS
case the labor leaders were not our
employees. They were organizing the
men in our mills, although the men
had not asked them TO do so They
had nothir.~ to do with our business"
''1f that is so, how did they get your
men to strike?" asked Senator Walsh.
Few Intimidatcd the Many
"Ten or Is per cent had already
joined the union," replied Judge Gary.
"That was accomplished after long
campaign. Then they called out all
the men, as part Of their plan TO organ
ize the mills, whIch they had been un-
able to accomplish otherwise They
wouldn't even wait on the Presidents
request for delay. The 10 or Is per
cent, of course quit, and started in
in some cases stayed at home"
"lf the committee which desired to
confer with you had been composed of
employees of your corporation, would
you have received them" asked Sen
ator Kenyon.
Open Shop the Issue
"Yes, | would, unless they had come
specifically as union officials. In that
case, don't know what l would have
done, for the situation was not pre-
sented. If a committee had come rcp-
resenting the workers in particular
MILL | would have received them.
"lt all comes to the one question Of
the open or the closed shop. If you
recognize unions, that recognition
forces all the men to join the union,
because those who don't belong cannot
work We stand for the open shop,
asking no questions as to whether
man does or docs not belong to the
Wo h0yo
and If a few have been DISCHARGED,
which deny, it is contrary to our in
structions, and would cause the offend
ing foremen to be disciplined if the Of
tcnce were repeated"
The newspaper reports said YOU
would not arbitrate" said Senator
Borah: ut seems to me that underly-
ing all this is fundamental issue. and
that your policy is guided by you about
It, Aside from wages and working
hours, the country would like to know
1T impossible for you to arbitrate"
Open Shop Is Essential
The fundamental issue is the open
or closed shop" replied Judge Gary.
An men are permitted to work,
whether they belong to the union or
not, but il is we'll known all over the
world and the opinion of a majority
of people, that the open shop is essen
tial to the progress and prosperity of
industry. The closed shop means
smaller production and higher cost. In
connection with the high cost of living,
this Is most important. But you, SEN
ator, seem to aim at something else, 80
have some other matter in mind. If
so, state it, and | will be entirely frank
with you"
you seem to indicate that moral
issue was involved that made it impos-
sible for you to arbitrate," said Scna-
tor Borah. 81 want to know what it
is. Now you say it is the question of
the open or closed shop
~ regard it as immoral for small
minority to compel large majority to
accept its terms. If the industries are
to be controlled by unions it means
that industry will decay, cost will be
higher and this country will fail in the
worlds industrial competition. That |
ls the condition which, I fear, CON
fronts England, though I hope ! may
be mistaken.
Calls Coercion Immoral
When few men seek to control as
against the majority it is immoral.
These men were rank outsiders They
had announced their purpose to or
ganize the steel industry, not for the
purpose OF getting better pay, for we
never heard of their twelve points @
grievance at that stage, but in order to
force union control on the industr
DO you realize what would follow from
that 2"
"They said they represented twenty
four international unions" suggested
Senator Phipps. "Are any of these
unions incorporated, with authority to
negotiate on behalf of their members
and to enforce their contracts"
81 understand not" replied Judge
Gary
Does not incorporation of union
greatly affect the employees as to their
ability to contract and to enforce their
agreement" asked Senator Phipps.
as it a general practice Of unions to
keep their contracts?" retorted Judge
Gary. Their contracts cannot be en-
forced at all"
"What proof have YOU" asked SEN
ator Walsh, that the men who desired