Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-27
FORECAST CHANGE
IN ATTITUDE OF
BIG STEEL FIRMS
Labor Men See Virtual Union
Recognition in Gary
Letter

New York, May 27.-News dis-
patches from Pittsburgh concerning
an exchange of letters between M.
F. Tighe, newly elected president
of the Amalgamated Association of
Iron. Steel and Tin Workers, and
Chairman e. II. Gary, of the United
States Steel Corporation, announce
that labor leaders interpret this ex-
change as a virtual recognition by
the steel corporation of labor unions,
it being stated that this was the
first time the corporation had ac-
knowledged a communication of a
union. Inquiry at the office of Mr.
Gary resulted in the correspondence
being given to the Associated Press
with the understanding that "all or
none" be printed.
Tighc Letter
Mr.. Tighe wrote to Mr.. Gary on
May 5 from Louisville as follows:
The Amalgamated Association
.,of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers of
North America, in national conven-
tion assembled, by resolution have
instructed the undersigned to ad-
dress you as chairman of the eX-
ecutive officers of4be United States
Steel Corporatio{K.5on a matter
which, in the opinion of the repre-
sentatives of the Amalgamated As
soc alton of Iron, Steel and Tin
Workers, is of vital import to the
corporation you have the honor to
represent, and to the Amalgamated
Association.
LAS you no doubt are aware there
are serious disturbing elements in
the industrial world at the present
time, 4 great spirit of unrest has
spread over our common country,
it is becoming more and more acute,
and there is no telling when or
where the storm clouds will break.
ut is the judgment of the repre-
sentativeS of the Amalgamated AS
sociation that it is the patriotic duty
of all good citizens to use their ev-
cry effort to stem the tide of unrest
if possible.
The Amalgamated Association of
Iron, Steel and Tin Workers have
admitted many thousands of the
employees of the United States Steel
Corporation into their organization.
These members are asking that they
be given consideration by the cor
poration you are the honorable
chairman of in their respective
crafts and workings, and also as law
abiding citizens who, desire the
privilege of having their representa-
tives meet with the chosen repre-
sentatives of the corporation you
represent to jointly confer on ques-
tions that mutually concern both.
Sincerely believing that the grant
ing of their request on your part
will not only be the means of allay-
ing that unrest, but will also pro-
mote and insure that harmony and
cooperation that should at all times
exist between employer and en-
ployes to the end that all will share
in the glorious triumphs so lately
achieved in the late war thereby
adding still more to the luster and
glory of our common country.
Trusting that you will give this
request on the part of the employees
of the aforesaid corporation your
most earnest consideration, l await
your pleasure"
Gary's Reply
To this Mr.. Gary replied May 20:
81 have read with interest your
letter of May IS instant.
"I agree that it is the patriotic
duty of all good citizens to use their
efforts in stemming a tide of un-
rest in the industrial world when
ever and wherever it exists.
LAS you know, we do not confer,
negotiate with, or combat labor
unions as such. We stand for the
open shop. which permits a man
TO engage in the different lines of
kgnnloyment whether he belongs to
noE,, union or not. We think this
selsecures the best results to
ployes generally and to the
~ own way, and in accord
j our best judgment, we
ZM Mering efficient patriotic
In. the direction indicated