Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-26
Continued from page ~

1EI4 &s0S ~ tge1 -
out Of the towns. n Of them 80
bludgeoned that he died. That was
four or five years aso. He was Jeffel-
son Davis Pierce. Of Worcester.
Gompers told Of the mai decision
OF the American Federation Of Labor
In 1918 to organize the mon and de-
scribed the methods used to hna1ca
the work.
'You have dealt With the policy Of
n steel companies trying to exclude
union men," said Senator PhippsA re-
publican, Colorado. rs tho policy OF
union men?"
1T is the policy Of the unions to
try to organize all workers." Com.
pers said.
Washington, Sept. 2s.-The right
OF the employees to have some voice
In determining the conditions under
which they work is the paramount is
sue in the strike of steel workers,
American Federation Of Labor. told
the senate investigating committee
today. Appearing as the second Wit
ness for labor, Mr.. Gompers was first
asked by Chairman Kenyon to define
the issues In the controversy.
The right to be heard is what the
steel workers r asking above, all
else." Gompers said. 1.-THE right to
speak. with their employers through
their own representatives. to have
some voice in determininE Conditions
under which they work.
the. right OF workers to association
has been denied-denied with all the
power and influence and wealth Of the
steel corporation-denied by brutal
and unvarrantable means. !
1t has been said that most of the
men taking part In this strike are Of
foreign birth and not naturalized
citizens That may be and no doubt
steel corporation employees are Of
foreign BIRTH. but these men were
brought here by the companies.
Made Trouble.
There was for years a systemstto
to bring in these gangs from
Europe. There IA a Systematic ef-
fort to eliminate Americans. These
steel companies brought about the
state of which they now complain.
Under the efforts OF the steel cor
poration the hours of labor were al
ways abnormally long. They never
seemed satisfied until they had their
men toiling seven days a week, ass
days year. When the shifts
changed, from day to night, they got
them working "a hours q. day.
The right of association, the at
tempt to organize met with the stern.
est opposition by the steel
alton.
'.The appeals coming to us from
employees were for help TN or.
ganizing. But mos of the efforts
were slaughtered by the detectives
and the agencies in the company pay.
More than sixty per CEN of ali the
private detective agency effort In this
country has been devoted to spying
on employees IN mines and, mills. They
have been used as agent provocateurs
to induce men to some overt act. to
get them to strike too soon."5
AS he described the ''dogging'' Of
employees by detectives, Gompers en-
phAsized his words by pounding fire.
quently on the table.
I'm the steel industry" he con.
tinued. men were discharged for
merely talking Of organization. or for
There have been numbers Of men
watched 80 closely that when they
rented a hall, the proprietor wa told
to lock the doors against them. Their
meetings on rented ground have been
broken up. The men were run down,
dispersed, and some assaulted" @.t
Car you give instances OF that last.
practtce?" asked Senator Sterling.
South Dakota.
Yes, at McKeesport," Gompers re-
sponded. Since this strike the Of
of the iron and steel workers
there have been closed against them"
Meeting Not Allowed.
Pittsburgh, Pa. Sept. 2s.-Mayor