Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-10-08
GARY SAYS UNIONS
RUIN OF INDUSTRY
Steel Head Tells Senators the
Workers Were Satisfied.
OPEN SHOP is ESSENTIAL
Fundamental and lnarbitrable, He De-
cIares-ciosed Shop, He Asserts
Means Less Production, Less
Work and Higher Costs.

Washington, Oct. 2.-Denying that
the United States Steel corporation
had mistreated its men, as charged
by union labor leaders, Judge Ebert
II. Gary, chairman Of the corporation,
told the senate committee inveStigat-
ing the steel strike that in his opinion
there was no basic industry in the
world which had paid larger wages
than his company.
There Is no reason for this strike"
Mr.. Gary said. 1.-The men didn't want
it. They were satisfied with their jobs
1t was the union leaders who wanted
the strike"
'f unions control industry in the
United States it means decay and a
dropping of production" Mr.. Gary
told the committee.
ct means this country cannot keep
up in the race with the world. 1t
means the condition l fear England is
in today"
1T has been stated before this COM
mittee," said Judge Gary, that the
steel companies have been guilty of
ill-treatment Of their employees. Some
statements have been made on misin-
formation and some absolutely with
out foundation.
Points to Steel Wages.
II wish to state, Mr.. Chairman, that
there is no basic industry in this coun-
try, nor in the world, in my opinion,
which has paid larger wages than the
United States Steel corporation, and
perhaps not as large, nor has treated
their employees in greater respect and
consideration if as great.
at has been charged that during the
pending strike the subsidiary com
panies have been guilty of attacking
and mistreating employees.
There isn't a vestige of truth in
that statement Photographs were dis
played here, and it was said a woman
was killed. This photograph has been
posted all over America, with a line
over it, Mrs. Fannie Sellins' body
goulishly mistreated by the steel
trusts fiendish crew.
"She was shot at Breckenridge, Pa.
We have no works there, no men
there. If she was killed, it was with
out even the knowledge of the Steel
corporation or any of its employees"
what we'd like to know is what
caused this strike" interrupted Sena-
tor Walsh (Dem.) of Massachusetts.
Gary BIames Union Leaders.
"Mr. Gary: Mr.. Gompers and Mr..
Fitzpatrick told US the cause of this
strike was your refusal to meet the
mems committee" Senator Kenyon
said "That ought to bring US to the
point"
"They ought to know-they called
it." Mr.. Gary retorted. There was
no reason for this strike. The men
didn't want it. They were satisfied
with their jobs. 1t was the union lead
ers who wanted the strike"
''HOw do you know they were salts
fied?" asked Senator Johnson (Rep)
of South Dakota. you were not in
the mills, among the men, were your
"They have told the officers of our
corporation So" Mr.. Gary said.
Fundamental Issue.
1.-THE newspaper reports said you
would not arbitrate," said Senator
Borah. ''It mems TO me that under
lying all this is a fundamental issue,
and that your policy is guided by you
about it. Aside from wages and work
ing hours, the country would like 70
know what is this fundamental issue
making it impossible for you to arbi-
trate"
THE fundamental issue is the open
or closed shop" replied Judge Gary.
'"All men are permitted to work,
whether they belong to the union or
not, but it is well-known all over the
world and is the opinion of a majority
of the people that the open shop is es-
sential 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"