The sun., 1919-10-02

they feel they are better of than the
union men"
THAT certainly does not agree with
the reports made for the Government IN
1911 on the conditions in tho steel and
Iron Industry which showed men work
ing eleven and twelve hours a day, seven
days week, and that conditions were
generally very onerous TO the workers"
declared Senator Kenyon.
The question OF hours of work has
concerned the wishes of the employees
more than Of the employers" replied
Judge Gary. Union leaders have not ad-
Nocated the eight hour day in order to
help the workers. The question of hours
OF work also involves that of compen-
sation. We had the seven day week for
years, the employees having been re-
sponsible for starting It In order to get
more pay. We decided to eliminate the
seven day week, and did, There were
strikes against the change because the
MEN did not want to lose the wages.
Then the war brought the shortage
OF steel and the men still wanted more
pay and the seven day week was re-
stored. Immediately after the armis-
tice the Government ordered us to stop
Sunday and overtime work on contracts,
and since then we have given the men
one day Off each week
II do not recall when the eight hour
basis day was adopted. You must UNI
derstand that under It the men do not
work eight hours and then quit. They
wanted the eight hour basis because
they got time and half pay for overi
time.
THE man who worked twelve hours
earned twice as much as II he had worked
eight. A large part Of the public be-
lieves in the eight hour day and many
employees do, though, l think, not a
majority. We are considering the
question. ] would not oppose it II
the men want 1t. I think some of them
do prefer 1t, but It Is not admitted
that more than eight hours makes too
long a working day.
Executives Came From Ranks.
"All our executives came up from the
ranks and hard work, and we know.
We were always satisfied when we
worked the long houuA What will the
farmers do? They simply cannot sur
vive" :.
ut is charged by witnesses here that
in the interest of the public the Presi-
dent asked you to confer with the men
and that you declined" said Senator
Kenyon.
why not get that information from
the President" urged Judge Gary. Il
feel that a private individual should not
repeat personal conversations with the
President"
do you regard this great strike as
merely private affair?' asked Senator
Kenyon.
mo, as matter of the greatest
public interest. / have not said that
the President asked that a conference
be held"
mo. but other witnesses here have
said that he did ask for such a con-
ference" replied Mr.. Kenyon.
AS matter of propriety 1 feel that
such matters should be disclosed by the
President only" replied Judge Gary.
william Rumberger, n roller in the
company's employ at New Castle, Pa,
testified that only the unskilled workers,
chiefly foreigners, were striking: that
the men had no grievance that only
about Is per cent were out. and that the
strike is basically for recognition.
Rumberger said he was sworn as a
deputy sheriff and had carried a gun
but had not served. He had not been
paid by the State as a deputy. but re-
ceived his regular wages from the COM
pany. The Sheriff has instructed the
men sworn as deputies in the use Of
their revolvers, when and in what cir
cumstances they might use them. Plenty
Of arms were supplied at the mills, espe-
cially for regular guards at the gates !;
he did not know by whom.
James Sinclair. another employee from
Duquesne. Pa. said he was roller and
worked ten and half and eleven hours
a day. earning about s12 daily. Only
about per cent. OF the men at mis-
plant were out. He also had been sworn
as a deputy sheriff but not armed
Other employees brought here at the
request of the committee testified along
like lines.