Evening star., 1919-09-25
spondsd. and that his efforts had

sponded.. .and that his efforts had
been fruatlsss."
Bitter Against estate Trooper"
-Tn tell you now that no one can
tell where this thing will STOP" Tits-
patrick declared, resuming his nara
tive. III tho authorities Of the state
Of Pennsylvania keep up their tactics.
Why. they've even ridden these Cos
sacks into the kitchens OF strikers to
break them up@
what do you mean by Cossacks7 r
Senator Kenyon asked.
THE state constabulary." Eitxpat-
rick said.
These state troopers, he said. had
ridden down crowds ana pulled
speakers on platforms"
What are these constahulary troops
maintained forr' Senator Kenyon
asked.
They are . strike breaking outfit;
that's what they do" Fitzpatrick re-
piled. He insisted that men were
being arrested and held without trial
or charges being laid against them,
and read q series Of affidavits bearing
on incidents at DuQuesne, Pa, which
he said indicated the practice.
The afhdavits. Senator Walcott said
were not very Illuminating"
Fitzpatrick continued. ''the opposition
is simply unimaginable. Two nen
can't talk on the street. In Clarion,
DuQuesne and Homestead authorities
are denying all rights to the men.
Troopers ride into the houses and
trample our men,"
At South Chicago. Indiana Harbor.
Gary and other western steel manu-
featuring points. he said mot q blow
has been struck, because the menARre
not harassed by the authorities.
I'VE feel that this serike is neces-
sary to sustain the authority of the
President of the United States" Fitz-
patrick said. ''He asked for a con-
ference, and the head OF company
which was maintaining an armed
force in the United States refused. So
the men in the mills saw it was neces-
sary to sustain the Presidents pres
tige."
son you called this strike was that Mi.
Gary refused a conference" Senator
Jones, democrat, New Mexico, said,
"and whe nyou called the strike you
called 1t in all plants, whether the
Steel Corporation owned them or not"
ganized.'' Fitzpatrick replied. with
out regard to the name on the door"
He enumerated demands for the eight
hour day. abolition Of physical examina-
ton for workmen. collective BARGAINING
and other points which he said the steel
unions had presented.
you've stressed tho respect for the
Presidents requests, which you said
you hold" said Senator Phipp9. why
didn't you comply with his request for
delay until tho Industrial conference
1--WE told him why We could not," /"
Fitzpatrick replied.
Horseshoer by Trade.
Fitzpatrick gave his personal history
to the comri ittee. stating he is
a horseshoer by trade, but for about
sixteen years has been president Of the
Chicago Federation Of Labor and an
organizer for the American Federation
Of Labor. Senator Phipps, republican,
Of Colorado, pressed the witness Wig
orously regarding his knowledge of the
steel industry. Fitzpatrick said he had
had no experience in the mills.
Are you familiar with the scales Of
wages?" asked Senator Phipps.
NO" the witness replied. These
records are at the Amalgamated Tin
Workers headquarters"
do you know the rates Oft pay; what
rollers, helpers, hookers or other
classes Of workmen received. on the
.vsssss' sEs's
do you know the rates paid
ordinary day labor?'
mo. In the Chicago district 1t is
as low as 10 cents an hour"
is that less than paid other un-
skilled labor in that district"
.Oh. my. yes. think So"
Paid More Than 40 Cents.
do you mean to say that ordinary
unskilled labor in the Chicago dis
:trict gets patd moro than 40 cents?'
"oh. year s
personally and actually seen the con-
ditions under which the men work
and learned the character Of this
work. ~ 5
can get in tie mills. We visit the
Then your testimony Of actual
working conditions and Of wages il
based on hearsay?"
Its general information. published
"You have stated" Senator Phipps
continued, "that the men receive q
mere pittance' of wages-what a
pauper would receive. Do you think
that is q fair statement of the situa-
tion, from what you have been told ?"
Yes. I think 20. The way I reach
day. Home life Is de-
.stroyed, You break down the life Of
the wife and children.
''It In not q question Of money. We
don't want the money. What we want
is happiness and we can't get happi-
ness with the twe1ve-hour day.
What per cent Of the men work
the twelve hour shift?'' Senator
Phipps asked.
Basis Of Steel Industry.
THAT il the basis Of operation in
the steel industry" Fitzpatrick an
swered. '~The fact il that u very few
skilled men work eight hours. These
may get $50. $40 or even $50 q day"
You wouldn't call that mere pit
tance.' would your? Senator Phipps
"Yes. I would" said Fitzpatrick,
considering the way they've got to
earn 1t. It's worse than a mere pit
tance. Thousands upon thousands Of
men, however. are doing the roughest,
hardest sort Of work twelve hours q
day for 10 cents an hour"
Senator Phipps asked II the A #.
of l. had attempted organisation Of
the unskilled workers in the steel in
dustry.
"Yes, continuously" Fitzpatrick re-
piled. "but the opposition and control
of the towns in western Penngylvania
are such that organisations can't oper-
ate. Mems civil and legal rights are
showed aside. The autocracy Of this
corporation dominates the situation
Men are crushed and Respondent. They
can't raise their heads. We feel that
it II q dangerous situation and men,
ace tn this government"