Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-19
STEELWORKERS GIVE
REASONS FOR STRIKE
[Continucd from First Page. ]

yet, out of patriotic consideration to
our cause, they endured the con-
tinued suffering without cessation of
their labors to the end that despot-
ism abroad might not gain thereby
aid and comfort.
9S Per Cent. For Strike
Immediately after armistice was
declared, the men insisted upon hav-
ing their wrongs righted. They were
Spersuaded, however, to wait until
the Atlantic City convention of the
American Federation of Labor, held
lin June, 1919. Following a report
made to that convention, Mr.. Com
pers sought a conference with Mr..
Gary. chairman of the finance COM
mittee of the United States Steel
Corporation, on that subject in the
hope of avoiding grave industrial
conflict. Mr.. Gompers, whose con-
structive patriotism is beyond any
question, was denied even the cour-
tesy of a reply. Then the men in
sisted upon action. and. following
authorization for taking a vote upon
a strike, beginning with July 20 and
ending August 20 this year, 90 per
cent of the men voted for a strike.
Fol! lowing the vote taken, a COM
mittee representing the crafts in
volved went to Mr.. Gary for the pur-
pose of obtaining a conference, In
the hope of avoiding the strike. Mr.
Gary refused to see the committee
or deal with any one of them. The
committee, still desirous of avoiding
the conflict. laid the entire matter
before the executive council of the
American Federation of Labor. Mr..
Gompers and the executive council
endorsed the actions of the men.
Nevertheless, in the hope of avert
ing conflict, an appeal was made
to Your Honor
Mr.. Gary, obstinate in his denial
to grant relief. caused such a great
unrest as to necessitate calling a
meeting of the presidents of the "a
crafts involved. After a thorough,
calm and deliberate review and
study of the entire situation, taking
into consideration all the conse-
quences that would naturally flow
therefrom, these "a presidents, rep
resenting over 100000 organized
men, endorsed the strike and set
September % as the date therefor.
Gives Eleven Reasons
In meeting called on Septem-
Der II at Pittsburgh Of the repre-
sentatives of the aforesaid crafts for
the purpose of devising ways and
means of conducting the strike, your
lIlIOuBn MT. COM
pers requesting that the date of the
strike be postponed was received.
Two days of consideration were
given TO the same. Everyone pres
ent desired, if it were possible. to
comply with your request. Your re-
quest for postponement would have
been gladly granted, were it not for
the following facts:
'1-Mr. Gary has asserted that his
men need no trained representation
in their behalf in presenting their
grievances, notwithstanding that
they can neither economically. by
lack of means, nor intelligently, by
lack of schooling, cope with him or
his representatives
2-That, ever since the men
started to organize, n systematic
persecution was instituted begin
ming with discharge and ending with
murder, recalling to US wildly the
days of Homestead and the reign of
despotism in Russia.
Free Speech Suppressed
"S-Through the efforts of the
representatives of the steel industry,
officials in various localities have de-
MED the men from assembly and
free speech. Instances are too nu-
merous where meetings have been
suppressed, men arrested, tried on
various unfounded charges, exces-
sive bail required and cruel punish
ment imposed, all without warrant
in law and justice.
"4-As one of many examples-in
the city of McKeesport, a meeting
held by the men within their con-
stitutional rights was broken up and
men arrested and thrown into Jail,
charged with riot and held to the
excessive bail of $4,000 each, while
one of the hirelings of the steel in
dustry arrested for the murder of a
woman speaker at Breckenridge,