The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-09-11
Department of Justice Will
Act if Federal Laws are
Violated, Palmer
Says.
MEN REFUSE TO DELAY
Union Charges Campaign OF Brutal
Murders Through Use OF Pro
fessional Gunmen and
Thugs
CBy Ralph H. Couch, United Press
Staff Correspondent

rBy Ralph H Couch, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11.-Attor-
ney General Palmer today began
studying working conditions IN the
steel mill districts as union officials
went ahead perfecting plans TO
handle the nationwide strike set for
September %.
"If federal laws are violated, the
department of justice will act" said
| Palmer.
Union leaders charge that constr
i tutional guarantees of the rights q
| free speech and free assembly nave
ibeen nullified in western Pennsyl.
lEania at the behest or the United
States Steel corporation. The steer
workers say this is why it became
necessary for them to refuse the re-
quest of President Wilson that strike
action be deferred until October,
when labor and capital will meet
here in a round table, conference.
Palmer let it be known today he
has been In touch for several weeks
with conditions in the Pennsylvania
mill districts, where, the unions
charge, the steel companies have
been conducting campaign OF
brutal murders" through use OF
professional gunner and thugs,
employed as guards.
! Governor Sproul has Informed the
attorney general he had the situation
well in hand"
Backed by the American Fedora
ton of Labor, union officials here
and on their way to Pittsburgh today
prepared for a finish fight with the
United States Steel corporation to
! force recognition of their union.
Chairman Gary of the steel cor
poration, said our unions do not truly
represent his employees" said Chair
man John Fitzpatrick, of the COM
mittee THAT is the reason he gave
for refusing to meet us.
1--WE are going to strike to show
him our claims are justified and that
we do not represent the workers"
Although Fitzpatrick refused to
volunteer an estimate OF the number
of workers subject to the strike
call, he said 100000 to 100000 was a
good estimate"
Fitzpatrick today was getting in
touch with 100 union organizers scat
tered through districts where officials
expect the hardest battles OF the
strike.
Union officials believe they can
shut off the corporations ore supply
by tieing up it's big fleet of steam
ships through a sailors strike.
No Turning Back.
WASHINGTON, Sept II. - With
government officials trying to avert
tho steel strike called for Septemb eT
%, union leaders today declared there
would be no turning back until the
employers capitulated.
Other developments in the threat
ened walkout were: Attorney General
Palmer began study of conditions in
the steel mill districts in some OF
which the men charge the rights OF
| free speech and free assembly have
| been violated.
John F'itz Patrick, head of the steel
mems organization, declared he had
not seen President Wilson's telegram
asking postponement of the strike &C
| ton until after the round table" con
| ference here October sixth.
| The presidents telegram reached
the office of President Gompers Of the
! American Federation of Labor this
morning and was forwarded to Com
pers at Dorchester, Mass.
Fitz Patrick, who leaves for Chicago
! today, announced a meeting of the
| twenty-four steel union presidents
next Wednesday at Pittsburgh, where
strike headquarters will be estab
| lished.