Gunnison news-champion., 1919-10-03
STRIKE OR REVOLUTION,
N. Y, World.

No Senate Investigation OF the stee1
strike can do more than drag into the
light Of publicity all the facts relating
70 this industrial conflict.
Senator Kenyon, the author OF the
resolution under which the inquiry II
TO be held, suggests that out Of 1t
~may come some Legislation with larE-
er powers Of conciliation and nedi-
ation," but this il more than doubt
ful. II Congress had either the
authority or the desire to intervene
in that respect, no investigation would
be needed. The mere fact Of a strike
involving hundreds Of thousands OF
workers, which il continued very long
Il certain to derange the whole eco
nomic life Of the country. would be
sufficient justification for the legis-
lation that Senator Kenyon suggests.
Congressional Intervention can hard
ly 70 further than the presentation
Of the detailed facts to the court Of
public opinion. This is evidently no
ordinary strike. 1t has already taken
ON some of the aspects Of an economic
revolution. 1t is directed quite As
much against the conservative leaders
Of the american Federation of Labor
n against .tha sUnited States Steel
Corporation. No dellnite list OF
Rricvances was ever presented until
after the strike was ordered and when
the grievances appeared, most Of
them were SO vaguely general that
they seemed to have been framed as
an excuse for the strike and not for
the cause.
The committee in charge declared
at the same time that there was one
and only one question at issue and
that is the question Of conference
in Washington early in October and
the committee refused President VIII
sons request to delay the strike un-
til the conference had taken place.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick, the chairman of
of the committee, has boasted that
the real object Of the strike is ITO
socialize industry" Mr.. Foster, who
Is the director of the strike and rad
ical leader OF unusual ability was
formerly identified with the Industrial
Workers Of the World and is still a
believer in the doctrine Of that Bolsh-
evist organization, although he steadi-
~ insists that he is conducting this
particular class war by the rules Of
the American Federation of Labor.
Even if the strike is not primarily
a Soviet raid against the steel indus
try, it presents many of the indica-
tions Of such raid and therefore de-
fines an issue which admits of no sub
stantial ground for meditation and
Cancellation. Questions Of wages or
hours, or working conditions of the
like lend themselves readily to arbit-
ration, but questions. that involve the
socialikation Of great industry are
wholly different matters. One side
or the other must prevail. There is
no neutral zone in which they can
meet.
What the Senate committee can do
which is of the utmost public i'm
portsnce, is to determine from the
Testimony Of competent witnesses
how far this strike is due 70 real or
fancied grievances against the manner
in which labor has been treated by the
Steel Corporation, and how far It is
due to the ambitious schemes Of
Of radical agitators to siexe control
Of the American Federation Of Labor
'-and use It rs an instrument for im-
posing the Soviet principles upon in
duStry as whole.
/ The first thing to be established IL
whether this is strike Of dissatisfied
!, employees or whether It marks the
hrst step In economic revolution. II
the Senate Labor Committee does this
honestly and fairly It needs no other
exeiDe for IL fnyostigation that It
II aeDut to undsrtalke.
J W. Bailey was among Crested Butte
folln in town during the week.
oo