Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-12
JUSTICE SWIFT
IN DEALING WITH
STRIKERS, CLAIM
# They Are Not Working It's
''Ten Days or Ten Dollars, .
When Arraignedi Workers
Are Allowed to Go Free,


Pittsburgh, Pa, Oct 11.-Suike
where the steel controversy is being
waged were given almost the entire
day by the senate investigating COM
mlttee in an attempt TO prove the as
sertion Of j. G. Brown. one of the
union organizers, that the long arm
of the steel trust has reached into the
government of western Pennsylvania
TO strangle the workingman's right of
free speech and free assemblage.
I'VE can't meet anywhere in rented
halls" Brown said. referring to Du-
quesne, McKeespurt, Clarion and
other steel towns. "One way or an
other they have closed us off. If 1t
isn't the burgess, it's the sheriff, and
if it isn't the sheriff it's the board of
health"
w r. Rubin, attorney for the ma
tional strike committee, backed him
up by calling three attorneys who
have assisted him, according TO testi-
mony, in trying to defend before po-
lice courts some scores of strikers ar
rested
There isn't much use in trying
O. =
clared. THE troopers or the special
police arrest our men on any sort of
pretext and the magistrates put them
through the mil fast. If they are
strikers, it's $40 and ten days, and If
they are working it's Clear out OF
here
Senators Walsh of Massachusetts
and Sterling of South Dakota. both
lawyers, questioned the legal wit
nesses. bringing out details of the
process. Rubin and his assistants
protested that appeals were almost
impossible. Mike Mestrovitch, a
miner and an union organizer who
testified that he had been arrested at
Clarion, told his own story on the
point.
"The state constabulary took me
up" he said. for trying to hold
meeting, and when they brought me
to Jail in Pittsburgh they used my au-
tomobile and hauled prisoners with Ii
for few days. They let me out on
bail finally, and then | got this letter.
He produced ietIer. written In red
with a typewriter, warning him to
leave the country. and signed the
"Vigilance Committee"
Now my life is in danger # I stay"
ne SiliN, ana / IDflt3t :A,t'oF "a I &N't~
Andrew Pido, a Clarion worker,
said he had told a striker who decided
to go back to work to watch out or
you will get hit with brick" He
lad been promptly arrested, he said,
and when he was taken to jail the
threatened man was invited to come
into his cell land knock his block
off
"Ue did too" Pido said
Matt O'Reilly an assistant roller in
rod mill at Donora. was called by
the committee independently of the
union representatives.
"We are striking for better working
conditions. eight hours and the right
of free speech" he tod the commit
tee Senator McKellar of Tennessee
asked how much he earned. and
O'Reilly said he averaged about SIG
day
That's mighty good wages SEN
ator McKellar remarked, almost as
much as a senator gets, Why does
man who earns that much take a
chance on his job"
II would be willing to take less and
work fewer hours" O'Reilly re-
sponded.
Senators Kenyon and Mckellar put
every witness almost through a cate
chsm to develop the percentage of
foreign born participating in the
strike, and drew estimates that from
so to 10 per cent of the strikers could
be so classed
1--WE will try and pass some laws to
get more Americanization before we
get through" Senator McKellar told
witnesses.
Chairman Kenyon adjourned the
session until 2 p m. Sunday, explain
ing that the committee planned to
return to Washington Sunday night to
allow members to vote on amend
ments proposed to the peace treaty
now before the senate.