Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-02
URGES VITAL RIGHT
OF WORKER IS ISSUE
Steel Trust Chairman Declares
Strike Not Wanted by
Employees.
ORGANIZED FROM OUTSIDE
Tells Committee His Company's
Men Best-Paid and Best
Treated in World.
tBy Associated Press.l

WASHINGTON, w Oct. 1.-Declaring
that the question OF the open shop
the right of man to work irrespec-
tive of whether he was member OF
labor union-was the issue in the
nationwide steel strike. Judge Elbert
H., Gary. chairman Of the board of
the United States Steel Corporation,
told the Senate committee investigat-
ing the strike today that his corpora
ton would never yield. Even now. he
said, the strike is falling.
There was no reason for this strike"
said Judge Gary. The men did not
want IT. 1t was forced on them from
the outside by the organizers OF labor
unions. The open shop is the question
herc-the right to bring about fullest
production with only the interests of
the employee, the employer and the
public in sight"
Labor leaders. he told the committee,
were seeking to unionize all industry
De successful, he asserted, Industrial
decay would follow
Says Condition Mcncces England.
1T means the condition I fear Eng
Iaha no, Is In today" he added. though
Judge Gary had not concluded his
testimony tonight and will be examined
hour today to several employees Of
the corporations mills, who told the
committee they knew OF no reason for
who who voluntarily responded to the strike
call were mortly foreigners and one
OF them. John j. Martin. YOUNGSTOWN
National Steel Workers Committee.
II think John Fitzpatrick chairman
OF the workers committee), with w
as an able assistant. is heading band
or buccaneers who will overthrow this
soyernment ss,d MaeI,, IL they are not stopped"
himself formerly was union man
They are engaged in scuttling the
American Federation of Labor"
ers at Youngstown. American and for
eigners alike, had been terrorized bv
threats to burn houses and kill chill.
Had Much Hcnrsay Evidence.
Judge Gary also said that the COM
pany had much hearsay evidence that
such threats had been made against
men VINO would not join in the strike
Gary reviewed conditions leading Ie
10 the strike and discussed at length
ms refusal to meet the steel workers
national committee.
mittee. he said. would have been a
departure from the company's policy
and would have damaged the prestise
OF Mn the caps opSnibshop bInspo 9oliey
Sary prushed aside the charges
mad mistreatcd its men with the state
wert wenIa that In no basic industry in the
paid higher wages eu Ut
Although pressed by Senator Ken
yon. @ chairman % of the committee. Chair
by PRESIDENT Wilson to bring about
aa aatio5 ndeTTSca1nding eTc15,l between the corpo
and avert helaes the ssrihe aaa the union leaders
When the President communicates
iMsn4 eouptes1 Pteyste fos etTenr ths he said. 1T
proached to say what the communica-
ton was"
Limit Comes to High Wages.
+, referring at the end of the day to
dnd, ms g genera! sra view OF the situation.
The general public now requires in
creased Drcase q, :, p production. In. They may even
limit set by the Willingness of workere r
and az their health. But there is no use
easens ao9us wages and
time roaring abou. rising prices
an,ndn am In favor of high wages but there
In my views prices are too high
right now The right way to do is 70
iast IaNer The1 Them hrss and decrease wages
industry. u Tue steer
No Truth in Charges.
1T has been. charged that during
the tn pending p strike the subsidiary COM CONF
and l,, ,mistreating strikers '"s
-, there isn't vestige OF truth in
that tis, statement Photographs we're
u,spiayed , here, and it was said a wo-
been posted iieh aft oven his photograph has
Line over t.. Mrs. Fannie .;neIlins:
poay shoulishly mistreated by the |
steel trusts fendsh crew
She was shot at BrcckinridEe, Ia.
" we nave no works there. no men there
~ ~ she was Killed. it was without even
or any OF its employees" Nv"