New-York tribune., 1919-09-26
ct ths4strike. .hutsthat thsy* never were


when Judge Gary refused to rrsnt !.
conference TO representatives Of tho
workers SO that they could present the
demands and discuss their grievances.
Fitzpatrick said he thought he ana
his associates did all they could to
avert the strike. but the Steel Corpora
t'on OFFICIALS -evaded their citizenshin
responsibility"
III Mr.. Gary would submit to a con-
terence now, would not that end tho
striKe Z! asked Senator Kenyon.
No. replied Fitzpatrick.
"lf the companies agree to refer al,
differences to arbitration, would It not
end the striker"
Yes" replied Fitzpatrick. eve
would b willing to submit our griev-
anees n to board appointed by the
Would you he willing, If that were
done. to call of the strike ?" pursued
the Senator.
II have no authority to call off the
strike" said Fitzpatrick. "That must
be done by the national committee.
But from my knowledge of the men
would be willing to send the men back
to the mills on that basis"
Have Even Horses Trained
Mr.. Fitzpatrick blamed the police
and municipal authorities in Western
Pennsylvania for the violence that has
accompanied the strike in that district.
and particularly the Pennsylvania state
constabulary.
"They even have their horses trained
to know union men," he told the COM
mittee in all seriousness. Asked how
many state police there we're in the
PiftqhOrrh diotrtrt ho oo;d %AuA
very many were required. at takes
only six or seven of them to handle
crowd Of 1000 or 5000 men," he said.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick said that a large ma
jority of the employees of the steel
mills were common laborers. They re-
ceive 40 cents an hour, and work twelve
hours day and seven days a week,
he said.
The skilled workers in the mills re-
ceive from $40 to $50 day, the strike
leader admitted, but he said that there
was one $50 day man to every five
thousand common laborers. The fam
lilies even of the $50 day employees
have no pleasures, he declared, while
the common laborers worked for less
money than the United Charities of
Chicago figured pauper's family re-
quired.
The witness agreed to furnish the
committee with the numbers of union
and non-union men in the various
plants who voted for and against the
strike. Senator Jones suggested that
the figures might show that Judge
Gary was warranted in claiming that
the labor leaders did not really repre-
sent his employees.
Terrorism "Already On"
The fact that about SAC, ,OOO men are
now striking shows that we did repre-
sent them,' replied the witness.
Judge Gary, however. would not con-
cede that we represented his employees
and the only way to prove it was to cal
the strike and close the mills The
programme of terrorism was already
on and we had to tell the men that if
they wanted to save themselves and
their cause they must leave the mills.
eve have doubled our membership
since the strike began. We allowed the
on-unlon men to vote as we'll as the
union men on the question Of strik-
ing, using separate box. The nom
union men voted Just about 100 per
cent for the strike. l was informed
that only two voted against it,
THE men waited until the war was
over before they asked that their
grievances be heard, and then were
refused even hearing. When we got
the case to President Wilson he thought
that we were entitled to the conference
and promised to help US get it. We had
ten days-from August 20 to August 80
to put the strike in effect
Met by Gary's Refusal
about August 20 we got to the
President. He was not willing to act
until we would assure him that we
Il }.,l
was arranged We told him we could
do that and he asked Judge Gary to
meet us, but Judge Gary refused"
Did the President tell you that he
tried TO arrange the conference ?"
asked Senator Kenyon. Did he tell you
that Judge Gary refused, although he
was asked by the President ?"
Yes. we gathered from the Presi-
dent that Judge Gary had refused. If
condltlons continue as they are in
Western Pennsylvania now. you can be
assured that the strike will not be con-
fined to the steel workers alone. If
the authorities in Pennsylvania refuse
to recognize the rights of the people
IN the steel districts, there is no tell
ing what will happen"
The strike leader told of violence in
Homestead, Clarion, Duquesne. Nc
keesport, Rankin and Grafton, Penn.
Sought to Sustain" Wilson
Senators Phipps and Jones sought to
learn whether the strike is DEVELOPED
only against the United States Steel
Corporation or against all steel indus
tries. Fitzpatrick said the strike was
ordered against the steel industry gen
orally.
I've feel that we are making an eff
tort to sustain the President of the
United States" declared the witness.
me corporation organized an army
of its own and the President is unable
TO get hearing. The men insist that
the President of the United State
ought to be espected"
Then it would appear that because
Judge Gary refused a conference YOU
ordered 9 strike of the entire industry,
whether it involved merely the United
States Steel Corporation or not?
cIroI