The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-18
Nationwide Steel Walkout Mon
day Seems Inevitable.
Men Will Go Out, Union Lead
ers Declare Today.
IN A REPLY TO JUDGE GARY
Ask Him if He Is Willing To
Pay the Price.
Conference at Pittsburgh Is Ar
ranging All Details.

Pittsburgh, Sept. 1s.-Before re-
suming their discussion today on mat
ters in connection with the steel
workers strike, called for next Mon
day. the national committee for or
ganizing iron and steel workers, issued
a statement that having failed to OBJ
tain a conference with the United
States Steel Corporation. the last and
only hope is to strike until such time
as the corporation will meet the rep
resentatives of the men.
"Men VIII Strike"
The men are going to strike. 1
can see nothing now that will stop
them" was the statement of both
John Fitzpatrick. chairman, and w
z. Foster, secretary of the steel mems
committee, as the heads of twenty
four unions went into conference here
today.
The meeting today, Fitzpatrick said,
was not to discuss whether there
should be a strike. Its purpose is, to
lay out a program and establish de-
tails of the strike.
Just before going into session the
steel committee issued a statement re-
plying to the letter of Judge Gary. in
which he said he refused a conference
because he did not believe the COM
mittee was authorized to speak for a
large number of employees and also
because such recognition would estab-
lish the "closed shop"
Worth the Price?
'If these are the real reasons actu-
ating Judge Gary, surely they are not
sufficient to plunge the Industry into
a great labor conflict" the statement
said.
Judge Gary presents a false prem
Use and then declares that he will
stand or fall upon this false ground.
1t is unfortunate that the employees are
compelled to resort to a strike to prove
the authority of their selected repre-
sentatives to present their grievances.
But as there is no other way, the
proof, in the form of a strike. will ef-
fectually remove all doubt in Judge
Gary's mind"
The morning conference of the
twenty-four international presidents
adjourned at 1880 with delegates still
standing firm for strike. Chairman
Fitzpatrick declared there was moth
ing further to announce and that the
conference would be resumed at $3.50
this afternoon.
Promptly at 6 O'Clock next Mon.
day morning steel workers will leave
their posts and remain away until
Judge Gary accedes to the demands
of the men," Fitzpatrick declared.
Some delegates fear result of the
conference at Washington in event the
strike is postponed. One representa-
tive characterized postponement al
this time until after October as
placing ourselves in the maws of the
mill owners" another said I'VE would
not dare face our men back home aft
er displaying such weak hearts. The
time to strike is now and strike we
must"
After the session late today, the
delegates will repair to their respect
va hnrpne ahiaCf n u1adfafa IL
I'VE will leave the mills to Gary
and his gunmen Monday morning and
see If they can run them" Fitzpatrick
said after the meeting closed. with a
bitter denunciation of Gary's recent
letter to the unionists refusing to
( grant an audience.
Gompers Can't Stop 1t?
Both Fitzpatrick and Foster insisted
that there was no possibility of Presi-
dent Gompers of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor intervening and pre-.
Contiued an Page Five