New-York tribune., 1919-09-18
Postponement of Walk.
out Would Wreck the
Union Organization, Is
Committees Decision
No Picketingg, g,
Says Fitzpatrick
Gary, Explaining Stand,
Asserts Unions Would
Cause Industrial Decay
Staff Corresrondencs

Staff Cores spo,dencs
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 17--When the
minute hand Of the clock indicates
that midnight of next Sunday is past
ana Monday morning has begun, the
long preparation strike of all men
animated with the American Fedora
ton of Labor in the whcle steel max
ing industry of America, in all it's
ramlfications and connections. will be-
gin. This was the unqualified informa-
ton given out this afternoon by John
Fitzpatrick, chairman of the COM
mittee OF twenty-four. representing
the twentyfour international unions
involved in steel making. which met
today to make plans for the strike.
u have not a word to say" said
Mr.. Fitzpatrick, after the committee
acjourned for the day, except that
the strike viii! go on at midnight Sum
day night
Calls Decision IrrevOcabIe
us that decision irrevocable? ?" he
was asked
1T is," was the answer
will President Gompers be here to
attend to-morrow's sessions of the
committee :" was another question.
he VIII not be here" was the em-
phatic answer, to which was added the
assertion that he had not been tele-
graphed to come. though 1t was cur
rently reported that the national labor
leader had been urged to be here to-
morrow to express the opposition he is
pelleVed to entertain TO strike now.
Will Not Picket Plants
y. IN answer to other questions Mr..
Fitzpatrick said:
picketing the plants. There will be
no need for pickets. The men will go
fishing and leave the mills to Mr.. Gary
and has mill guards and professional
gunner, and let them run them if thew
can cant tell you how many men
Will obey the strike order. if / were
to give figure would be lying be-
cause | don't know"
Mr.. Fitzpatrick is not a representa-
tive of any union, but is an officer of
the American Federation of Labor dele
gated, as one Of its organizers TO con-
ouct the organization Of the steel in
dustry employees and preside over the
meetings Of the committee made UP of
enc representative from each Of the in
ternational unions having members
among the steel workers. He describes
i'i'hoSii tH tl4S UOSS-
Word came from ChicSeo tonight
that steel workers unions in that dis
trlct had been instructed TO prepare
Tor walkout next Monday. These in
structlons, II was said. were received
oy Theodore Wind from the committee
IN session here. Wind is the head Of
the South Chicago Trades and Labor
Assembly. The same authority sent
word that many steel mills in the Chi
cago district were placarded to-day
with posters announcing that the steel
strike would 90 INTO effect at 6 o'clock
d. m. Monday.
Gary Explains Position
Coincldent with the assembling of
the representatives. Of the union steel
workers the Carnegie Steel COMPANY
made pubic letter from +. II. Gary.
chairman Of the cns,-d States Steel
Corporation. to the presidents of sub
sldiary companies giving the reasons of
the corporation for refusing to deal
with labor unions and explaining it's
policy toward employees
Judge Gary said that he refused to
go INTO conference, first, because he
did not believe tl.ose who asked it were
authorized 70 speak for large numbers
Of rne corporations employees. and, sec
ond, because sucn conference might
De regarded as recogultlUI, ef the
closed shop Further, the letter oe-
1enced the open shop, and expressed
the determination Of the company to
provide wages and working conditions
Tor lis employees that shall compare
favorably with the highest standards Of
propriety and justice"
Hope Is Still Held Out
Notwithstanding the c!ean-cut .r-
hoMcement by Mr. Fitzpatrick shat the
strike would begin according to sched-
u'e next Monday morning and his decli
latlon TO say whether the question of
postponlng the strike until after the
Wh Ie House aber conference called
tor Oc ober had been taken up bv the
committee, there was feeline that
something would happen yet 10 shift
the scenes and that the positive an
uncement that the strike would pro-
seed according to programme was per-
maps IN the nature of feint to cover
some unknown move. There was an
expectation that Samuel Gompers would
/. nave something to say before the de-
cision.
1t was learned that there was LONG
and earnest discussion of President
Wilson'S suggestion that the strike be
deferred until after the industrial con-
conference, although the meeting was
caiied lor the single purpose Of getting
ready for the strike. The discussion
brought out sharp line of cleavage
between some, If not most. of the presi-
dents OF the international unions and
ehe oVer"hel Inning ma ority of the or.
! ganl2ing committee.
Some Leaders Want DELAY
according to the best available in.
FORMATION, the presidents OF the unions
,i.. meme toward postponement, aid have