New-York tribune., 1919-10-04

dropped and the strike be left to the
strikers and the steel companies to
settle.
Foster Is Questioned
The committee to-day questioned
William L. Foster. secretary of the
strikers committee, regarding his at
titude toward violence in labor dis
putes, which he advocated several years
ago.
Mr.. Foster declared that he does not
entertain the same views now that he
did when he attended the |. w W. CON
vention at Budapest in 1901 and when
he advocated sabotage and syndicalism
seven and eight years ago.
In directing this strike Mr. Foster
said he was working under the direc-
ton of the twenty-four labor unions
conducting the strike, and he would
not be permitted to nculcate his for
mer principles into this strike. He and
Samuel Gompers. president Of the
American Federation Of Labor, were in
complete harmony in this strike, he
| told the committee.
Senator Kenyon asked Foster what
the general character of discussion of
strikes by the unions had been and
what were the nature of the mems
, complaints.
Il should say" Foster replied, the
chief of them concerned the lack of
what | may call industrial democracy
The men felt that they should have
more consideration. The men want
recognition that will give them voice
IN determining the conditions in which
they work, their hours and wages. That
regard as the fundamental in this
controversy. The men are making q
! q O1t to f.i1
. now they must go on with that effort"
You place collective bargaining
first said Senator Borah That the
basis Of the strike is the purpose to
establish that principle?"
Foster Has Changed Jews
THAT is large part of it. am
positive that if that right had been
recognized there would have been no
strike"
Senator Mcclellan, of Tennessee, sud
denly asked:
"Mr. Foster, do you favor organized
governments 2?
Foster laughed
The Senator handed him copy Of
the little red book on syndicaIism
which bears Fosters name as one of
the authors
Are you the author of that book 2"
or nine years ago. am one Of those
VINO nave come from the slums. | have
llved life of hard experience. have
seen the worst side Of many things,
have known many things with which
could not agree. | was at one time
follower and advocate of the syndi-
calist system. Since then | have be-
-~ome little less inpatient and ex-
j treme in my views in fact, q great
InS
or the policies and principles of union
ISM as they are practised in the United
States and England"
His Views Not an Issue
81 have no desire whatever TO do you
any injustice, Mr.. Foster" said SEN
ator Mcclellan. "Mr Gompers has told
the committee that your views have
been changed since you wrote that
And he is right" replied Foster, en-
phatlcally. 81 am not going to- make
an issue in this campaign of nv per
sonal views
"Thc conduct of the strike has been
in no wise affected by my personal
views. It IS quite possible that at
times even Mr.. Gompers may not agree
with all the policies and proceedings
of the American Federation of Labor.
however influential he is in it, Neither
do /. but have avoided following
ideas contrary to its doctrines, because
am convinced that its methods are
those best calculated to improve the
lot of the workingman. | am willing
to stand or fall on what have done.
Il want to say this" he added, "the
date of the last issue Of my book, so
far as know, was 1911 In the last
few weeks thousands Of copies have
been circulated through the steel dis
H..
but the price Of those that have been
circulated is given as 25 cents. | sup
pose in order to show me as CRATER y
Repudiatcs His Book
DO you mean TO say the mill owners
nave secured copies and are having
the book republshed and circulated %.
asked Senator Phipps.
- would create that impression.'
sud Foster.
Cant you fix tho time when YOU
underwent change Of vicws"' Senator
Sterling asked
"a couldn't say" replied Foster
Some of them ! still believe and some
! don't"
What you still believe in?" asked
Senator Mckellar
81 really don't believe / could defend
any OF it," Foster replied. After pro
'onSeu questioning by senators Borah
and Kenyon Foster said that he does
not now entertain the views "as ex-
pressed in the book He said that in
stead of syndicalism he now believes
in unionism, but that he does not be
hcvc in bloodshcd or violence
Claims 80 Per Cent Arc Out
IN reply to questions by Senator
Phipps Foster said that more than &C
Of