The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-18
STEEL WORKERS TO
WALK OUT MONDAY
AS DECIDED UPON,
SAYS FITZPATRICK
No Action Taken at Yester-
days Meeting to Postpone
Strike and the Decision
Reached Last Week
Not to Be Revoked


Pittsburg, September II.
When the national committee
for organizing iron and steel
workers, which met here today
to consider matters in connec-
ton with the proposed strike of
steel workers, adjourned to-
night until tomorrow morning,
John Fitzpatrick, chairman Of
the committee, made the UNI
equivocal stt-tement that t..e
Nalkout would take place next
Monday morning as already de-
cided upon.
He said no action was taken at to-
days meeting to postpone the strike,
and that the decision reached at WASH
ington last week would not be re-
voked. Mr.. Fitzpatrick said a state
ment would be issued tomorrow.
Tho meeting discussed the question
of postponing the walkout until after
the Industrial conference in Washing
ton beginning October 6, as requested
by President Wilson, but arguments
were made against postponemens on
the ground that the steel workers,
having gone so far IN their campaign
for settlement of grievances by coll
lective bargaining. cannot now turn
back
FEW DETAILS GIVEN
Few details of the meeting were
men were kept away from the meet
ing room. A report was circulated
that Samuel Gompers, president OF the
American Federation of Labor, had
been wired to come here tomorrow, bus
Chairman Fitzpatrick tonight said the
report was not true. Mr.. Gompers, ac-
cord.rg to report, is not unfavorable
to postponement if it will not work
injury to tho steel workers.
Chairman Fitzpatrick was asked if
tho strikers would picket the steel
plants.
mo. there will be no picketing; the
mon will go fishing" he said "HHe
will leave the mill guards and pro-
fessional gunner to run the plants"
letter from E II. Gary, chairman
OF tie United States Steel corporation,
to the presidents OF subsidiary COM
panies, made public hare today. gives
tho reasons OK the corporation for re-
( fusng TO meet with the union leaders
TO discuss the affairs of it's employees.
These reasons are along the line given
the union leaders in New York several
weeks ago when Chairman Gary re-
fused to meet a committee .represei.t-
ing the unions. The letter added that
sit is the settled determination of
the United States Steel Corporation
and it's subsidiaries that the wages
and working conditions of their en-
ployes shall compare favora bly, with
he he St . nj Ia ri Of OF Il
justice"
The letter. dated New York. Sep
tember Is. is as follows, in part:
TEXT OF LETTER
mot long since l respectfully de-
clined to meet for the purpose of dis
cussing matters pertaining to labor at
our various plants a number of gen
tlemen representing certain labor
unions.
"The declination was made for two
reasons: First. because / did not be-
lieve the gentlemen were authorized TO
speak for large numbers of our en-
pioyes. whose interests and wishes
are of prime importance. Secondly,
because conference with these men
would have been treated by them as
a recognition of the closed shop
method of employment. We do rot
combat labor unions as such. We 10
not negotiate with labor unions. ce-
cause it would indicate the closing of
our shops against non-union labor. an l
largo numbers of our workmen are not
members of unions and do not care
to be
"The principle of open shop is vital
to the greatest industrial progress and
prosperity. 1t is of equal benefit to
employer and employe. 1t means thai
every man may engage in any line of
employment that he selects. and under
such terms as he and the employer
may agree upon; that he may arrange
for the kind and character of work
which he believes will bring to MIN
the largest compensation and the most
satisfactory conditions, depending
upon his own merit and disposition.
THE CLOSED shop means that no man
can obtain employment in that shop ex-
cept through union terms and conditions
imposed by labor unions. He is COM
PEELED to Join the union and to submit
to the dictation of it's leader before he
can enter the place of business. If he
joins the union he is then restricted by
its leader as to place of work, hours of
work fand, therefore, amount of COM
pensationl and advancement in the po-
sition, regardless of merit; and some
times. by the dictum of the union leadre.
called out and prevented from work for
days or weeks, although he has no real
grievance. and he ana mis- family are
tcentinned en- Page TAirt~en)