The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-25
A. F. of L. Initiated 1t.


Chairman Kenyon.
NO" Fitzpatrick replied.
A f. of L. Initiated 1t.
about that time-October, 1915
the steel corporation was resorting to
every effort to force action. on the
part of the men or of the labor organl-
zation to spread their influence. They
announced esta blishment of the eight
hour day and we knew that was an ef-
fort to prevent our organization
Senator Jones, Democratic, New
Mexico asked whether the employees
had made application to the American
Federation of Labor for organization
or whether the movement had been
initiated by the American Federation
fLabor.
THE American Federation Of Labor
initiated the movement" Fitzpatrick
was there no movement of the
men inviting the organization? 2 asked
Senator Jones' ..,
mo. only as the men met in differ
ent localities and expressed their de-
sires."
why was it incumbent on the
American Federation of Labor to or
ganize the steel Industry" asked SEN
ator Jones.
Blot on Labor, He Said.
"It was a bad spot in the industrial
situation" Fitzpatrick replied In
the steel industry the hours are log,
the wages small and the treatment
you can't describe the treatment.
These conditions, he added, led
other large employers to consider I'M
posing similar conditions on their
employees and so. for the benefit of or
1ganized workmen everywhere in the
country, organization of the steel in
dustry was deemed essential by the
leaders of the labor movement
QN0DlOVRd
the steel mills?" asked Senator Ken
yon.
I'VE figure 100000" Fitzpatrick re-
piled.
Continuing his statement, Fitzpat-
rick said, 1.-The steel corporation final
| ly gave assurances that 1t would es-
tablish the eight-hour day, but the
steel workers paid no attention"
First Felt at McKeesport.
| Demands kept coming from Youngs-
town and Pittsburgh that organizers
! be sent to help them, he said. THE
first offensive was met in McKeesport
| We were told there we could have no
meetings in rented halls or lots. We
went to McKeesport and put the mat
mayor said we could not meet there
| and the city council said the mayor
had full authority"
This was in October. 1918. Fitz-
patrick said. and the issue was brought
to Washington.
president Gompers of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor wrote the
mayor and the governor of Pennsyl-
va.nia, he continued. There was no
answer"
| Tells of Staying of Woman.
Fitzpatrick told of the staying of
/ Mrs. Fannie Snellings.
Our information is that the killing
n 1T,
said.
DO these men act for the steel
company. rather than the public ~
Senator Walsh, Massa chusetts, asked.
they use,'' the witness replied.
They made an example of Mrs.
Snellings to put the fear of God in the
hearts of the strikers" Fitzpatrick
added
you have no information to answer
Judge Gary's charge that your COM
mittee didn't represent the men,"
Senator Jones, New Mexico, suggested,
resuming questions as to the exact
number on strike.
Says He Represents Men.
we do represent them, and there
are $4,000 men on the street right
now" Fitzpatrick replied.
He said the men who did not belong
to the union were allowed to drop
their votes into special boxes.
II think there were only two non
union men who voted not to strike, -
1 Fitzpatrick said.
Senator Kenyon asked about
charges that the men behind the
strike are aliens.
That's a bugaboo tint is only raised
by the newspapers" Fitzpatrick re-
piled. "If the men are good enough
for Mr.. Gary, thye are good enough
for us These are the came men who
gave their mental and physical energy
during the war. They were the back
r bone in the crisis. They waited pa