The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16

It was to protect their interest in line
with what they considered the right
policy for their interest / would not
consider 1t arrogant. but self-protec-
| ton"
"Self-protection may sometimes reach
the point of arrogance"
II don't know"
you don't care whether II does or
not?"
IF 1t was for self-protection."
How arrogant and inexc0sable IL
may be would not make any difference
to you unless the law stepped In to stop
it, that's your attitude, isn't itg'
That is not my attitude"
There are several associations In
which the steel corporations have men,
bershfp. the witness saM -1t he could
not name them or how they operate. He
was asked about the Bridge Builders
and Structural Society. in which. Mr..
untermyer stated, bids on work We're
exchanged. Mr.. Grace said he knew
nothing about that.
Unions Didn't Blacklist steel.
There has never been a case. the wit
ness said, where the union refused to
handle the Bethlehem products because
they came from non-union shop. yet
he thought It might happen. Mr.. Inter
myer said he was not concerned with
Mr.. Graces "hopes or expectations, but
wanted facts" The witness knew moth
Ing about the Iron League or its affilia-
tons. The Bethlehem company itself
does steel erecting.
But you will not sell steel unless II
is erected through member of the Iron
League viii your" Mr.. Untermyer
asked.
THAT is not our position. not at ALL"
Mr.. Grace said. adding that he did not
know the membership of the league or
that its policy was exclusively open
shop.
Senator Kap1an asked Mr.. Grace a
series Of questions.
what is your definition OF an open
shop?"
Where any man can work. where
there is no discrimination against en-
ployment of any man TO do any kind OF
work.
with respect TO the effort OF the
Thompson-Starrett Company to purchase
steel to be erected by them under a
closed shop policy. would you still per-
sist in your decision not to sell any steel
to them?"
Yes, unless it was willing to stop
discriminating against the non-union
men,"
1T would not make any difference to
you whether they did not get any steel
anywhere else?"
mot as far as I am concerned. be-
cause I don't believe in the closed shop
principle"
How He Would StifIe New York.
at would make no difference II opera
tons in New York were caused to cease
you would continue in your policy to re-
fuse to give them stcel?"
That is what I would recommend to
my associates"
That is what you think your asso-
ciates would follow?"
II should hope they would"
Mr.. Grace said his company employs
upward Of 10000 men. sometimes as
many as 10000.
You think 1t is better for the steel
workers in the United States not to bs
banded together In a single organization
and recognized as union?"
YES think 1t is better for them"
at is not on your account you do not
recognize the union: it Is on their ac-
count?"
1T Is better for both"
Not once during his long examination
did Mr.. Grace intimate that the Bethle-
hem Steel Corporation had or would en-
terrain suggestion to change Its policy
not to sell steel excepting under strict
non-union rules. He was the last wit
ness. and when he left the stand he
thanked the committee cordially for
hearing him. then stopped and leaned
down in front OF Mr.. Untermyer and for
ten minutes the two conversed in low
tones
The earlier part OF the day was al
vided among many witnesses, who gave
further testimony tending to show that
building costs in New York had been
increased greatly by the action OF the
steel fabricators in demanding that all
erecting be done by the Iron League.
Books and records OF the National Erec-
tors Association were taken over by the
committee.
Henry w. Lazette. Coney Sunday and
Thomas and Mike Cofeoran, all struc-
tural steel workers and members Of Iron
workers Union 314. known as the open
shop union, made up OF union men seek
ing open shop Jobs. told of being dis
charged by the American Bridge Com
pany because they were blackilsted
Paul Starrett, president of the George
A. Fuller Construction Company. was re-
called to furnish the committee with
figures regarding the comparative cost
Of steel work as done by the builder and
by the Iron League with the open shop
policy. The leagues costs were much
higher, he said.