The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-16
BETHLEHEM STEEL REFUSES ID SELL
 ID UNION BUILDERS
Will Protect Open Shop Princi- pie Even If Building In New York Is Suspended De-
 CIareS Grace
By Associated Press

New York, December l0.-The Bethlo- hem Steel corporation will refuse to seu fabricated steel to builders and cuntrac- tors in New York and Philadelphia dis tricts to be erected on union shop basis. This policy was disclosed by Eugene G. Grace, president of the corporation, who testified today before the joint legislative committee investigating the alleged building trust" replying to charges that his concern was sponsoring the "opcn shop" movement by withholding steel from builders employing only union men. T think 1t is a proper thing to protect the open shop principle" declared Mir, Grace, who explained that his stand would not be changed even if building op- erations in New York were to be sus- pended because steel could not be ob- tained by union erectors.
 Whethet the corporation will extend ..s policy to other parts of the country the witness said, depends entirely what et- fort I should expect it to have on our general labor situation
 The steel magnate, who was on tho witness stand nearly an hour, was sub jected to a severe griiing by Samuel Untermyer, the committees counsel, who has stated that he. Untermyer is ths largest stoczholder in the Bethlehem cor poration.
 CHARGES FENCING"
 Charging Mr. Grace with fencing and evading his questions, Mir. untermyer several times during the examination ap- pealed to Senator Carson, acting chair man of the committee, to order the wit ness to answer various questions.
 You are not in the office of the Beth lhem Steel corporation; you are before a legislative Investigating committee, J.I fH HA. erai times. saying the president must not have bis own way all the time.
 While the corporation was a member or the National Steel Fabricators' associa- ton, Atr. Grace declared, it had acted independently of the associaton's open shop" programme and had not entered into any agreement with any other in terests' to sponsor the movement
 Asked if he believed the Bethlehem. corporation big enough to carry out it's open shop principle if every other steet' conpany decided otherwise, the witness replied That is a matter of Judgment
 Denying that he had attempted to dic- tate to union builders as to how they should erect steel MT Grace asserted. 1T told them they cannot have our fab- ricated steel
 When the witness denied knowledge Of an agreement among fabricated steer manufacturers in the United states 10 withhold steel from union shop builders' Mir tintoruyer asked. Do you think fl is proper then for manufacturers through out the country to get together and to dictate to builders in the different cities oC the country whether of not they sha9L erect steel on the open shop principle
 GOOD PRINCIPLE "As to the question ot getting together I do not know" replied Mir Grace. The question as to whether it would be good principle I shall say 1t would be. "I firmly believe that any character oe relations or association to support ana protect the open shop principle of sivinG service bv any character of laDorinS man in this country s q very good thing.
 ''Now. can't you see what an arrogant and indefenshlc attitude it would be TOT the manufacturers of tha country 10 try and force their point of view or what you call the open shop in tho erection or their steel when other people might be- lievc it was to their best interest to erect it by the union shop?' asked the com mittee counsel.
 .'If they thought 1t was to protect theH interest, in line with what they considered the right policy for their interest, would not consider it arrogant, but self-protec- tion," replied Mfr. Grace.
 Tho steers head admitted that the structural iron workers had not discrin. mated against the nenuniop product os he Bethlehem corporation, but sad; " may happen.
 ..Fsets and expectations and deusioi's are different things" replied MT. Unter- myer
 NEVER LIKED TERM
 reclaring he never liked the term collective bargaining" Mir. Grace said he believed in a system of employees representation" He explained that the Bethlehem employees elected their repre- sentatives to deal with the management of the company Fin all phases affecting the service rendered by them ana tnat inc plan is working very satisfactorily
 "Ig s5 per cent of the men in your shops were union men, they would not have anything more to say as unlon mem asked Mr, Untermyer.
 we only recognize them as employees, replied the witness.
 ..You take the liberty. don [ you' ol joining trade associations and acthig ae unit in other organizations wlth theii jointly?"
 "No. no, Mir. Cntermyor.'
 a'You deny your employees, don't yv4' the right of acting jointly with empioys of other concerns in dealing with you and your association?
 "kye would not recognize ts
 '.But you expect other people 10 fss~ nqnize dealings in which you enter ;is - member of the trade associations, don YOU. while denying your employees ths same right?'
 .fsn't it d fact. Mr. Grace" asked Ar' Untermyer that in times of great oiis.- ness activity unions seek to dominate the situation and in times of depression,
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