The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-07-23

eompiish anything by dabbling in in
dustrial affairs when their work wa
supposed to be along spiritual lines ,
The next group to leave the Move
ment were the Northern Babtists, VIII,
withdraw late in June. The move wa
urged by the Rev. J. Y. Aitchisou ot
the Allegheny County committee. VIII,
with other Pittsburgh members rulet
that none of the subscriptions made il
their county should be used for suci
"side issues'' as the steel invest
igation. Allegheny County is in the
heart of the steel district.
In the meantime, the bone of con
tention, the 10000 word steel renort
was effectually side-tracked. No in
terim report was issued during The
crisis of the steel strike when il
would have been effective. Now tina,
unionism in the steel industry has
been almost completely crushed, the
Committee promises to flood the
country with free copies of the full
report
The history of the vicissitudes
through which the report has gone makes
a story in itself. From the momen. the
investigations struck the steel districts
the steel masters got busy. Tnvestieat.
ors carrying letters from prominent
men and women, called upon officials
In the steel works, asking that all
facts and statistics be made available
TO them for careful, impartial study
They were advised to return to New
York City and go no further. If thew
wanted information the New York
steel offices could give it to them,
they were informed. Spies of the
steel company seemed to spring from
the earth to watch, to listen, and to
follow the investigators. Conversations
were started by strange men, leading
questions were asked. The Investigators
round that their telephone calls and
mai were being received by men
registered at hotels in their names.
A report from one of these "under
lnformers," to Judge Gary in New
York, came into the ahnds of one of
the investigators. The opening pa.
ragraphs are given here:
November 18th, 1919.
Special report in re Interchurch
World Movement of America of III
Fifth Avenue, New York City:
"Atter an investigation of this
movement find that there are n
large number or radicals in il.
First, the man in charge of The
publicity is Robert Bruere, who is
the same party that wrote book cal.
led SON the Trail of I. W. W. This
book was a sob story about the way
that the |. W. w. had been treated IN
the must. He was also a member of
the I. W. W. belonging to one of |
the New York Locals.
"a Mr.. Soules, who is now in
Pittsburgh, having an office in the
Smithfield Street Methodist Episcop.
al Church building. corner Smithfield
street and Seventh Avenue, is another
radical, and was a member of the
Liberties League of New
Y ork and also member of the
W. W. He is now here for this organ.
zation investigating the steel strike
ina carrying a small kodak, making
pictures around the steel districts.
These photographs are to be used in
he coming investigating work which
will be conducted in Pittsburgh in
he near fa,ur.
Another one of the party here is
Miss Avagc, and also Mary o'Brien.
'r Mrs. Van Vorte; both of them are
'adicals.."
Members of the investigating com.
nittce have pointed out in this one
'Ntract, which composes only a fourth
If the full report, no less than six Z
'rrorS. Robert Bruere was never in anv
way connected with the steel survey ,
'or with the I. W. w. The Mr.. Soules ,
referred to is meant to be Mr.. soule
who has never been member Of the
i W. W. There is no organization of ,
he name of the National Liberties
League. No kodaks were used by the I
Investigators util long after the filing !
If this report Mary Hea,en worse
: meant by Mrs. Van vorte.
Soon after this the Inierchurch Mo. S
cement began to show "cold feet v,
'bout the rash step Of investigating i
he business Of It's chief members ana @
contributors.
When the spy's libelous report was i
In their journal by the Ohio h
derchants' Association, which opposed {
he lnterehurch, the Interchurch did :
lot rise to defend its own investipat.
rs Only upon the insistence of one /
Il the libeled men did the Interchureh
inally threaten to sue the merchants
ssociation, but il absolutely balked
hen asked by this same investigator TO