The New York herald., 1921-10-04
BALLOT CORRUPTION
RIFE IN STEEL MILLS
Interchurch Movement Gives
More Affidavits Charging
Acts of Terrorism.
ASSEMBLIES FORBIDDEN
Meetings Would Lead to I'm
ions and Unions to Strikes,
Theory of Paid Police.
ASSEMBLIES FORBIDDEN

Gross violation of civil rights through
alleged acts of terrorism by the authori-
ties OF western Pennsylvania In the steel
strike of 1919 is charged in 200 affi-
davits made public yesterday by the
commission of inquiry of the Inter
church World Movement
Similar charges also were in a sup
Elementary report by George Soule,
which gave the basis for the commits
slons finding In its main inquiry that
the steel strike made thousands of citi-
zens believe that our institutions were
not democratic or not democratically adj
ministered. and that local magistrates
and police often tried to break strikes
with the aid of State and Federal
authorities.
The commissions report said the steel
corporations actively engaged in local
politics and dominated the local gov
ernments, adding that ''the moment any
subordinate In the mill begins actively
to oppose the political machine he be-
comes q marked man." 1t added:
"Often political candidates are them
selves members of the mill management,
having the power of discharge, but in
any case the superintendents and fore
men take an active part in electioneering.
There are always watchers from the
chances of corruption, either through
threat or bribe, which are latent in this
possibility, are obviously large.
''In short, The prestige and power of
the dominating industry Is so great that
political opposition rarely grows beyond
its primitive stages. An observer Of
long residence in Pittsburgh declared
that the only thing that would make
the steel worker independent in politics
| ~ .%F frer J, In,
from discharge"
| Affidavits published by the commission
deal with the alleged persecution by the
| public authorities of strikers in Pitts
burgh, Brad dock, Butler. Clarion, Do
nora, Duquesne, Farrell. Homestead.
Johnstown. McHeesport, Monessen. New
Castle, Kensington, Natrona and Wood
lawn. Conditions were contrasted with
those in Ohio and West Virginia, where
civil rights, II was stated, were not
denied and no violence attended the
strikers exercise Of their rights.
Charges against the State contrabu-
larry. deputy sheriffs and company police
in affidavits ard statements to its in
vestigators. the commission said, "dea'
with the murder of men and women
one as he was in his own yard-and the
wounding of hundreds Of others, the
clubbing of hundreds. the assaulting Of
men while they were lawfully and peace
fully pursuing errands on the street.
and of prisoners while they were locked
up In their ce....s. the arresting and hold
ing of men ana women for long periods
in the jails and police stations withou
provocation end even without definit,
charges being lodged against them. tn,
excessive punishment meted out to thes,
strikers by tine different justices of tn,
peace. burgesses and police courts. ant
the frank discrimination of the court
between those who were at work ans
those who were out on strike. the fire
quent surrender of law and it's admins
tration by public authorities to loca
company officials"
Denial Of the rights of free speech
and assembly, according to the report