The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-04
ESPIONAGE OVER.
STEEL WORKERS
Barred TO NRA
Spy System Used Since
1919 Strike Described in
Code Report.
BY RUTH FfNNFY
Times special Corrsxpondent


WASHINGTON. Aug. Evil
dence that steel companies have
employed spies to carry On system
attic espionage among workers ever
since the steel strike Of 1919 was
laid before NRA officials today BY
Frank L. Palmer Of Federal Press.
together with a request hat the
steel code contain an injunction
against further spy activities.
Palmer's evidence was submitted
at the request OF the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor. International As
ISOLATION Of Machinists, Interna-
tional Brotherhood OF electrical
Workers. Amalgamated Association
Of Iron, Steel ard Tin Workers.
Central Organization Of Steel
Workers Of Breckenridge. Pa and
Sheet Metal Workers Industrial
Union.
Undercoyer Methods Used
Spying on workers existed in The
steel industry on July %. 1913
Palmer says in his brief for NRA.
because on that day I interviewed
G. w. TuttIe, chief OF the spy sys-
TEN Of the Carnegie Steel Com
pany. subsidiary Of United States
Steel Corporation.
4 saw in his possession a spy re-
port. photostatic copies of member
ship and pledge cards of the Anal
gamated Association of Iron. Steel
and Tin Workers. a summary of
American Federation Of Labor or
ganizational activities, and releases
from the labor news organization.
Of which I am an executive, Fed
Grated Press. which releases could
only have been obtained through
undercover methods"
Among exhibits filed by Palmer
we're reports mace in each year
since 1919 by steel company spies,
some OF them made by workers
who had been hired for espionage
and some By detectives. These are
typical.
Spy Gives Up Job
Report of spy No is at Virginia,
Mimi, in 1919 showed activities in
blocking organization work of the
mine, mill and smelter workers of
the A. F. of L., and expressed regret
that he was able to give the name
of only one new member because his
job interfered with getting informa-
ton.
This morning I will give up my
position and I will look elsewhere
for position. which will allow me
more time so as TO work my plan
satisfactory" the report said.
A report dated in 1920 and signed
by man Palmer says was a MEM
Der Of the Mine. Mill and Smelter
Workers Union. gives an account of
the Farmer-Labor party convention
held in July. The chairman of the
convention was William Mahoney.
now mayor of ST. Paul.
Workers Are Photographed
A report dated in 1922 by an
italian who. according t. Palmer.
was president of the Musicians
Union. made to the Oliver Iron
Mining Company, recites his oppo-
sition to work of the Farmer-Labor
party in the Duluth district and
particularly his opposition to w. L.
CarSe, afJcrward elected to con-
gress.
One OF the exhibits presented to
NRA was photostatic copy of a
photograph of workers taken in
1881 at West Park. Pittsburgh. with
the names Of individuals listed on
the back.
Filed with this photograph were
page summaries OF the activities of
some of the men
Other exhibits show rental of
poStoffice boxes under assumed
names for the receiving Of letters
of instruction. and also fer receiv-
ing secretly copies Of the Federated
Press reports.