Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-03
HOPE SEES A STAR
And the LOcked.0ut Men at
Homestead Are Now Con-
fident of Success.
LEADERS MEET AND TALK.
Enthusiastic Workers Hear Their
Side of the Conflict.
MANAGER POTTER TALKS OUT.
He Tells of Breaks From the Ranks Of the
4malgamated.
MANAGER POTTER TALKS OUT.
ODONNELL is AWAY FOR HIS HEALTH

denied them. The locked-out men held
their mass meeting yesterday afternoon.
The people present certainly grew enthusi-
astic over the speeches and reports. 1t was
2 o'clock when the locked-out men filed
into the Opera House. There were over
200 of them. They all seemed to be in good
spirits. The noticeable unrest of the day
before seemed to have gone As the crowd
waited on the outside for the doors to open,
the best of order prevailed. The men were
all talking, but they were keeping their
voices down to the ordinary tones of con-
versation.
Noticeable in the gathering yesterday
was William Weihe, the stalwart President
of the Amalgamated Association. He
seems to be a popular man in Homestead.
Wherever he went yesterday crowds would
gather around him. Assistant Secretary
Kilgallon, of the same association, was also
on the ground. Jerry Dougherty was there,
and he seemed to have more than his usual
amount of magnetism. Jerry is exceedingly
popular in Homestead. Vice President w.
A. Carney, of the Amalgamated, was at
Homestead also. Trustee Pierce's pleasant
face was also among the visitors. There is
no doubt that these five powers in the asso-
citation rendered good service to their Or
ganization. They can all reason we'll, and
when they left Homestead last night the
locked-out men felt assured of victory.
Visitors Make Speeches.
Nothing startling was done at yesterday s
meeting nor had anything of an unusual
nature been expected.
The Press Committee gave out the idea
that the proceedings were routine, the ad-
visory and relief committees being
given chance to tell of the work each had
done After this the visitors made speeches.
The condition of the iron and steel work
ers and all other trades which are now en-
gagged in troubles were cited. On the whole
the speakers thought that victory
was near at hand. The condition
of the Carnegie interests was care
fully gone over. One speaker showed
that 10000 employees of this company
were now striking. To the talker this was
an encouraging fact. He argued along the
same line they have taken from the start.
1t is that enough competent men cannot be
found to take the places of the company's
former employees. The Amalgamated Off
cials all told of the congratulatory letters
and offers of aid that were pouring into the
general Offices As far as sympathy and
financial aid goes, 1t was clearly proven at
yesterdays meeting that the Homestead
men were Plentifully supplied with both.
The speakers cheered up the weary
hearts of the locked-out men, and
loud rounds of applause issued from
behind the doors of the Opera House. No
resolutions were adopted and no vote was
taken to continue the battle against the
Carnegie Steel Company, but withal the
meeting was great success The cheering
words of yesterday have done more to
strengthen the ranks of the locked-our men
than anything that has happened in Home
stead for many a day.
While the former employees of the Car
negie Steel Company were receiving their
restorative, the crack and boom of the ma
chinery operated by the new men nearby
more noticeable than on previous DAYS It
may have been the condition of the air,
however
Standing at General Wiley's hilltop
headquarters one gets an excellent view of
the big steel plant. To the locker on yes
terday afternoon there seemed to be much
activity within the inclosure. Men were
busily engaged all through the yard, and
from every mill but one huge volumes of
smoke and steam were issuing. The mills
were certainly going, but whether satisfac-
torily is something that has not been exactly
proven yet
The Manager Has Els Say.
Manager Potter was seen at 4:30 yesterday
afternoon. "Over 200 new men were brought
into the mill to-day" said he. ''The major
ity of them came from Baltimore and Phila-
delphia There were few of
them from Cincinnati The Baltimore
men are all steel workers
Coates & Co.'S mills. They understand
their work thoroughly and are pre- pared to
stay at Homestead We now have 1900
men in the mills and as we are ready for
more we will get them. just now we have
enough, and have sent out orders to our
employing agents not to send any more
workmen for several days This morning
the "a old men whom we agreed to take
back into our service started in to work.
Up until the present time have received
application from IA more of our old en-
ployes. They were mostly members of the
Amalgamated Association. / promised
them all positions if they would come back
in the morning. They all assented. To-
gle turn"
The Homestead men deny Mr.. Potter's
statements as regards the men going back to
work. They say there might have been
some mechanics or laborers, but not one
Amalgamated man they contend has left the
ranks. The Government inspector of armor
plates said last night that he Yesterday
tested five plates made by the non-union
men. He says they stood every test and
are as good as any plate ever turned out
He also says there is no necessity for the
company to make plates as it is now six
months ahead of Government orders.
Return to the Ranks.
After the Advisory Committee meeting
last night Acting Chairman Crawford said:
Three of the old men who had gone back
to work have come out and will not 90
back again. They had received letters
asking them to go back to work. These
are the only men who have left our ranks
We are in position to know it when a man
goes, and could take an oath that we have
not lost more than these three men.
''The company is not having such an easy
time within the works. Ten of the men
who were brought up yesterday refused to
go to work. They wanted to come out the
gates and the company would not let them.
A little riot followed and the company had
to take the men back to Pittsburg on the
steamer Tide. A scheme is being worked
on this boat. Thirteen men are required to
make up full crew and the Tide always
carries this number. We are on to 1t now
and do not want the regular deck hands.
As regards the story that the company had
something to do with O'Donnells leaving
Homestead, I say it is untrue. It was
myself that caused him to 60. When
came back the last time his health was