The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-09-27

President shaffsr OF the AmaIgamated Al,
socistion Tells Why IL Didn't
succeed.

pittsburg. Pa, Sept. 2i.-Prcsidcnt
Shaifcr of the Amalgamated associa.
ton has prepared an exhaustive state.
mcnt reviewing the incidents of The
late strike of the steel workers. The
circular will be mailed at once 10 uD
the lodges Of the association.
The interesting feature OF Presi.
dent Skaters statement is his severe
criticism OF other labor organiza.
tions for their failure to come to The
aid Of the Amalgamatcd men in their
hour Of trial. lie Is especially severe
in his criticism OF those labor leaders
who promised assistance and, as he
says, failed to keep their agreement
lie says:
I'VE were in fairly good condition
to win without help, but looked for
aid from other labor bodies, some Of
which were pledged, and to the gen.
cral public, but especially relied upon
the American Federation Of Labor,
with which body we have been az
filiated ever since its inception and
toward whose support we have never
failed to contribute.
'Our stock advanced, and we were
confident of winning until the news
papers deliberately and maliciously
published statements which were r.
plete with lies. Our people began 10
doubt and upbraid; some who had been
officials deserted us and afterwards
like j. ID. Hickey, of Milwaukee, ac
ccpted the terms of the trust and
scabbed. Hundreds who dared moi
sleep at home went to other places
and in nearly every mill the trust
tried to run were many Amalgamated
association men from striking mills
We knew our cause would be lost
win if support could be secured for
the faithful strikers. The American
federation gave us not one cent. The
report that financial help came from
the national lodge of the mine work
ers is absolutely false-we received
nothing.
"Perceiving that lack of money. loss
of public approval, descrtion by hun
drcds of our own people and neglect
by other organizations, would render
il impossible TO gain a decisive Vic
tory, we endeavored to save what ",
could.
The terms of the settlement Mr..
ShafIcr sets forth in detail. The agree
ment is between the American Fin
Plate Co. and the Amalgamatcd asso-
citation. 1t provides for the wages
agreed upon at the Cleveland confer
ence and contains the following sflp
ulatons:
That the company reserves the
right to discharge any employe vho
shall, by interference, abuse or con
straint, prevent another from peace.
ably following his vocation without
reference TO connection with labor Or.
CARNATIONS.
That non-union mills shall be rem
resented as such-no attempts made
to organize, no charters granted ID
charters retained by men il they de.
sire.
That the company shall not hold
prejudice against employees by rca.
son of their membership with the
Amalgamated association"
The last clause provides that ihe
agreement shall remain in force three
years from July last, but that il
shall be terrninablc at 90 days notice
from either party on or after Ocio
Der ], 1902. 1t is provided, however
that the last clause shall be voted
upon Immediately by the tin lodges
who are thus given the option Of .
three years contract or yearly con
tract.
Mr.. Shaffer closes by saying he i
willing 10 resign if the members think
he is inefficient and incapable.