Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-08-13
10 AID SAAFF[R N FIGHT.
President Gompers Issues State.
lnent Pledging Support of
Federation of Labor.
REFUSES TO TALK BUT SAYS He WILL ACT

Uhc Executive Board of the United
!. Mine Workers of America Endorses
i Action of Amnl.:nmatcd Associa-
ton and Pledges Supp0rt-Men mt
i Riverside Iron Works Strike.
Washington, Aug 12.-President
Eompers and Secretary Frank Nor
rison, of the American Federation OF
Labor, returned Saturday from Pitts
burgh, where they were in conference
with President Shaffer and others in
the steel strike. Mr.. Gompers declined
DO discuss the strike situation or plans
ht this time. He said that the state
ment he gave out at Pittsburgh Friday
powered the ground and that he had
nothing to add to it. The statement
referred to is as follows:
"Since the arrival of Secretary Morrison.
of the American Federation of Labor, and
myself, we have been In almost continual
conference with the advisory board of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers. We made thorough
Investigation of the present strike, OF Its
members, formerly in the employ of the
United States Steel corporation and Its
constituent branches; the cause which led
country, and we unhesitatingly declare
our judgment that the position of the
Amalgamated association is absolutely
Justified and essential to Its continuance
and effectiveness as a union of the workers
In the trade, as well as the protector OF
Che rights and interests of It's members.
at is true that the Amalgamatsd assoc
citation in the first conferences asked that
the United States Steel company sign the
lnion scale of wages for all the mills oper-
- 11rl MOI
pany, but 1t Is also true that the request
was withdrawn and one substituted SO
That the union scale should apply to those
mills only in which the members Of the
Amalgamated association are employed;
in other words, which are well known to
be union mills. This the United States
Steel company refused to concede, insist
ing that the scale should apply only to
those mills which were union last year.
aven refusing to allow two mills to be In
cluded which, by q species of hectoring
and systematic opposition of the company,
had become nonunion during the year.
Even the first demand for the scale to be
applied generally throughout the jurisdlc.
Zion of the company was commendable
for the obvious reason that an employer
should be willing to pay uniform wage
30 men who perform like work: but realiz-
ing that a demand for those whom 1t did
not fully represent, the Amalgamated asso-
citation modified Its demand to the extent
already stated.
at appears that the company took the
position 1t did with an avowal that 1t would
not allow the extension of the union to
honunioniSts. Such position and avowal
are tantamount to declaring that notwith-
standing the growth of the craft the or
ganization had reached a state beyond
(which II could not extend. Now, anyone at
all familiar with industrial development
and economic organization are equally
aware that status is never possible. Or
gained labor advances or recedes, never
Stands still. It, therefore, follows that II
the trust. by its great wealth, can pre-
went the extension and growth of the
Amalgamated association 1t encompasses
Its disintegration and destruction. The
only power then standing between the
trust and workers as protector are the
tender mercies of its directors. Against
such a calamity the sense of justice and
humanity revolt and against which We
eolemny protest.
1--WE shall stand by the Amalgamated
association in the present conflict to the
Full extent of our power, both morally and
= financially; we shall aid in every lawful
way the men on strike or who may come
out on strike to maintain the workers in
their right to organize and the extension
Of their organization, SO that the only
power which stands for their protection
and advancement against the avarice of
concentrated wealth may be perfected and
perpetuated When the overweening rich
Gombine for avarice, power and tyranny,
Is IT not the duty of the workers to unite for
home, justice, right and humanity? If
khe trust should succeed in its purpose
10 crush the Amalgamated association,
the victory would be dearly bought.
1.-THE fight of the brave Beers may enc
in their undoing but the spirit of justice
ihe love of freedom and right suddenly
looms up in another part of our world
these principles find Judgment in the hearts
of other men who will carry on the battl4
Antil they are enthroned in the conscience
and everyday life of all peoples; so with
the Amalgamated association, an orgapi-
cation may be defeated in contest, but
It will not be conquered.
THE Amalgamated association will not
be crushed; she viii not be conquered;
she must not even be defeated"
Proposes to Act Not Talk.
Mr.. Gompers refused point blank to
answer questions regarding any phase
of the strike question and when asked
ST the executive council of the fedora
tion was to be called together or if TIE
federation men engaged In the steel
tron and tin trade, would be called
out, replied that he would not discuss
fhe question a t ALL
II propose to act. not talk" he said.
1.-THE newspapers have threshed over this
strike matter too much already, and / do
not propose to take any part in the dis
cussion in print. The newspapers can say
what they please. ] have nothing what
aver to add to what already have said.
stand for industrial peace and will do
everything within my power to bring about
an adjustment of the present conflict, and
as president OF the federation to use my
GOOD oflces, II necessary. between the two
sides of the conflict to settle the trouble.
stand ready to render any and all possible
AID TO this end. stand ready to assist the
Amalgamated in any way in my power
further than this ] cannot talk
United Mine Workers Pledge Aid,
indianapolis, Ind, Aug. 12,-The
executive board of the United Mine
Workers of America, in session here,
has officially recognized the steel
strike. At noon n resolution setting
out the causes of the strike. endors-
ang the action of the Amaigdmated
association, pledging the support of
the mine workers and calling on Pres
idert Gompers to cali a meeting of
the presidents and secretaries of all
bodies connected with the American
Federation of Labor to meet and de
Use pinns of aiding the strikers was
adopted Copies were sent to Presi
dent Shatfer and President Gompers
tbs action. following closely as il
do- .lic public statement CT Presi.
dent Gomacrs. IN which he promises
to ais! the strikers. is regarded as sig
nitinant, as ii is the first movement
toward uniting all the organiza tions
connected with the federation in sup.
Al.