Gilpin observer., 1901-08-08
FIGHT TO A FINISH
WORKERS AND STEEL coMEiNE
BREAK OFF NEGOTIATIONS.
Order Calling Out Organizations Mer7-
bero In Other Branches CT Industry
to Take Effect This Wee*--Now
VIII Come the Test of Strength.

to join the strike now being Waged
by the Amalgamated association. we
must settle whether unioIism is TO
stand or fall.
There will be no more conferences
with the United States Steel corpora
ton unless the meeting is asked for
by the officials of that corporation.
The Amalgamatcd association will not
request a peace meeting"
These and several other significant
statements were made by President
Shaffer of the Amalgamated .Associa-
ton of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers
upon his return from the fruitless con
ference with j. Pierpont Morgan and
others in New York.
Referring to the failure Of the
strike settlement, President Shafrcr
said:
mo explanation was offered by the
company for their refusal to grant
any better terms or to consider the
propositions of the AualganGted asso-
citation in any form. They seemed to
have made up their minds suddenly to
give no consideration to the men ana
would not vary from this deterrina-
ton We went to New York wanting
peace. We did everything that We
could do to bring about peace honora-
bly,. IN every effort we failed We
can do no more than fight for our ex-
istence until either the trust asks for
another conference or we are estir-
pated."
Throughout the interview President
/ Shaffer indicated that the officials of
the Amalgamated association had
their plans for this struggle well in
hand and had made arrangements for
the battle on. complete and systematic
ideas. He declined to say anything
about the action of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor in assisting the Anal
gamated association in this struggle
or to tell anything about what support
\ the organization would receive from
other sources. The policy of the or
ganization, he said. would be to move
quietly and carefully, as they realized
that they had a difficult task before
them and nothing would be gained by
rashness. The various vice presidents
of the organization after the meet
ing in New York had scattered to their
respective homes and there they will
assume direct charge of the members
in the districts. The only members
of the national family of the organiza-
tion left in Pittsburg will be the ma
tional officers, and President ShaffeI
will act with full power in directing
affairs from the general Offices.
President Shaffer said that he he'd
given up all hope for peaceful settle
ment of this trouble and looked for no
further attempts to bring about re-
newal of conferences.
1t Is now fight to finish between
the great billion dollar steel trust and
organized labor. Mr.. Shaffer says that
he is ready to employ every peaceable
means within the power of man to
win a victory. No quarter Is to be
given and none will be requested. The
entire management of the battle has
been placed in the hands of President
Shaffer. He has absolute power to
call out every man who is connected
with the organization Pnd he intends
to do it. He is satisfied with the prog
ress of the fight to date. He finds that
none of his battle lines have been
broken. Promise is made by Mr.. Shat
fer that the trust will find the Anal
gamated association is strong in many
of its mills.
Mr.. Shaffer. Secretary Williams. b.
|. Davis, NJ F. Tighe and John Chap
pelle of Wellsville came in from New
York last evening. The president and
advisers did not appear to be the least
cast down. Secretary Williams had
this to say:
"All possibility of settlement of this
difficulty appears to be at an end. We
carefully considered the proposition
of the trust. 1t was decided that the
terms were such that we could not ac-
cept. To accept would have meant
practically the disruption of our organ.
ization. We could not have agreed
and returned to face the men we rep.
resented. 1t is now n case Of fight.
think the contest viii be the greatest
Industrial battle the world has ever
known. ] am thoroughly convinced
that we will win the victory"
Concerning the actual strike status
in this city there seems to be little
or no change. The mills on strike are
still idle, with no indications OF an at
tempt by the combine to start any of
the plants. No fires are being started
and the only evidence of work about
any of the plants is that of men max.
Ing necessary repairs. There seems
to be no concern among the strikers
at the failure of the late conference
and all seen believe the men will
stand by the association to tho end.
A sample of the condition of the
men is that at the LindsayMcCutch.
con mill, one of the plants which
caused much of the discussion between
the two sides. 1t was learned today
that not man among the strikers
who wants to work Is idle. Out Of the
| 500 men at this place not more than