Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-18
Each Side Claims That They are
Ahead.
"WE CAN BREAK OWN STRIKE"
Significant Words by Assistant Gener-
al Manager Harper of Steel Com
pany-Men Will Not Call sympa-
thetic Strike-Miners Have Troubles

Pittsburg, July 16.-There were no
new developments in the great steel
strike in this district during the early
hours of the second day. All of the
plants closed yesterday are shut down
tight and matters about the Painter
mill, Lindasy G McCutcheon, Clark's
Solar Iron works, Monongahela and
Star Tin Plate plants. are quiet. 1t is
stated that Painters mill is in partial
operation, but the only men at work
were few Hungarians, who are clean
ing up about the yards. Replying to
a rumor that the management had
brought strike breakers from Ala
bama, Assistant General Manager Har-
per said: I'VE can break our own
strikes. Superintendent Albrecht,w
was encountered few moments later,
said "the plant will be running in full
within few days" Speculation as to
the probable settlement of the strike
is active in all circles and among bust
ness men and manufacturers generally
the concensus of opinion is that a
combine of the officials and the
Amalgamated officials will get to-
gether before long and adj
just their differences. Some of the
manufacturers are emphatic in stating
that it will be arranged within forty
eight hours, yet they could give no posi-
tive information regarding any move
ment on foot to start negotiations. In
fer to call out the workmen in other
union plants OF the United States Steel
corporation made on Saturday, sig
nificant statement from him today that
just now he is not in the sympathetic
strike business, is looked upon as
meaning for the present that the men
will be allowed tocontinue their work.
President Shaffer was cheerful when
seen this morning and said that he
was entirely satisfied with the situa-
ton. When he was asked about Pres
ident Mitchell's statement last night,
President Shaffer said: Il shall not ask
the miners to go on such strike God
help the poor coal miner. He is the
best union man in the world and the
poorest paid of them ALL He has trou-
bles enough of his own, and we have
no desire to involve him. But while
I shall not invite nor solicit sympa-
thetic strike, the Amalgamated associ-
alton stands ready at any time to eff
feet an alliance with the United Mine
Workers or any other kindred organ
ization, many of whose members are
employed by the United States Steel
corporation.
Vice.President David Reese has re-
ported to headquarters that he had or
ganized the men in VIM Clarks Sons
mill, taking in 100 men out of 500 en-
ployed there and as a result the plant
was closed today. This mill was the
only hoop plant in the city that work
ed yesterday and it has been non-un-
ion since 1889. President Shaffer stat
ed that there was one mill working at
Duncansville, Pa, and that the Scott
dale and old Meadow plants were still
at work, but that nothing has been
heard from Salisbury. j. r. Phillips,
the district manager of the Amalgam-
ated Tin Plate company was asked to-
day whether the company would at
tempt to start UP the closed mills with
non-union men. He said he did not
know. Phillips was then asked
whether any course of action had been
decided upon at the meetings yester-
day of the local managers of the three
companies involved in the strike. That
was a question he replied, which he
could not discuss. A revised list of
the plants of the three combinations
affected by the strike was prepared this
morning. The Tin Plate combination
employs at it's 270 mills 1920 skilled
workers. OF this number 6,966 are on
strike and 324 are working at the Ma
tional works at Monessen. The Amer
lean Sheet Steel company employs
4,470 skilled men in its 166 mills and
of this number $3.50 Of the skilled men
are at work at filty mills that have
not yet been closed by the strike. In
the American Steel Hoop company
there are 1000 skilled workmen and
all but $50 at the Duncansville plant
are idle. This makes 10000 skilled
workmen out at present. 1t is esti.
mated that the unskilled labor in TIL.
various mills affected by the STRIKE
will run the total close to the claim OF
$4,000 idle men, which is made by the
Amalgamated association.
Schwab Will Not Talk.
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