The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1901-08-09
GREAT STEEL STRIKE
General Order Issued by the
Amalgamated Association.
With 100000 Men EmpIoyed the
Walking Delegates Order
Union Men Out.

uuueI Iue DdnHers OF the AmaIgamated
association of iron, steel and tin work
ers is fairly on. The long talked OF
general strike order was issued by Presi-
dent Shaffer this evening to take effect
after the last turn of the mills on August
10. What the result will be no man
can foretell, but judging by the ex-
pressed determination of both parties to
the controversy the battle will be waged
to the very last ditch. Much money will
be lost, thousands upon thousands Of
men will be idle, great suffering is looked
for, and even blOodshed and death re
possible and feared
The strike call includes practically all
Amalgamated men in the United States
Steel corporations employ not now on
strike, 1t was issued from the Amalga-
mated association headquarters and
mailed to all Amalgamated lodge Off
clals who are expected to call their men
to strike.
Text of the Gall.
"Brethren-The officials of the United
States steel trust have refused to recOg-
nize as union men those who are now
striving for the right to organize. The
executive board has authorized me to
issue a call on all Amalgamated men in
name and heart to join in the move
ment to fight for labor's rights.
"We must fight or give up forever our
personal liberties.
You will be told that you have
signed contracts, but you never agreed
to surrender those contracts to the
United States Steel corporation. Its
officers think you we're sold to them lust
as the mills we're, contracts and all.
Remember, before you agreed to any
contract you took an obligation to the
Amalgamated association 1t now calls
you to help in the hour of need.
Unless the trouble is settled on or
before Saturday, August 10, 1901, the
mills will close when the last turn is
made on that day.
our organization. We trust you and
need you.
"Come and help US and may right
come to just cause"
Hundred Thousand Out.
The order of President Shaffer is ex
pected to swell the Dumber of idle men
to over 100000 at the end of the week
President Shaffer was asked if the order
was Intended to 60 to the union men in
Carnegie Steel company. He said he
answered no questions on that score.
President Sbaffer added this state
ment:
1.-The call goes to the vice presidents
of the districts in which there are mills
owned and operated by the National
Steel, National Tube and Federal Steel
n m q TI0 Uunlt To h. -
the lodges in the mills.
mo notice has been or is being sent
to the managers of mills We think
their notice has come from the other
side and they have been warned of this
ever since tie Inauguration of the strike.
That ought to be sufficient
Shaffer does not anticipate any settle
ment before the strike goes into effect.
The men are ordered out after the last
turn on August 10. The turn will throw
idle about $4,000 association men and
about 10000 men in the mills who are
connected with the Federation of Labor
and who are not organized but will have
no work by reason OF the strike of the
skilled men. Altogether 100000 men
will likely be idle. The order. it is said.
will also call out the men at the fur
naces owned by the United States Steel
who are not members of
the Amalgamated association, but who
are connected with the American Fedora
tion of Labor.
The call to the three men OF the three
companies in the mills of which the
Amalgamated association is strongest
is expected to be generally and prompt
ly responded to. The movement will, it
is expected, practically suspend opera
tiOns of the Federal Steel company and
cut of half of the production of the
National Steel and Tube companies and
throw more than 10000 men idle. The
attitude OF the men of the United States
Steel corporation, so far not affected by
the strike, has been carefully canvassed
In general way the tone of general
reports indicate the men will support the
stand OF their officers. An aggressive
movement upon the Carnegie mills is in
tended
President Shaffer said tonight: "We
want no one to come out unWillinglv.
Ii our people are not in full sympathy
with our fight we would rather they re-
main at work. They will not be asked
to decide hastily. They will have until
Saturday night OF this week to think it
over. When they finally do decide they
will come out prepared for the battle.
There will be no faltering, no indecision,
no ignorance in action, but a unity of
purpose and determination to stand
for their rights"
After issuing the official call for next
Saturday night President Shaffer said:
"At noon today | called out all the men
employed in the New Castle mills of the
National Steel company. They will stop
work at II O'Clock tonight. My pur-
pose in doing this was that | learned
that the trust has been piling up union
made bars in the old housings of the
dismantled Jennings sheet mill for the
purpose OF supplying the nonunion mills
when the plants shall be shut down. 1t
was clever trick, but it did not work
We have to be on the watch for Just
such moves as this by the trust. We
know what is going on just as well as
they do, and are fully prepared to meet
every move they make"
Shaffer Talks Disaster.
Discussing the feature of the strike
that would bear directly upon the pros
perity of the country, President Shaffer
said: The closing of all these mills will
be felt by all classes 1t will stop pro-
xls -