The Washington times., 1901-07-20
Circulation Statement.
Strike Conditions and Rumors.

a rumor, characteristic of the curb
stone in Wall Street, to the effect that
the steel strike had been settled was
started in New York about noon yes
terday. Mr.. ]. P Morgan, on being
asked concerning it. said that it was
utterly without foundation, that he full
ly approved of the course taken by the
trust people at Pittsburg and elsewhere,
and that there would be no concessions
made by the employing corporations;
the fight was on and would have to be
fought out.
Mr.. Morgan's statement is in entire
agreement with the opinion of people
best able to analyZe the situation in
telligently. In Pittsburg, which is the
strike storm centre, it is believed that
the contest between labor and capital
is but Just begun, and that by Satur-
day night the sheet workers at Wander
grift, Leesburg, and Apollo will walk
out and leave idle every sheet mill, un
ion and non-union, in the country, con-
trolled by the Steel Trust.
There appears to be possibility that
TIE Carnegie City and Homestead plants
may be found out of commission next
Monday morning. Reports that the men
in those establishments are rapidly being
unionized are rife. Should they decide
to strike, the effect upon the employees
of other plants not yet committed to
the Amalsamated Association move
ment probably would be important and
serious. The war has not yet extended
to the steel finishing plants of the trust,
but it is learned from well informed
sources that there is more than
chance that, within ten days, they, too,
will be compelled to close down. Such
an occurrence would inevitably result
in damage and loss TO many lines of
business. The mills turning out struc-
tural shapes and railway, tramway,
and marine work are now uncomforta-
bly, behindhand with their orders, and
have been working overtime to catch
up. The demand for their productions
shows no sign of abatement, and so
much bridge, locomotive, steamship,
and other construction is dependent up
on their output for completion that sus-
pension for even a few weeks would
cause infinite embarrassment in a va
these finishing concerns cannot be
manned with anything but skilled labor
Of the best class, it is easy to see that
the Amalgamated would be playing a
strong card If il could close them, for
the greater the number of steel workers
who can be induced TO strike, the hard |
er ii will be for the trust to hunt out |
and mobilize men to take their places. /
1t is evident that President Shaffer |
and his associates are counting on such |
considerations to bring an early sur
render on the part of the trust corpo- |
rations. Outside of labor circles the |
same view is not generally taken. The |
trust magnates are satisfied in their |
own minds that to submit to the de- |
mands of the strikers now would only |
expose them to fresh demands and an !
other strike later on, and perhaps with
in a few months. Once in the saddle. !
they believe that the Amalgamated As I
sociation would proceed to harry them /
until il had taken all practical control /
of their industrial enterprises out of |
their hands, and they argue that, as
long as the test Of strength must have !
come at some time or other, il might
as well be now. The prospect, then,
is not good for a speedy cessation of
hostilities Both sides appear to be con-
fident of victory, and we are afraid the /
country must resign itself as we'll as
it can TO the expectation that the re-
mainder OF the century's first summer
will be marked by one of the most bit
ter and disastrous labor wars in his
tory