Evening star., 1901-08-09

it outright but referred the would-be iuedi-
ator to Gompers, who was inclined to use
his endeavors At that juncture word came
from New York that the steel trust abso-
lutely refused to hold further conference
upon the subject.
N o. NJ
CLAIM MILLS ARE CRIPPLED.
Strikers Statement, However, Denied
by Agents of the Trust.
By Associated Press.
PITTSBURG, August 9.-The steel strife
situation underwent but little change over
night. The steel corporation made 10 at
tempt during the night to reopen the
Painter mill, and the strikers claim that
they blocked the plan to start the plant by
winning over the non-union men who had
agreed to go to work. The mill officials
deny that there has been any interference
with their plans. and say that in due time
the mill will be started up
President Shaffer and his brother officials
of the Amalgamated Association are still
engaged in the effort to secure the coop
Grafton of the American Federation OF
Labor.
They say they are sure of obtaining it
and that their complete success is thereby
assured. Neither President Shaffer nor
President Gompers nor any of the men en-
gagged in conference with them has given
u
dicted that they will make the bold stroke
of transferring bodily to the Amalgamated
Association all members of the Federation
of Labor who may be affected by the strike.
In the iron and steel trades are many men
whose labor has not been sufficiently skilled
to admit them to membership in the Anal
gamated Association.
The federation has for some time past
been organizing these men, and it is said
that there exists an agreement between
the Amalgamated and Federation that IN
the event of trouble they are to be trans
ferred to the former. If such plan We're
carried out it would add thousands of men
to the membership of the Amalgamated AS
SOciation.
Claims Clark Mill is Crippled.
Secretary Williams was the first Of the
Amalgamated officials to reach the strike
headquarters this morning. He claimed
that the meeting at Lawrenceville last
night had crippled the Clark mill again.
He said: Our meeting last night was
great success, for as result of it there is
but one mill in operation at the Clark plant.
That is the breakdown twenty-inch mill,
and it has been going ever since the strike
occurred. If the steel corporation had 400
men in the Clark mill we have taken 300 CT
them away from Them
F. NJ Shaffer, brother of President SHAFT
fer of the Amalgamated Association, was
also at headquarters, and he, too, claimed
that the Clark plant was again crippled as
a result of the meeting which he ard his
brother addressed last night.
The local steel officials give an absolute
denial to the statement that the Clark mill
is again crippled. They admit that cne
roller was won from them by the efforts of
the strikers last night, but assert that they
had another roller ready to take his place,
and that four of the five mills of the plant
are running again today.
They have made no effort, they say, to
start the fifth mill, but will probably do SO
early next week The Farm mill at the
Lindsay & McCutcheon works was in
operation again today. Yesterday, accord
ing to the managers of the mill, it went
within 20 per cent of full run, and will
do better today because there was an ear
lier start made.
Another Chance to Get Back.
Manager Jinks says the old men will be
given another chance to come back, but If
they fail to, non-union workers will be put
in their places, and another mill opened up
next week.
Advices from Hyde Park are to the effect
that every mif in the plant is in opera
ton, and that the work being turned out is
quite satisfactory. There will probably be
nothing done at the Painter mill for a few
days. 1t is evident that preparations are
being madet to open the Devices Wood works
at Mckeesport. The repairs are being
rushed and large quantities of raw material
are being brought to the mills.
Negroes are employed on the repairs and
the strikers are watching them closely,
fearing that there may be iron and steel
workers among them Their presence is
resented by the strikers, and the company
has reinforced the guards and closed the
gates to all men not engaged by the COM
pany.
President Gompers and Secretary Morri-
son of the American Federation of Labor
reached the strike headquarters ut 10
o'clock. President Shaffer had not ap-
peared at that time, but Secretary Will
liams and several Of the vice presida dants
received them.
Mr.. Gompers declined to say anything
about the attitude of the Federation or the
possible outcome of the conference.
President Shaffer reached the headquar-
ters at 1870 o'clock and announced few
moments later that his conference with
President Gompers was off until 1:3O o'clock
in the afternoon.
rs it possible that the Federation of
Labor viii turn over to the .Amalgamated
Association all it's lodges affected by the
striker" President Shaffer was asked.
That is a question which 1 cannot an
swer,' said Mr.. Shaffer. You will have
to get that from Mr.. Gompers. There is
nothing new this morning, and there is
nothing about the strike that I can tell
you"
1t is reported that President Gompers has
a plan of discussing the situation with the
steel officials, with view to bringing about
a settlement, but the story cannot be con-
firmed
Chicago Men Adverse to the Strike.
CHICAGO, August 9.-WilIiam c. Davis,
vice president of the fourth district of the
Amalgamated Association, in discussing
the prospect of the men walking out of the
mills of the Illinois Steel Company at
South Chicago, today said:
while am not able to predict unerring-
ly what the mel. will do at the lodge meet
ings Sunday, feel that from the present
temper of the men, there will be no strike
Since my return from Milwaukee, 1 have
been unable to mingle with the men, but
the reports brought to me indicate such e
friendly feeling toward the company that
L feel that the men will not go out. The
men themselves feel that they are between
two fires. For fourteen years we have
been working steadily without any trouble,
and, as a whole, the men feel loyal To
their old contracts. Yet, at the same time,
we all feel pledged to the Amalganated
Association
Il do not wish in any way to influence
the action of the men. l am acting for nv
self alone in resigning."
Mr. Davis resigned his nositson rac,.r,1,,,