Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-25
THE COMBINES
A Critical Stage Reached in the Great
Steel Strike.
With NON-UNION MEN
Policy of the Trust May Lead to
Violent Measures.
P ROB A BILE EXTEN SION


Wellsville are slowly accomplishing their
intention Of operating the plant with nom
union men. Yesterday afternoon and last
night a number of new men succeeded in
eludng the strikers and getting inside the
works, and before the day is over fourth
mill is expected to be in operation. The
situation at Wellsville is acute, and there
is no doubt the condition of affairs there
with the rumored Injunction proceedings,
caused President Shaffer to make his mys-
terious trip to that place yesterday.
While he has not divulged his reasons for
his sudden journey, 1t is believed that his
mission was to prevent any possible cause
for the interference of the courts by i'm
pressing the strikers the Importance of
remaining orderly. Manager Brookman of
the Weiisville plant, in an interview, stated
today that they were expecting new men
every day, and they will have every mill
in the plant running full by next week.
Mayors Action Popular.
At McKeesport all remains as heretofore
The fact that many of the officials of the
mill have left for their summer vacations
has caused the strikers to relax their Wig
ilance in the vicinity of the Devices Wood
plant. The strikers seem now almost con-
vinced that no effort will be made to start
the mills in the future.
he uecldTdllOn OIL May bl2ck last
that he would not permit deputies in the
idle mills or allow the city police to guard
the company S property has caused a SEN
sation and the mayor awakened this morn
ing to find himself the most popular man
in western Pennsylvania with the mill
strikers Hundreds of mill workers from
Homestead and Duquesne Joined the Nc
Keesport workmen this morning in a pro-
ceSSion to the mayors Office to thank him
for the stand taken.
The men of the Boston Iron and Steel
Company formed an Amalgamated lodge
last night with thirty members. This is
considered a great victory for the strikers,
as the Boston works has always been con-
sidered non-union
Guarded by Police.
There was change in the status of
affairs at Clark's Solar iron works in this
city, or at Lindsay and McCutcheons AL
legheny plant. The latter is still closed
down in every department. A force of coal
and iron and city police guard the Solar
property, but everything is quiet and the
strikers are remaining away from the vi
cinity of the works.
AT Painters mill, in the west end a
number of men were engaged today In
tearing away the brick work surrounding
the heating and pudding furnaces AS
soon as possible brickayers will be put to
work replacing this with new brick 1t
WI require at least two weeks to COM
plete the job, and the strikers are resting
easily, because they say it will be impos-
Sible to make any ATTEMPT to start the
mills until this has been finished The
local railroads are slowly beginning to feel
the effects Of the strike by the counter
mandins Of orders for coal shipments that
had been placed by the different mills
previous to the beginning of the strike.
The officials anticipate a falling off in
short-haul traffic at once and if the strike
continues for a week or more steady
shrlnkage in ng-distance traffic
Views of Shafrer.
President Shaffer still refuses to admit
that strike conference was held at the
Hotel Lincoln Tuesday night, or to explain
his mysterious visit to Weusville yester-
day.
On the general strike situation President
Shaffer declared there had been little
change within the past few days The
reports that something definite would he
gone by MIN within the next day or two
in the way of calling a strike in more
mills. the labor leader refused to discuss
He explained that matters were in such
shape now that it was a little too early
for him to say what his next move wouId
be.
Other Amalgamated officials however. in
tifnated that the attempt of the companies
TO resume operations at their mills with
non-unlon men or the carrying ont of the
threat to break the strike by court iniunc
lions restraining the strikers from inter
fering with the non-union men on the
SlieetS WOuiu preClpltate a crisis and com
pei Mr.. Shaffer to put his plan of strike
extension into execution
A Peaceful Policy.
A Wellsville. Ohio dispatch saws as q re-
suit Of President Shafer's orders, none of
the Workmen were molested today as thew
went to and from work. Instead of run
ming four mills single turn and one mill
double turn, as was announced by men at
the mill, 1t was decided last night to run
two of the mills double turn and operate
only three Of them this morning This will
make a total of five turns.
TWenty-four skilled men are required to
run one mill three turns, so it is figured
that the company will need nearly forty
skilled men. The strikers say they have
not twenty-five. Not man arrived this
forenoon on any of the trains The
strikers did not congregate about the
streets as usual. Most of them remained
at the camp on the West Virginia side of
elsewhere 1t was the quietest day this
week.
On account Of the policy of President
Shaffer Of avoiding all gatherings at which
disorder might result, the open-air mass
meeting the public square announced
for tomorrow night has been abandoned for
the present.
Did Not Start the Plant.
CLEVELAND, July 25.-The United
States Steel Company did not attempt to
start the new Newburg hoop mill this
morning, although it. was stated several
days ago the plant would be put In oper-
alton today. Whether the failure to start
was owing to a lack Of help or that the
mill had not been fully completed the offi-
cdals Of the company declined to state. In
discussing the matter Vice President Ward
of the Amalgamated Association said:
''The combine Is resorting to every means
to obtain men to start the Newburg plant,
but do not believe they will be success
full. The management has offered rough
ers So day, with a guarantee of their
salary being paid for year whether they
work or not, and have offered the same
terms to stranuers at s. per day, while
the scale is only 81, but have not been sue
cessful In getting the men to break away
from the Amallamated Association"
Trust Officials Reticent
NEW YORK, July 25.-A M Garland,
former president Of the Amalgamated As
sociation, has been in New York for few
days past. and has been In conference with
officials of the subsidiary companies of the
United States Steel Corporation. They dis
cussed the strike situation, but as far as