The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-07-05
ONE OF THE MOST GIGANTIC STRIKES
EVER INAUGURATeD.
AMERICAN STEEL CORPORATION
To be Subjected to It IN All Its Con-
stituent Companies-Th9 Men AL
ready Ordered Out In the American
Steel Sheet and the American Steel
Hoop Companies-what the Result
VIII be Now a Matter Only OF Con.
lecture.

Pittsburg. July las a result of the
refusal of the representatives of the
American steel Sheet Company and the
American Steel Hoop Company. sub
sidiary companies Of the Great United
States Steel Corporation, to sign the
workers new scale at Saturdays con-
ference. circulars were sent out from
the national headquarters of the ANAL
gamated Association of the American
Steel n Tin Workers yesterday and
today declaring a strike at all the plants
of the two combines. The great strike
is now on, but it will be several days
before its actual extent is known. At
the outset, however, over So, 900 men will
be involved.
What the strike just inaugurated will
lead TO is problematical. Three months
g when a strike occurred in the
wood plant of the American Sheet Steel
Company at McKeesport. by the COM
pany refusing to allow its men to be-
come members OF the AmaIgamated
Association. President Shaffer threat
ened if the McKeesport strikers could
not win with their own strength he
would order a strike in every plant Of
the company. If the latter would not
yield he would then call out the union
men in every plant of the United States
Steel Corporation. Such a course would
end in the biggest strike the country
has ever seen. involving several hum
dred thousand men.
For the first few weeks the situation
will not show the strength of the asso-
citation. Almost all the plants of the
company. union and non-union, will be
compelled to shut down during the ear
ly part OF July to give the men a rest.
They have been working steadily since
the first of the year, many of them
without a weeks cessation. Union and
alike. they are demanding
a short vacation, and the prediction is
made that the companies will be I'M
bic to keep any one at work for two or
three weeks after tomorrow. The heat
is intense. and the men, one vice presi-
dent said today, are almost in a state
of revolt.
1t will be after. perhaps, the first Of
August, when the combine makes a Sc
rious attempt to start up in full that
the real battle will begin if no settle
ment has been reached at that time.
The company cannot we'll delay oper-
ol41S 1oLSCI Ildh lldl VII dCCOuhl VI
the present flood of orders. In fact, the
urgent orders now on the books can
scarcely wait through July. Thus the
association has almost a month more
to provide for the coming struggle. 1t
is the boast of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation officials that by that time they
will control so per cent. Of the capacity
of the combines plants.
Gradually the plans of President 7.
j. Shaffer of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation, are being uncovered. Since the
trouble in the W.. Devices mills in Nc
Keesport a few months ago the Anal
gamated Association has actively en-
gagged in breaking up the present ar
rangement of the combine in operating
parts of their plants with non-uniOn
men.
1t was believed by the Amalgamated
Association hat the promptness with
which the sheet steel combine came to
their terms in the McKeesport trouble
and allowed the union to exist in that
plant would prove a boon to further
aggressive action on the part of the
organized workmen. Taking advant-
age of the new United States Steel Cor
poration as the parent head of all the
other combines with which the Amalga-
gamated Association had to deal, 1t was
felt that d threatened strike of all the
union men in all branches of the steel
business would so brighten the combine
officials that they would give in and
allow every one of the n~on-union plants
to be unionized.
Thus is arrayed against the union or
ganization the two branches of the
United States steel Corporation. The
scale for the American Tin Plate Com
pany also a part of the greater cor
poration, has been signed. 1t is said,
however, that if this struggle continues
the amalgamated officials have the
power to cali out these tin plate work.
ers as a means of defense against the
parent corporation. which they hold
responsible for all disagreementS. The
strike now threatened in the bar mills,
following so closely Upon that of the
steel mills. has. therefore, a most Sc
rious aspect and may spread to enor-
nous proportions. Indeed, in some cir
cles, it is predicted that the gigantic
struggle that has been talked Of since
the organization of the United States
Steeel CORPORATION was formed, is on