The age-herald., 1901-08-17
Joliet Finally Swings Into Line and the Strikers Are
 Now JubiIant
BOTH SIDES ARE CONFIDENT
If AmaIgamated Association Gets Fa- VorabIe Vote a. Milwaukee Off, cers Think They Can Win
 Out in Chicago.

Pittsburg, August 16.-The center Of in- terest in the steel strike today shifted to the west, where Joliet finally swung into line with the strikers and Milwau- kee appointed tomorrow as the time for a final vote on the question. The news that came out of the west cheered the strikers throughout the districts in this vicinity as no other developments have since the labor war was declared. In their enthusiasm they count on favor able action at Milwaukee tomorrow and carrying their hopes still farther, say that they win yet win Chicago over. These successes they declare with appar- ent confidence will make them masters of the situation and win the strike.
 The steel operators say the strikers are nearly at the fioodtide of their success and that when the ebb comes 1t can never be stopped They do not seem to be dis turbed by recent events, and with a confidence equal to that of the strikers talk of the certainty of ultimate success. They assert that popular sentiment has never been behind the strikers and that the general interest which was once aroused b. the contest is quickly waning. They claim that they are more than hold ing their own in the non-union plants that were unaffected, or have been start ed since the strike began, and are per fecting plans for re-opening several plants now idle. They also claim that many of their men, particularly at Me Keesport, Wheeling and Bellaire, were | forced out by intimidation. and will come 1 back soon as the excitement dies and i their safety is assured Talk of peace has | been dropped for the time being as ff.>ss agreed that in its present aspects the sit | uation indicates a prolonged and stub l born contest
 /; zoo Men Strike.
 | Two hundred men employed in the Ma | tional Galvanizing Works of the Nation | al Tube Works at McKeesport struck to- ! day. They were the last remaining work men in the affected trades in that city and the tie up Is now as complete as possible there. The organizers are work ing indefatigably to keep the men in line. They are also extending their operations to Duquesne and Homestead. the two great strongholds of the Carnegie Com pany ,and claim to be gaining ground at both places. The recent gains here and at Joliet will bring the total men brought out by the third and final call of Presi- dent Shaffer to about 30,000 and raise the grand total to something over 10000. Thousands of men out have found other work and the exact number now idle is unknown. President Shaffer announced today that after September 1 idle Anlal- gamated men would receive strike bene- fits of $4 a week a piece and that some provision would be made for men outside the organization.
 The lodges of the International Tin Plate Workers Protective Association throughout the country are passing upon this question of handling the Welch plates which the American Tin Plate Company plans to import to replenish the supply cut off by the strike, and their decision will have an important bearing on the strike. The tin plate workers claim that on certain occasions in the past when they asked for the aid of the Ama1- gamated Association they were given no satisfaction, and that the association itself furnished precedents against sym pathetic strikes.
 The statement closes with an assertion that one year ago the Amalgamated men refused aid in settling the scale. and that at Connelsville and Cleveland the Amal- gamated men aided the company in filling places of striking tin plate workers.
 A dispatch from McKeesport says: "The strikers, except the Duquesne plant of the Carnegie Steel Company, will be out in three days. They say it is or- ganized. and is waiting to cooperate with that this Is the trump card President the Homestead and Braddock mills and Shaffer has been holding. Trouble is ex- pected if men are imported or any old men return to work.