Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-12

oottie Will the SIedttSt Trust tudl was
ever organized"
He continued:
Arbitration is what the manufact-
urers have been asking from us for
years. 1t opens a new phase entirely in
the situation. II the manufacturers
think they can stamp out our organi-
cation, they are certainly laboring un-
der the greatest mistake of their lives.
If they should defeat us now it will on
ly cause a new and far stronger labor
organization to rise up in our place
within a few years that would have
graver meaning to it. II the United
States Steel trust is wise. 1t will deal
with us. 1t is to their interest to do so.
Men in this country will never submit
to being obliterated, you can depend
upon that. Further than this, l can
say that the men who come out on
strike at this time. will not be the last
to come out before this fight is over.
There will be thousands that will be
drawn into this struggle as the organ
izations of the entire country are vital
ly interested in the fight We are making
and feel that their own future depends
on our success. Our position has been
fair at all times. There has been no
suggestion for peace that we have not
considered and acted upon while the
trust has from the start declined to ev-
en- discuss the question.
81 tell you this question will have to
be settled in some way II not by
peaceful strike, then by legislation. II
that fails, the ballot will be tried. If
all else fails, / believe that 1t will re-
suit in IN appeal to the bayonet. I tell
you, there is a condition existing to-
day that places this country on the
eve of of the greatest revolutions
that ever could occur in the history of
the world"
Mr.. Williams said that the strike had
been studiously avoided by the officers
of the Amalgamated Association. 1t
had been as s%tudiously encouraged by
the officials of the manufacturers or
ganization. The officials of the Anal
gamated Association had done all they
could and had worked hard to bring
about peace. The battle was now in
the hands of the men and it was up TO
them as to what the outcome would be.
Every labor organization in the country
was with the Amalgamated Association
in this struggle. The American FEEDER
alton had taken steps to aid in the fight
to the full limit of it's power. The
knights of Labor, represented by Pres
ident Simon Burns, of L. A. 300, had
come forward with money and encour-
agement. That portion of the same
body under Master Workman Parsons
had instituted proceedings in Ohio and
Indiana to prosecute the trust on legal
grounds.
At New Castle there are now 500
men out of work through the strike.
Four thousand of these quit work when
the Shenango and Greer tin mills were
closed, and 800 more went out when the
steel and bar mills Of the National Steel
Company closed in response to Pres
ident Shaffer's second call last week.
The stopping of the two latter plants
caused the local furnaces to close, as
there was no place for their product
when the steel mill is off. But fur
mace, the Neshannock, is now in opera
ton, the others having been blown out.
This indicates a long strike, as they
would simply have been cooked down If
the intention was to resume soon. The
striking Amalgamated men will hold
an open air mass meeting Wednesday
afternoon. The local situation is now
quiet, and it is not known whether or
not any attempt will be made to oper-
ate the New Castle plants by n%on-union
men.
The American Tin Plate Company
this afternoon began building high
picket fences about the Shenango and
Greer plants. These mills were closed
down at the first strike order issued
by President Shaffer. The fences are
sufficiently high and strong to resist
any but the most determined onslaught
and their erection now seems insignif-
cant. However, General Manager Geo.
Greer stated to-day that this has no
connection with the strike, but that
the company has intended for months
past to build the fences. Even with
this statement crowds OF strikers watch
ed from a distance the work with very
scowling looks.
A meeting will be held tomorrow
for the purpose Of organizing the fur