New-York tribune., 1901-08-11
OBEYING STRIKE ORDER.
THOUSANDS OF AMALGAMATED MEN
QUIT WORK-STEEL COMPANY RE-
JECTs AN ARBITRATION PROPOSAL
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BUNE.I

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BUNE.I
Pittsburg Aug 10.-Arbitration is the key
note. President Shaffer reserved it for his New
castle speech because of the loyalty of the
workers in thst city to the Amalgamated AS
sociation. John Pierce, a trustee of the Anal
gamated Association, said tonight that yester-
day proposition made to the officials Of
the United States Steel Corporation to arbitrate
the subjects under dispute, the Amalgamated
Association to call the strike off pending the
arbitration. and the decision of the arbitrators
to be final and binding. A third party in New
York carried the proposition to the corporation
officials. but they refused to consider it, saying
they would have no further dealings with the
Amalgamated Association. Mr.. Shaffer's talk
has led to much speculation as to a probable
settlement.
Those familiar with the union sentiment of
the steel and iron workers say there is no doubt
that the order Of President Shaffer which be-
came effective tonight. Will be obeyed almost
to a man in every plant of the United States
Steel Corporation where Amalgamated workmen
are employed The list has been we'll covered in
these dispatches.
The only plants that will start up Monday
morning the Homestead. Braddock and Du-
quesne mills. The men at the upper and lower
union mills in this city are still an unknown
quantity DuC IL Is the opinion JQdI enough men
will report for work to make a good showing
Major Lewis T. Brown. who started the Clark
mill with non-union men. is also superintendent
of the two union mills Owing to the strong
union feeling around Cleveland Ohio it is be-
lieved that the men at the Lorain plant of the
Federal Steel Company will be induced to stay
away from work. The Johnstown plant which
is not nearly so important will continue at
work as there is no union sentiment in that
city These are about the only exceptions. and
the remainder will close down.
The corporation is making every effort to save
the National Tube works at MeKeesport If
this can be accomplished, it is expected that the
strike at the other tube plants will collapse.
Owing to the oil excitement in the Southwest
the demand for tubes is unprecedented Prices
are high and orders almost all cash, hence the
company can i'll afford to lose such an oppor-
tunity to sell goods Just now the eastern tube
mill at GAINESVILLE. Ohio, new plant. is ready
to be put in operation, another mill is building at
Carnegie, and the Spang mills at Etna, near
this city, are running night and day. The de-
mand for steam pipe and pipe for plumbing is
also better than before. owing TO the extensive
building throughout the country.
PREPARING FOR A LONG FIGHT.
The corporation officials expect an extensive
strike. Hundreds of coal and iron police are
being sworn in. One badge maker in this city
has an order for thousand badges for these
officials A force of men is working night and
day and the finished badges are taken away by
the dozens TO the towns they are intended for.
The coal and iron police is peculiar to Penn
sylvania The law authorizing them was passed
for the anthracite coal operators. The police
are paid by the company employing them They
are taking the place of Pinkertons
Judging from reports coming in tonight of the
number of plants that are to be removed from
small towns on account of the strike. it would
seem as If all the corporation plants were to be
put on wheels. The work of dsmantling the
Devices Wood plant at McKeesport is going on
The threat has caused munlelpaI authorities in
other towns to be more careful in their remarks
about not giving the corporation protection
There will be effort to start any Of the mills
with non-union men next Monday The officials
~ various plants have given the men notice that
thew must return TO work within two DAYS or
their places will be declared vacant.
4 surging mass of humanity crowds McKees-
port streets tonight. TrainlOads and streetcar
loads of workers from Pittsburg went to the city
IN hear President Shaffer speak to the tube
workers. There are at least eight thousand men
in McKeespOrt directly interested in the issue
The only hope of the tube company lies in about
three hundred Swedes, who hold responsible
nIaces On all other occasions the Swedish
workers have refused TO join the strikers. They
all homes have society. and support
church None of them have been secured as
members of the Amalgamated Association.
FIRST MEN To GO OUT.
The strike at the Riverside plant of the Ma
tionaI Tube Company at BenwoOd W. Va. came
earlier than was expected. At o'clock this
morning when the men in the plate MILL where
the skelp for the tube works is rolled. finished
their turn. they dropped their tools and an
pounced to the managers that they would not
be back on Monday They were the first men
TO obey the general strike order OF President
Shaffer The mills had been operated as non
union plant end only recently organized
The Amalgamated leaders expected that the men
would hold another meeting. and feared tnat
opposition to the strike would develop. There
were $40 men employed in the plate mill. out
only one-half OF that number were engaged on
the turn which was finished at o'clock this
morning II is understood, however, that the
men on the other shift viii support the strike
and refuse to go to work when the next turn pc
gins The action OF the Riverside men greatly
pleased the strike leaders. and they say that the
tieup there will be general
The adviees received by the steel officials rrom
Wheeling conflict with the reports as 20 the
strike at the Riverside plant at Benwood- They
deny that the struck this morning and
insist that averything is auiet at the plant