New-York tribune., 1901-07-16
THE STEEL STRIKE.

y
concerned. No matter how peacefully it may
/, be conducted, ii is certain to result i'll much
| hardship and loss, and in a bitter feeling whch
| bodies no good to either party. President Shaf-
| fer of the Amalgamated Association appears TO
| be a serious and moderate man, and not one OF
the adventurers trying TO show their power ana
promote their own personal interests VINO nave
been too familiar leaders of labor disputes.
He has the confidence of the men, is apparently
! CARRYING out their wishes, has cautioned them
against violence and urged them while abstain
| ing from work to keep away from the mlils.
Moreover whatever be the merits of his con-
tentions, it may be said that he has conducted
negotiations with dignity and fair degree Oh
candor.
There is no dispute as 10 the immediate cause
of the strike. 1t is not matter OF wages MOI
is IT O question of recognizing the union. The
question is merely whether or not the steer COIL
panies shall unionize certain mills which nave
not hitherto been union though union men were
not barred from them and union rates OF wages
were paid In fact strong organizations had
been formed in them, as is shown when, III
RESPONSE TO the strike order. they are closed
down Under such circumstances unlonlZaron
would simply mean that the steel companies
would compel their free workmen TO JON the
Amalgamated Association on pain or beihg
deprived of n chance to earn living IN the
few mills where they have worked without
entagouism TO the union or cutting the market
price of labor. All other points In dispute might
easily have been arranged. but the AlbHiga-
mated Association would offer no compromise
whatever on this-though the companies oIf@fed
70 unionize some of the open mills-but insisted
that the men in all the mills should he forced
regardless of their desire. to join The associa-
M; +ra would not agree
to. and in justice could not agree TO- 1t would
have been an act of tyranny on their part quite
rs indefensible as an absolute refusal to let
those of their employees who wished join thn
union They treated their employees as free
men, recognized the labor organization fu'ly'
allowed il TO dominate most OF the MUS, ana
only insisted that they would not themselves
become instruments of coercion in the hands OF
the association to force the minority who pre-
ferred TO be free workers into the organization
or out of the steel business.
The only excuse which the union gives for
this seemingly unreasonable and un-American
demand is the charge that the manufacturers
give these free mills preference in the disu'-
button of work and at slack times force tue
men in the union mills to idleness. This is
denied by the companies. Even II the charge is
true in the present and immediately prospcc-
70 be a matter of such serious concern to union
men as 10 warrant strike which otherwise
could he avoided.
The real reas son for the stand for absolute
unionization is more probably not an actual
grievance concerning the few free mills but
determination long cherished 10 extend the
organization at a favorable time and put the
whole steel industry within its grasp as a Beces-
sary step TO possible future contests over more
serious and rs yet unformulated demands. Mr..
Shaffer himself spoke yesterday OF the strike as
''the condition for which we have been prepar-
ing these three years and more" Undoubtedly
this is a favorable time 10 make the stand.
The business is profitable and no manufacturer
wants TO shut down. Great financial interests
want a good market for the new steel corpora
ton securities and must also desire TO avoid q
strike which is sure TO be represented as the
effort OF the trust to oppress labor. Many
considerations therefore. urge the companies to
agree to any possible terms. On the other
hand. if they yield the point and compel their
free workers TO join the union they yield nearly
everything and put the Amalgamated Associa-
ton in a far stronger position TO enforce any
demands it may make hereafter. The extent of
the steel combinations is in itself an Indictment
to demagogues and an invitation to excessive
demands, and perhaps only by resisting the
nresent pressure can any future freedom be
secured Organized labor seems TO have sought
at the outset while the trust has yet TO over
come prejudice and commend itself TO public
favor a contest as to who shall really control
the properties, and naturally its first step is TO
force all employees of the trust into the union If
possible This strike is not for present better
ment of the condition Of labor, but for future
power.