The age-herald., 1901-08-10
GOnpers|ssuesS sStatGnentPIpdg- ing Moral and Financial
 Support of His Body CORPORATION SHOWS FIGHT
Plays It's First Trump By Ordering tlle Dewees-Wood Plant at Mckees- port Dismantled Preparatory
 To Removal

Pittsburg, August a-There were grave situation today. The United States Steel Corporation moved decisively in its stritie campaign with preemptory order direct ing that the great Dewees Wood plant at McKeesport be dismantled and removed to the Kiskiminetas Valley.
 President Gompers of the American Federation of Labor, after two days conference with President Shaffer, has with his associates issued a formal tatement tonight specifically pledging the Federation to the moral and financial support of the Amalgamated Association. His written review of the train of events leading to industrial quarrels sustains the course of the Amalgamated Association and decides that nothing remains but to battle for the cause of unionism.
 The official announcement of the order to dismantle the Dewees Wood plant was great surprise and McKeesport received 1t at first with doubt. Actual prepara- tions were made later in the day for the dismantling and there is little room for doubt that it will be torn down. The strikers heard the order in spirit of
 
 the steel corporation was convinced that 1t would not reopen the plant in the face of the opposition of the Amalgamated Association. Strike leaders here said that the order was a bluff that had unsuc- cessfully. before and declined to take it seriously.
 Move From Hostile Point.
 The steel officials declined to give any reason for the order, but 1t is openly stat ed here that the pronounced sympathy Of the citizens and city officials at Mo hoensport with the strikers Is responsible Tor it. It is said that the plant of the National Tube Company's plant at Me- keesport will be will be abandoned and the old Carnegia plant for a tibe plant connaut, Ofi.. revived.
 The Dewees Wood plant was founded Aoout forty years ago, and Is one of ehs best known plants in Pennsylvania. It's yards and mills cover between twelve and fourteen acress It has employed 12oO men at its busiest times, and It's cost is placed at $5,00o,000 by officials of the steel corporation.
 President Gompers of the American Federation of Labor WAS at strike head quarters again this afternoon with Secre- fary Morrison. and was closeted with the advisory board of the Amalgamated As- sociation for more than three hours. He gave out the following statement:
 MT. Gompers' Statement.
 Since the arrival of Secretary Morri- son of the American Federation of Labor ana myself we have been in almost con- tinual conference. We made thorough investigation of the present strike, of it's members formerly in the employ of the United States Steel Corporation and it's constituent branches, the caus which led to the strike, the present situation of the country, and we unhes.tatingly declare OUT judgment that the position of the Amalgamated Association Is absolutely justified and essential to its continuance and effectiveness as a union of the work CTS in the trade, as well the protector of the rights and interests of its mem bers.
 Tt is true that the Amalgamated As sociation in the first conference asked that the United States Steel Corporation sign the union scale of wages for all the mills in operation owned and controlled by that company, but it is also true that the request was withdrawn and one sub stituted, so that the union scale should apply to the mills only in which the mem bers of the Amalgamated Association are employed; in other words which are we'll known to be union Inlls. This the United States Steel Company refused to concede, insisting that the scale should apply only to those mills which were In the union last year, even refusing to allow two mills to be included which by a species of hectoring and systematic opposition of the company had become non-union during the year.
 Modified It's Demand.
 "Even the first demand for the scale to be applied generally throughout the jur- isdiction of the company was commend able for the obvious reason that an en- ployer should be willing to pay uniform wage to men who performs like work; but realizing that 1t was demand for those whom 1t did not fully represent, the Amalgamat ted Association modified its demand to the extent already stated.
 "It appears that the company took the position it did with an avowal that it would not allow the extension of the union to non-unionists. Such position and avowal are tantamount to declarin that notwithstanding the growth of the craft, the organization had reached a status beyond which 1t could not ex- tend.
 ''Now, any one at all familiar with in- dustrial development and economic or ganization is aware that organized labor advances or recedes, never stands still. It therefore follows that If a trust, by its great wealth can prevent the exten- sion and growth of the Amalgamted As sociation. it encompasses its disintegra- ton and destruction. The only power then standing between the trust and workers as a protector are the tender mercies of It's directors. Against such q calamity all sense of justice and hu- manity revolt. and against 1t we solemn 1y protest.
 We shall stand by the Amalgamated Association in the present conflict to the full extent of our power. both morally and financially; we shall aid in every law full way the men on strike who may come out on strike to maintain the work CTS in their right to organize and the extension of their organization: so that the only power which stands for their protection and advancement against the avarice of concentrated wealth may, be