Evening star., 1901-09-05
Strike at McKeesport, Pa, Seems to
Be Crumbling
DEMMLER PLANT STARTS UP
Many of the Old Hands Return
to Work.
ADVISORY BOARD. MEETING
special From a STAFF Correspondent.

Special From a STAFF Correspondent.
McKEESPORT. Pa, September 5.-The
big strike in McKeesport began to crumbe
in earnest today. Five hundred more men
went to work in the tube works and the
Demmler tin plate works started up, 100
of the old EN- ployes returning to their
places. The managers expect to have more
men on the night shift.
All night long the sheriff's deputies
guarded the big Demmler plant. The men
from Pittsburg took possession yesterday
afternoon. much to the disgust of Mayor
Black. who issued a long statement, pro-
testing against this alleged infringement
of his municipal authority, but winding up
by advising the strikers to keep away from
Demmler
When the morning arrived the mills were
ready to start, and by o'clock the old op-
eratives began to come back In little
squads. few strikers stood the out
skirts of the company's property, but did
not offer TO modest the returning workmen.
OF course only a portion of the works
could be operated, but the main fact was
that the work was being done by the old
employees and members of the Amalga-
mated Association. The break in the ranks
of the strikers at McKeesport may have an
influence with the strike leaders in the
pending peace negotiations.
Advisory Board in Session.
PITTSBURG, Pa. September 5.-Presi-
dent Shaffer. while unwilling to favor &C
ceptance of the latest proposition of the
steel trust for settlement of the strike,
did not feel inclined to assume the entire
responsibility for refusal He thereupon
called his advisory board together, and five
members met in his office this morning. At
noon it was reported that the advisory
board was not ready to accept the steel
trusts offer, but was at work upon coun-
ter proposition. the details of which at that
hour had not been completed.
1t is said that the acceptance of the
trusts offer would reduce the power of the
Amalgamated Association to the extent of
30 per cent. and the officials of the associa-
tion preferred possibly complete defeat to
surrender upon such terms.
The press of this vicinity that has in the
main been friendly to the association today
counsels acceptance of the compromise.
The friends of the association fear that in
the end the association may lose altogether
The situation is still uncertain, and no
prophecy can be made of what the outcome
will be before the day ends
Continued friction between the Amalga-
mated Association and Federation of Labor
men In McKeesport resulted in a joint
meeting OF committee from each body this
afternoon. The federation men, uneasy
over their prospects, have been threatening
to break off their sympathy strike. They
could get no assurances from the Amalga-
mated that they would be taken care of in
the deal. The conference is still on, and
no reports are at hand of the result
No Decision Reached.
The morning conference of the Amalga-
mated advisory board took a recess at l
o'clock without having reached a definite
decision upon any point. Indications are
that the deadlock continues between the
steel trust and the AmaIgamated, but con-
ditiOns are altogether too uncertain to
make an absolute statement OF any kind
The advisory board are evidently in deep
water. The strike leaders are exceedingly
reticent and their manner indicates appre-
ciation OF their desperate situation.
In the meantime the trust is going ahead
with preparations for opening more mills
AT o'clock this afternoon reports from
Mckeesport showed no change there. About
15O strikers are gathered around the DENIM
Ter mill, but they have made no demonstra-
tion n q NJ