The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-13
DISASTER SEEMS TO.
THREATEN THE
STRIKERS
As Yet But $4,000 Men Have
Obeyed Shaffer's
Order.
WESTERN Men REFUSE
At Chicago. Joliet, Bay View and in
Ohio Workers Disappoint
Him.
THIS MATTER is TO Be INVESTIGATED
Meanwhile More Men Are Now Joining Strikers
Prospects Of Greater Accessions Seem
Good. An Appeal to 0rganiz.d
Labor For Aid.
(By the Associated Press.


Pittsburg, Pa, August 12.-The struggle
for mastery between manufacturers and
men in the steel industry is now fairly
launched and on the first show of
strength advantage is with the former.
The general strike order issued by Presi-
dent Shaffer, of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation, has SO far been obeyed by about
$4,000 men, according to the best figures
obtainable here. The first two prelimi-
nary calls were answered by about 10000
men, so that the total number now out
is in the neighorhoOd of 10000
The strikers made gains here today
over the showing of last night and their
prospects for further accessionS at both
Mceesport and Wheeling during the week
are very favorable. The action OF the
Amalgamated men at Chicago, Joliet and
Bey View in refusing to come out and
their failure to secure any recruits in the
Carnegie group throughout the Kiskime-
tas Valley and the big plants at Youngs-
town and Columbus, Ohio, have been
markedly Disappointing to them. They are
keeping up the fight, however, in spirit
ed manner and claim that they have
strength in reserve which will surprise
their opponents. They assert that they
have gained foothold in the Carnegie
mills in this city and at the time desired
the men will come out. They are press
ing their advantages at McKeesport and
Wheeling and their organizers are still
at work in those two cities.
President Shaffer has decided to per-
sonally visit Wheeling and will go there
Wednesday to address mass meeting of
his followers He plans to spend to-
morrow here directing the fight and con-
ferring with his assistants as to plans
for the future. An appeal for financial
aid has been made to organized labor
and the general public and it is expected
that the responses to 1T will be liberal.
The Amalgamated leaders were not dis
posed to do much talking today. They
would not discuss the desertion of their
Western fellows, although Mr.. Shaffer
made what was evidently intended for
brief reference to them in a short state
ment he gave out at noon Another dec
laration in the same interview was re-
garded as highly significant here. 1t
was to the effect that no effort would be
made to call out members of the Ameri-
action on their part must be voluntary
Th men who are directing the fight in
the field for the Steel Corporation and its
constituent companies would give no in
dication of their plans for the future and
only discuss the situation generally. Their
reports showed the Carnegie group, South
Chicago, Bay View, oliet, Youngstown,
Columbus, the Kiskminetas Valley group,
Wellsville and Monessen were moving
along wull-handed. Bellaire, their ad-
vices showed, was badly crippled but mad
held on until five o'clock in the after
noon and would be started up again to-
morrow. They admitted the loss today
of the National Rolling Mill at Mckees-
port, which they had expected to hold
and that the oston mill and Monongahela
Steel Works at McKeesport and the Re-
public and Elba here we're tied up. Their
tube workers at McKeesport and here
were still at work but menaced by pos
sible shortage of material. Their tube
men at Wheeling were out but the fur
mace and coke men there were at work
and their steel men there showed an in
clinatiOn to stay on unless intimidated
They also claimed that many of their men
at McKeesport desired to work but were
Delng CerFOflZeu Dy the QlSOrderiy ele-
ment. They also charged that many of
their men were fribhtened from their
places at Wheeling and insisted that ade-
quate protection for the men there would
insure continued operations. 1t was also
stated by the Steel officials that Clarke
Mills, here, was moving along with its
non n-union crews engaged last week and
that. another mill manned by old ANAL
gamated men had started up at Wells
Vile, representing a gain of one there
since Saturday.
Officials Of the National Tube Com
pany and Mayor Black clashed today over
the question of protection for non strikers
and property. A large crowd OF strikers
assembled around the works this morn
ing and their pckets intercepted tube
workers. on their way to the mills. There
was some excitement and the mill Off
GERS claimed that their men were being
thgeatened and in danger of violence,
aoa called on Mayor Black to clear the
streets and protect them. The mayor