The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-13
Men in Trust Mills at McKeespOrt
and Pittsburg Join the
Amalgamated.
APPEAL FOR FINANCIAL AID.
President Shaffer Asks for Con
tributiOns From Organized
Labor, but Will Not Seek
a Sympathetic Strike.

Pittsburg. Pa. Aug. 12.-The struggle for
in the steel industry is now fairly
launched. and on the first show OF strength
advantage is with the former.
The general strike orders issued by Pres
ident Shaffer OF the Amalgamated Asso-
citation has far been obeyed by only
about 1900 men. according to the best fig
ures obtainable. The first two preliminary
calls were answered by about 5000 men.
so that the total number now out is in the
neighborhood of 6oOoo.
The strikers made gains here to-day over
the showing Of last night and their pros
poets for further accessions at both Nc
Keesport and Wheeling during the week
are very favorable. The action Of the
Amalgamated men at Chicago, Joliet and
Bay View In refusing to come out. and
their failure to secure any recruits in the
Carnegie group throughout the Kiswimi
notas Valley and the big plants at Youngs-
town and Columbus. o.. have been marked
ly disappointing to them. They are keep
ing up the fight. however in a spirited man
ner and claim that they have strength in
reserve which will surprise their opponents.
They assert that they have gained a foot
hold In the Carnegie mills in this city. and
at the time desired the men will come out.
Ftn0ncloI Help SOIiclte0.
An appeal for financial aid has been made
to organized labor and the general public.
and IL is expected that the responses to IL
will be liberal. The Amalgamated leaders
we're net disposed to do much talking to-
day. They would not discuss the desertion
OF their Western fellows. although Mr..
Shaner made what vas evidently INTENDED
Tor brief reference TO them in a short
statement he gave cut at noon. Another
declaration in the same interview was re-
garded as highly significant here. 1t was
to call out members of the American FEEDER
3non OF Labor. and that any action on
their heir part must be voluntary.
me appeal for financial assistance was
prepared on FRIDAY last. but was not sent
out until to-day
IrOnmasters Are secretive.
Inc men who are directing the fight in
the field for the steel corporation and its
constituent companies would give no indica-
ton OF their plans for the future and would
only discuss the situation generally. Their
reports showed that the Carnegie group.
south Chicago. Bay View. Joliet Youngs-
town. Columbus. the Kiskiminotas Valley
group. Wellsville and Moessen were NOV
ing along full handed. Bellaire. their ad-
vices showed. was badly crippled. They ad-
mitted the loss to-day of the National Roll
ing Mill at McKeesport. which they lad
and Monongahela Steel Works at McKces-
port and the Republic and Elba here were
tied up. Their tube workers at McKeesport
by a possible shortage OF material Their
furnace and coke men there were at work.
and the.- steel men there showd an inciina-
tion to stay unless intimidated.
tube men at Wheeling were out but the
Called for Police Protection.
Officials of the National Tube Company
and Mayor Black clashed at McKeesport
to-day over the question OF protection for
nonstrikers and property. A large crowd
of strikers assembled around the works
tube workers on their way to the mills.
There was some excitement and the mill
officers claimed that their men were being
threatened and in danger of violence. and
called on Mayor Black to clear the streets
and protect them. The Mayor said that he
would only interfere to stop actual rioting
and assault.
Two other appeals were made to him later
in the morning. but he insisted that there
was no danger Of an outbreak. Another
were leaving the plant. and. while the
workers were jeered. no violence was Of
fered. The strikers say that it is only a
question of time when material will give
out and the tube men must quit.
May Ask for Militia.
Reports from Wheeling anu Bellaire fndi-
cate that there may be trouble there. At
the latter place an attempt Is to be made
to keep the plant in operation. and the mill
officials say that II they or the men who did
as State militia to them
At Wheeling reports that men were to be
imported have brought out crowds bent on
dicted that there will be serious clashes
there before the strike is settled
Incensed at Refusal to strike.
The Executive Committee of the Amalga-
mated Association will probably make an
exhaustive investigation of the action taken
by the lodges ut South Chicago. Bay View
and Joliet, in refusing 10 make the strike.
A radical element in the local lodges Bit
terly denounces the Western members and
insists that there was something irregular
about the matter. Others intimate that in
fuences that would not bear investigation
were used on the men. 1t is claimed that
canvass made a week ago showed a majority
in favor Of striking. and that no reasonable
explanation Of the change of front has been
made.
Appeals for Popular subscriptions.
In addition to its appeal to organized la
bor for financial aid. the Amalgamated AS
sociation also issued an appeal to its local
lodges urging the members who are en-
ployed to give literally to the cause. Con-
tinling the call says:
much financial assistance could be OBJ
tanned as we in our large cities start a
popular subscription. through the medium
Of the local newspapers. Public sympathy
is with u.s. and will support us IL given an
The above plan will be an ex-
cellent one II placed in operation
do what you can In this direction as 1t
will enable all fair-minded people to demon
strate their practical sympathy. II there
is any other plan you think of that would
assure the same purpose. then place Ii in
operation. as II Is absolutely necessary that
we have practical results along this line"