The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-26
Eighty skilled Men Taken Into the
Works and All Its Eight Mills said
to Be Fully Manned.
ALL QUIET AT OTHER POINTS
NO EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO
START THE TUBE MILLS.
strikers Contradict the Claims Made
by steel Omcials-Pfckets Are
Alert in Mckeesport.

PITTSBURG, Aug. 25.-Some remarkable
changes i'm the condition of the strike
ridden mills of the United States Steel
Corporation are promised for the present
week that will change the aspect of at
fairs considerably if carried out. 1t was
stated on good authority to-day that be-
fore the end of the week those of the
plants that have been operating single
turn would be run with full force and for
the usual three full turns each day. Men
enough have been secured for this purpose.
the officials say. in spite of the claims OF
the strikers that the companies could not
get enough men to operate their plants.
and the managers of the various mills say
they will be ready with all the skilled men
required to start up the machinery and
turn out a heavy tonnage.
The most interesting situation is in the
Star mill, of the American Tin-plate Com
pany here This plant was. until this sum-
mer. considered as doomed. The tin-plate
company had, it is said, decided to aban-
don the mill and move the machinery else
where. Since the strike has come on them
and il was demonstrated that the operation
of the mill with nonunion men possi-
bic under the protection of a well-equipped
police force. the officials decided to keep
this mill make extensive improvements in
its equipment and make permanent fix
ture of tie company. The most significant
feature of this plan has been carried out
during the past week. This consists OF
h,ting the mill /. "a same msnaer as that
of the Monessen. Pa. plant. The former
eight single mills have been charged TO
four double mills Other impr vements
have been added that will give the plant
a larger capacity, increase its force OF men
and make il one of the most modern of all
the tin plants of the country. With the
completion of these improvements. the
company will be prepared 10 place suffi-
cient number of men in the plant TO work
the four double mills three full turns. This
is said to be expected to take place during
the present week. Before Saturday, ac-
cording to Superintendent Piper, of the
Star mills, the plant will be operated to its
full extent.
Referring TO the present condition of the
mills. Mr. Piper said. 1--WE received eighty
skilled men early this morning. Mr.. j. II.
Phillips. of the company accompanied the
men TO the mill and IL not until after
they were in and comfortably settled for
the night that the strikers discovered their
presence. Those men are of the best in
the trade and will enable US TO move the
plant on a better basis than before"
Outside the Star plant to-day large
number of strikers were on picket duty.
They were quiet and orderly. but had their
eyes and ears open for any signs of new
comers The peculiar feature of the strike
about the Star plant is the good feeling
displayed between the strikers and the
manager of the plant. When Superintend-
ent Piper left the buildings, early this
morning, he met the strikers and laughed
good-naturedly at them He said TO tho
anxious pickets: II had more fun i'm get
ting those last men into the plant than
at a game OF checkers
When the strikers were told of the claims
of the officials of the Star mill they denied
that there were many skilled men at
work was claimed and said those who
were i'm the plant sent there from the
Monessen plant. which was being crippled
in order to accomplish this work. Strenuous
denials were also made regarding alleged
desertions from the Amalgamated ranks
to fill the positions offered by the corpora
ton, and ii was said that II would be inn
possible TO obtain men enough TO operate
the plant without settling the strike.
There change I'm the situation re-
garding the tube mills to-day. The mills
remained away from the plants. IL is un-
derstood that the officials of the National
Tube Company have practically determined
not to start these plants for the present.
Everything at McKeesport is reported
quiet Pickets are around the Demmler
tin-plate mill I'm large numbers. but they
are orderly and determined TO be on
hand all night, as they believe an attempt
will be made to start the plant I'm the
morning While the fires are lighted and
the mill apparently in readiness for a start,
il was impossible TO get any OF the Of
ficials TO name the exact time when the
attempt will be made.
In furtherance Of the peace" programme
which II said TO have been I'm course OF
preparation for several days. AZ was given
out to-day by one on the inside. and ono
who should know. that the Amagamated
executives have consented TO have certain
propositions made TO the officials of the
United States Steel Corporation through
members OF the concilatory committee OF
the National Civic Federation. which pro-
posals are expected TO bring about a set.
tlement OF the great strike. Those in
terested in the matter were in waiting all
cay to-day for word proceed with the
programme az outlined at the confer
ence OF Amalagamated executives and the
conclliatory committee OF the Civic Feder-
alton last Friday. The proT ositions
which are 10 be taken 70 New York carry
certain concessions by the Amalgamafed
officials which II is hoped will pave the way
FOR the reopening OF direct negotiations be-
tween the association and the company.
The proposition carries much OF the terms
under which President Shaffer and his ad-
visers stand willing TO settle. What these