The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-08-16

Washington, Aug. 12.-President
Gompers and Secretary Frank Nor
rison, of the American Federation of
Labor. returned Saturday from Pitts
ourgh. where they were in conference
with President Shaffer and others in
the steel strike. Mr.. Gompers declined
to discuss the strike situation or plans
at this time. He said that the state
ment he gave out at Pittsburgh Friday
covered the ground and that he had
nothing to add to it. The statement
referred to is as follows:
"Since the arrival of Secretary Morrison,
| of the American Federation of Labor, and
| myself we have been in almost continual
| conference with the advisory board OF the
| Amalgamated Association of Iron, steel
| and Tin Workers. We made thorough
| Investigation of the present strike, OF Its
members formerly in the employ OF the
| United States Steel corporation and its
constituent branches; the cause which led
| to the strike; the present situation of the
| country, and we unhesitatingly declare
our judgment that the position OF the
| Amalgamated association is absolutely
| justified and essential to its continuance
| and effectiveness as union of the workers
| in the trade, as we'll as the protector of
the rights and interests of its members.
at is true that the Amalgamated asso-
| citation in the first conferences asked that
| the United States Steel company sign the
union scale of wages for all the mills oper-
ated. owned and controlled by that COM
| pany, but it is also true that the request
was withdrawn and one substituted so
| that the union scale should apply to those
mills only in which the members of the
Amalgamated association are employed;
| in other words, which are well known to
be union mills. This the United States
Steel company refused to concede, insist
| ing that the scale should apply only to
those mills which were union last year,
even refusing to allow two mills to be in
| cluded which, by species of hectoring
and systematic opposition of the company,
had become nonunion during the year.
Even the first demand for the scale to be
applied generally throughout the jurisdic-
| ton of the company was commendable
for the obvious reason that an employer
should be willing to pay a uniform wage
to men who perform like work; but realiZ-
ing that a demand for those whom it did
not fully represent, the Amalgamated asso-
citation 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
nonunionists. Such position and avowal
are tantamount to declaring that notwith-
STANDING the CROWN Ol the craft the or
ganiZation had reached state beyond
| which 1t could not extend. Now, anyone at
all familiar with industrial development
and economic organization are equally
aware that status is never possible Or
ganized labor advances or recedes, never
stands still. 1t, therefore, follows that if
the trust, by it's great wealth, can pre-
vent the extension and growth of the
Amalgamated association it encompasses
it's disintegration and destruction. The
only power then standing between the
trust and workers as a protector are the
tender mercies of its directors. Against
such a calamity the sense of justice and
humanity revolt and against which we
solemnly protest.
I'VE 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 lawful
way the men on strike or who may come
out on strike to maintain the workers 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 avarce of
concentrated wealth may be perfected and
perpetuated. When the overweening rich
combine for avarice, power and tyranny,
is it not the duty of the workers to unite for
home, justice, right and humanity? If
the trust should succeed in its purpose
to crush the Amalgamated association,
the victory would be dearly bought.
1.-THE fight of the brave Beers may end
in their undoing, but the spirit of justice,
the love of freedom and right suddenly
looms up in another part of our world,
these principles find lodgment in the hearts
of other men who will carry on the battle
until they are enthroned in the conscience
and everyday life of all peoples; SO with
the Amalgamated association, an organi-
cation may be defeated in contest, but
it will not be conquered.
1.-The Amalgamated association will not
be crushed; she will not be conquered;
she must not even be defeated
Proposes to Act Not Talk.
Mr.. Gompers refused point blank to
answer questions regarding any phase
of the strike question and when asked
if the executive council of the fedora
ton was to be called together or if the
federation men engaged in the steel,
iron and tin trade, would be called
out, replied that he would not discuss
the question at all.
81 propose to act, not talk" he said
The newspapers have threshed over this
strike matter too much already, and 1 do
not propose to take any part in the dis
cusSion in print The newspapers can say
what they please. l have nothing what
ever to add to what already have said
StdHu loT HuuSlrldl peace ana Will Go
everything within my power to bring about
an adjustment of the present conflict, and
as president of the federation to use nv
good offices, if necessary, between the two
sides of the conflict to settle the trouble.
stand ready to render any and all possible
aid to this end. l stand ready to assist the
Amalgamated in any way in my power.
further than this cannot talk"
United Mine Workers Pledge Ala.
indianapolis, Ind, Aug. 12.-The
executive board of the United Mine
Workers of America, in session here.
has officially recognized the steel
strike. At noon a resolution setting
out the causes of the strike. endors-
ing the action of the Amalgamated
association, pledging the support of
| the mine workers and calling on Pres
ident Gompers to cali meeting of
| the presidents and secretaries of all
bodies connected with the American
Federation of Labor to meet and de-
wise plans of aiding the strikers was
adopted. Copies were sent to Presi-
| dent Shaffer and President Gompers.
This action. following closely as it
| does the public statement of Presi-
dent Gompers, in which he promises
| to aid the strikers is regarded as siU