The Billings gazette., 1901-08-13
STRIKERS MAKE GAINS
In Vicinity Of Pittsburg and Claim
to Have Strength in
Reserve.

President Shaffer of the Amalgamated
association became effective today
and thousands of workers left their
placs to return at some indefinite
time in the future, either victorious
over iron masters or in humble defeat.
The order to strike was generally
obeyed wherever workers were organ
lied and enrolled in the lodges of the
Amalgamated association, but it will
be Monday before an accurate count
can be made of the men who have
gone out A great majority of the
mills closed down on Saturday and re-
open Sunday night and true test OF
the strength of the contending sides
will be furnished by the number of
men who return to work tomorrow and
Monday. The policy of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor has not yet
been fully disclosed and that fact con-
tributes another element of uncer-
tainty to the situation. The action
of the executive board of mine work
ers at Indianapolis today in resolving
to support the strike cheered the
Amalgamated men and they are con-
fident that the federation will aid
them to the fullest extent. The clos
ing hours of labor and opening hours
of the strike lacked spectular action.
This city, which is the strike center,
was calm and undisturbed. There
was no excitement or violence and the
pulse of the community was normal.
Police officials issued an order sus-
pending for the time being thevacation
system. They do not anticipate trou-
BILE but want to have every man here
and ready for duty in case it should
come. They say that President Shat
fer has counselled peaceful methods
and that they hope the strikers and
their sympathizers will heed his ad-
vice.
The strikers held series of demon
strations in the outlying towns and
President Shaffer spoke a final word
of encouragement to his industrial
troops. Great throngs of workers
turned out to greet and cheer the lead
er and exchange pledges to maintain
the contest upon which they have en-
tered.
A storm broke in the middle of the
afternoon and the rain which followed
kept many persons in doors. The
striking development of the day was
the official announcement from the
Tin Plate company to the effect that
certain plants of the company crippled
by the strike would be dismantled and
removed to Monessen. Almost at the
same time it was unoflcially announc-
ed that there was chance that the
plant Of the American Steel Hoop COM
pany at Warren, Ohio, would be torn
ity more favorable to the corpora
ton. The order of yesterday declar.
ing that the Devices wood plant at
McKeesport would be dismantled was
already being carried out and the an
nouncement from the American Tir
Plate company created a marked i'm
preston. Representatives of the
strikers insisted that the company
was not in good faith in the announce
ment and that even if it was it coult
not enforce such methods. Opponents
of the strikers counted the plan an
other victory and declared that th'
strike must fail in the face of sucl
decisive action.
Pittsburg, Aug. 12-The struggle TO
mastery between manufacturers an
men in the steel industry is now fail
ly launched, and on first show O
strngth the advantage is with tn
former.
The general strike order issued b.
President Shaffer of the Amalgamate
association has so far been obeye
by only about $4,000 men, accordin
to the best figures obtainable here
The first two preliminary calls wer
answered by about $4,000 men, SO tha
the total number now out is in tn
neighborhood of 10000.
The strikers made gains here toda.
over the showing of last night AM
their prospects for further accession
1t both McKeesport and Wheeling dur
ing the week are very favorable.
The action Of the Amalgamated mel
at Chicago, Joliet and Bay View il
refusing to come out and their failure
TO secure any recruits in the Carnegie
group throughout the Kiskimineta'
valley and the big plants at Youngs