The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1901-08-16
THE GREAT STRIKE BEGINS.
How the Great Steel Trust Aims to
Strike Back.
MILLS WILL BE DlSMANTLED,
Concentration of Steel Plants which will
Extingulsh Towns and MercilessIy Turn
workmen Adrift-A Had Blow at the
Amalgamated Association.

general order of President Shaffer, of
the Amalgamated Association, became
effective and thousands of workers left
their places TO return ut some indefinite
time IN the future, either victorious
over the ironmasters or in humble de-
feat. The order to strike was general
ly obeyed wherever the workers were
organized and enrolled in the lodges of
the Amalgamated Association. The
action of tine executive of the mine
workers at indianapolis in resolving to
support the strike cheered the Amalga-
mated men, and they are confident that
the federation will aid them to the full
est extent. The closing hours of labor
and the opening hours of the strike
lacked spectacular action. Pittsburg,
which is the strike center, was calm
and undisturbed There was no excite
ment or violence. and the pulse of the
community was normal. This action,
following the statement of President
Gompers, in which he promises to aid
the strikers, is regarded as significant,
ms il Is the first movement toward unit
ing all the organizations connected
with the federation in supporting the
steel strikers.
In an address to 5000 union men ut
Il
fer made this formal tender for arbl-
tration: Now in our willingness to
settle the matter we are ready to ar
btrate. Let the Amalgamated Asso-
citation select one man and let the trust
select one. the two to select a third
We will abide by the decision of the
three" This announcement was made
on behalf of the strikers that on Fri
day an offer to arbitrate was formally
submitted TO the United States Steel
Corporation. According to this state
ment the offer was made to ]. Pierpont
Morgan, whose reply, rejecting it, was:
This is no time for arbitration"
The citizens of Dubois have offered
$1,000000 to have the McKeesport mill
moved to that place.
The news comes from Pittsburg that
under cover of the turmoil and cOnfu-
sion of the strike the steel trust aims
to carry out plan of merclleSS concen-
tration. the success of which means
not only the subjugatiOn of labor. but
the extinction of cities and towns. 1t
is obviously cheaper to operate one big
mill than two of half the capacity. So
the mills which are the foundation of
many of the minor towns in the iron
district are to be dismantled and the
machinery moved to centers like Chi
cagO. Pittsburg and Cleveland. There
Is no secret about this now: the work
has already begun. and more towns are
marked for destruction. 1t is simply
business with the trust. If the salaries
of superintendents and bookkeepers
can be saved. sentimental cOnsidera-
tons for the welfare of towns. or for
the ruin of stOrekeeperS and property
owners near the doomed mills cannot
weigh with the giant corporation.
An order has been issued to disman-
tie and remove the Devices Wood
works in McKeesport at once. This
will be a severe blow to the town.
The Devices Wood works is one of the
oldest and best known plants in Penn
sylvania. 1t was founded nearly 40
years ago. and its shops and mills COW
cred from l. to II acres. 1t employed
an average Of 900 men. but in the bus
lest times the pay roll carried 1,200
names. The plant cost several million
dollars. The company recently ar
nounced its intention of expanding a
large sum of money In improvements,
but the order to dismantle terminates
that plan. The sentiment Of the citi-
Zens and officials of McKeesport has
been against the steel corporation, and
it is believed that the latter preferred
to get out rather than attempt to re-
sumo.
National Secretary Williams, Of the
Amalgamated Association, is reported
to have said: IL tell you. this question
will have to be settled some way. If
not by peaceful strike then by legisla-
ton. If that fails. the ballot will be
tried. If all else fails. believe that IL
will result in an appeal to the bayonet
| tell you there is condition existing
to-day that places this country on the
eve of one of the greatest revolutions
that ever occurred in the history Of
the world"
The steel men in the west-at Joliet.
H.: Milwaukee. Wis. and South Chi
cago. Wis. have refused TO obey the
strike order issued by President Shat
fer.
The mills of the American Sheet
Steel Co.. at Nandergrift. Apollo.
Leechburg. Hyde Park and Salisbury
are all running full. None of the old
men failed to report for work. The
management is confident that the
plants will continue to be operated in
full.
The employees of the Scottdale and
Old Meadow plants OF the American
Sheet Steel Co. Mt Scottdale. went to
work as usual. There were no signs Of
disaffection.
Straat cars MANNED 40 Chicapoon