The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-27
ARBITRARY ACTION.
Unexpected Move Made by the Tube
Trust at McKeesport.
CONTRACTF0RCED ON MEN
It Is an Individual Agreement Re.
pudiating Unionism.
STRIKERS ARE LESS CONFIDENT,
But They Show Decided Determination
10 Stand Firm.
EMPLOYEES OF OTHER MILLS TO GO OUT
Mayor Of One Town Says He is with the
OF OTHER MILLS TO GO OUT
Mayor Of One Town Says He is with the
Strikers and that They Can Use Every
Legal Means TO Gain Their Point.

Pittsburg. July 2e,-The National rube
Works company at MeKeesport has made
an unexpected Move intended TO checkmate
tho Amalgamated association. Their skilled
workmen have been asked to sign Individual
contracts to practically repudIate any IN.
ion labor ana they have been given but n
short time to think the matter over. It Ia
said that should they not sign oho con.
tracts they VIII aud their positions vacant
and the axe Is expected TO tall tomorrow.
Thursday evening the 600 wolders or the
mills were rald OF ana taken into the Of.
fee Of tho general superintendent where
they were presented With inaivlduai con
tracts TO De signed Tor at least year. Some
denurrod, while Others signed the contracts.
This movement. nrhting IRE with Ore,
| carried Consideration into the ranks OF tho
strikers. Ths weldors are highly skilled
worknen and without their cooperation the
big plant might be closed down. VITA
them in line, the plant wan probably keep
on running as II nothing had happened. 1t
was iRtimated Tonight by friends CT the
welders that they would all sign the can.
tract.
Dshnite announcement that the officials
Of the American Sheet steel company
would start the W. Dc Wees Wood msii in
McI1eesport as nonunlon plant on Mon
day, reached tho headquarters of the Anal.
gamated association early today. The move
mcnt will not 10 permitted 10 be made
! without q decided attempt TO check it.
While the rank and Ole Of the strikers are
I not acquainted with the plans OF tho cam.
4 paign, they now believe that important de-
: velopmsnts win change the aspect Of at.
|, fairs considerably. There Is apparently
. less Of the confidence than was noted In
{ tho nrst part OF tue week, but there was
lot OF determination expressed by those
4 who would talk.
e telegram FROM Wheeling tonight says:
! ''romorrcw evening meeting Of the
: Amalgamated lodge, made up of some Of
8 the men In the National Tube Riverside
+ plate mill, win be held, when the men
i whom the organizers have Induced IA join
IL
: at the Riverside works Is made no OF aboat
0 half OF the force employed ia the plate mill
G department The lodge has never been
e strong enough to enforce the acceptance
of the Amalgamated scale upon the COM
I. If the National Tube company's men are
o called out M X has been lntimateh they
n soon VIII. the Riverside mill Viii become
:, the storm ceht6 Of che strike. for there
Is no doubt q ms e. intens S 81 ig iast as
It has been fought at the Acheesport
:, plant"
G rayp: at was reported on good authority
> In McKecsport that tho employees Of the
{ Boston Iron and Steel works and the Ma
!. tI0nal Rolling mill nj Mckeesport, botn
= plants Of the National Tube company, viii
y | strike tomorrow, the men having secretly
= organized The majority 81 the men afe
, now members 81 the Amalgamated asso.
2 cation. II was rumorcd IN McKeesport
: tonight that II the Boston plant ana the
National rolling mill come out the en-
tive plant OF the National Tube company
which employs 5000 mon, VIII come out.
: The following radical abatement Genes ia,s
: from Mlngo Junction, uhrs tehigl gu, Ia
= W. j. O'Connell, mayor OF thls town, saiu
today. 4 am with the Amgigamated men
IN this hght so the end With my head, my
: heart, my muscle aud my money. u u
ever comes to the point n this town the
municipal authorities VIII not stop tue
4malgamated men from doing picket 80. Or
auv other legal act TO keep men from COM
! ing here and taking thelr places,
ifhe Post tomorrow win say; 4 serious
spread OF the steel sirlke IS now tnre . !,
In an unexpected quarter The contest 10
expected 10 reach out into the furnaces n
the Mahoning and Shenango valleys and
= cgnse n complete shutdown ~ those plants.
! From these furnaces 1t IS belieYef the dan
Z eer will threaten with greater force Inan
3 ever the union mills OF the Nau2nai oteei
company throughout Ohio. II u is not
q checked at that point the same spirit 81
J, unionism is feared 10 be strong enough %
d reach once more into Homestead and pu-
:, qucsne. t.sa. 49,,
e When It was announced YESTERDAY lfo sa
Cleveland and Youngstown that tns me, bS ,ss-
a ! Nor kurnace association had sold an q 10
- produet Tor August TO the United states
I Steel corporation, the tact WAS az a osee
q | taken no by the Amaigamafeu otnelais.
:. I Dnrino fbe early norton Of the present year
Z Inc American Federation OF Labor mas nad
!. organizers at work among the turiaee zen s
II ~ me two valleys In the meanume ING
4 unlon men In the works OF the National
company nave been restless ever since the