The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-27
PRACTICALLY ALL WILL SIGN
TO START OTHER MILLS
SAID TO BE PENDING.
Situation mt Various POints-Senator
Hanna Not Yet Notified That His
Mediation Is Desired.

PITTSBURG. July 26.-The National
Tube Works Company, at McKeesport, has
made an unexpected move. intended to
checkmate the Amalgamated Association.
Their skilled workmen have been asked
TO sign individual contracts TO practically
repudiate any union labor, and they have
been given but a short time to think the
matter over. 1t is understood that should
they not sign the contracts they will find
their positions vacant, and the ak is ex-
pected TO fall tomorrow.
1t became known to-day that on Thurs
cay evening the 600 welders Of the mills
were paid off and taken into the Office of
the general superintendent. where they
were presented with individual contracts to
be signed for at least a year. Some de-
INJURED while others signed the contracts.
This movement, fighting fire with fire. car
ried CONSERVATION into the ranks of the
strikers. The welders are highly skilled
workmen and with their cooperation the
big plant might be closed down.. With them
IN line the plant probably Will keep on run
ming as though nothing had happened. 1t
was intimated tonight by friends of the
welders that all would sign the contracts
Definite announcement that the officials
OF the American Sheet Steel Company
would start the w De Wees Wood mill, In
McKeesport, as a nonunion plant on Mon
day reached the headquarters OF the Anal
gamated Association early to-day. The
news was received in silence. That the
movement would not be permitted 10 be
made without a decided attempt TO check IL
was subsequently shown by long and earn
est conferences that TOOK place during the
afternoon. President Shaner was closely
confined TO his private office. and there was
a constant. stream OF visitors calling on
him, who were shown in as soon as possible.
These visitors were mostly mill workers,
and a number were recognized as Mckees
port residents. The door 10 the conference
wyna Eanf ntnaad aud M nna U1G H.
lowed to get within hearing distance OF the
place.
are not acquainted with the plans Of the
campafgn. they now believe that there are
some important developments 10 take place
which VIII change the aspect OF a1alrS con-
siderably. There is apparently less OF the
confidence that was noted in the first part
OF the week. but there was a lot of deter
mination expressed by the men who con-
sented TO talk at all. The report that an
attempt would be made soon TO start the
pemler plant of the American Tin Plate
Company was secuted by the Amalgamated
officials. 1t Is said there was little cause
for Worry over the tin mills situation. In
addition to this denial. was one from Man
ager Percy Denner. who was alleged 10
have been attending a conference In the
Demler plant on Thursday night with mill
managers and discussing the plans Tor get
ting the mill started.
NOT A LONG STRIKE.
From the officers Of the manufacturers
the only statement obtainable has been
that the situation was unchanged. that
the 14ufacturers had made no overtures
for <settlement of the strike. and did not
Etend to do so. as far as was known local
ly. Manufacturers not Interested directly
IN the strike think the strike is not affect
ing the United States Steel Corporation as
seriously as was expected by the Amalga-
mated Association. The feeling of the
leading officials OF the trust is that the
strike will not last long after summer ends.
II the officials Of the United States Steel
CORPORATION seriously believed that the
strike was going to be a long one they
would undoubtedly have made some or
ganized movement for breaking the strike
before now, and this they have not done.
When the season for outdoor sports and
amusements Is over the steel corporation
officials think they can talk to the strikers
with some reasonable SHOW or success.
There are some, however. who believe the
contest will be one of the longest and most
bitter ever seen in this country.
a telegram from Wheeling tonight says:
Interesting developments are nearing their
climax at the great Riverside tube works
of the National Tube Company. in Upper
Benwood. For several days organizers of
the A-malgamated Association have been
quietly at work there, and are said to have
their hall in South Wheeling. a meeting OF
the Amalgamated lodge, made up of some
of the men in the Riverside plate mill. will
be held. when the men whom the organ
Tiers have induced 10 join will be taken
in. As to how many recruits the organizers
have secured no information can be OBJ
tanned in advance OF Saturday. The Anal
gamated lodge at the Riverside works is
made up Of about half the force employed
IN the plate mill department. The lodge
has never been strong enough to enforce
the acceptance of the Amalgamated scale
upon the company.
r"If the National Tube Company's men
are called out. as 1t has been intimated
they soon will be. the Riverside will be-
come the storm center OF the strike. for
there is no doubt or the intention of the
company to combat the union here lust
aQ N has tonight II af the MHkRQCnOrf
plant. lie is alleged that at least one Anal
gamated organizer was elected from the
mill premises this week.
Manager Wiles. it is said. has talked
with some of his men and asked them to
decline to join the union. President Frank
J. Hearne. of the National Tube Company.
formerly manager of this plant. was here
this week for the same purpose, it is
claimed"
OTHER POSSIBILITIES.
Late reports from WellsvilIe say there is
no change there. Up to midnight the i'm
junction stories from Lisbon. o. have not
been confirmed. The following radical
statement comes from Mingo Junction, O.,
tonight:
"Dr. w. ]. O'Connell. mayor OF this town.
said to-day: L am with the Amalgamated
men in this fight to the end. with my head.
my heart. my muscle and my money. If
IL ever comes TO the point in this town. the
municipal officers viii not stop the Anal
gamated men from doing picket or any 9TH
er legal acts TO keep men from coming In
here and taking their places.
MOnesSen reports. Tomorrow will be
payday in the National tin plate mill here
and the strikers are hoping that when the
men get their money they will listen TO
strike talk with a more attentive ear.
When the mill closed for the week last
Saturday the constituents Of President
Shaner proclaimed that not enough men
would put IN an appearance To man the
rolls Monday morning. and the Anal
gamated people make the same claims to-
night. The tin-rlill officials. however. are
Just as sanguine that they Will open w
with a full force Monday morning. About
81 men VIII be paid tomorrow. There are
rollers here who average over 500 every
two weeks pay. and that * the greatest
obstacle TO the strike
Although all the mills. save one. OF the
American Tin Plate Company are closed
down by the strike. and there IS reported
trouble at that PLAINTIFF one at Monessen
the company viii have ready for opera
tion within a few days the largest works
under its control. The new plant Is To-
Gated az Martin Ferry. O. Three or four
plants Of the company. several from the
Tittsburg district. have been consolidated
there and new buildings put up and new
machinery Installed. The plant will be com
pleted by the end OF the present month
when. Il Il claimed. IL Will be the finest tin
works I'm the world. Between nve and six
thousand hands will be required TO ope-
rate IL.
The Post Tomorrow will say: "A serious
spread OF the steel strike is now threatened
IN an unexpected quarter. From the sheet.