Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-08-15
MAY REMOVE PLANT
MANUFACTURERS TAKE DEcI-
sIVE ACTION IN STRIKE.
WILL TEAR DOWN MILL
Sympathy of Town With Strikers Nav
Cause 1t to Lose Factorv-presi.
dent Gompers of Federation of
Labor Issues Proclamation Favor.
ing Outgoing Amalgamated Men,

flttsburg, Aug. 10.-There were
grayely important developments in
the strike situation yesterday. The
United States Steel corporation moved
decisively in its strike campaign with
peremptory order directing the great
Devices wood plant at McKeesport to
be dismantled and removed to Kis-
klmenetas valley. President Gompers
Of the American Federation of Labor.
after a two days conference with
President Shaffer and his associates,
issued formal statement last night
specifically pledging the federation to-
the moral and financial support of the
Amalgamated association. His writ
ten review Of the turn of events lead
ing up to the industrial quarrel sus-
tains the course of the Amalgamated
association and declares nothing re-
mains for labor but to battle for the
cause of unionism. Persifer F. Smith.
district manager for the American
Sheet Steel company, made formal
announcement regarding the removal
OF the McKeesport plant in the follow
ing statement:
Il have orders from President Nc
| Murty Of the American Sheet Steel
company to at once tear down the
| Devices wood plant at McKeesport and
remove the same to the Kiskiminetas
valley. This we shall proceed to 90
| Immediately
The publication of the order was a
great surprise to McKeesport and la-
ceived at first with doubt. Actual pre-
| parations were made later in the day
for dismantling of the mill and there
is little room for doubt that it will be
torn down and taken apart, piece by
| piece. The strikers heard the order
in spirit of defiance. They simply
| said it showed the steel corporation
was convinced it could not reopen
the plant in the face of the opposition
of the Amalgamated association.
Strike leaders here said the order was
a bluff that had been worked unsuc-
cessfully before and declined to take
it seriously.
The steel company officials declined
to give any reason for the order but
it is openly stated here that the pro-
nounced sympathy of the citizens and
the city officials at McKeesport with
| the strikers IS responsible. 1t is also
said the plant of the National Tube
company at McKeesport will be aban-
doned and the old Carnegie plant for
a tube plant at Conneaut, Ohio, re-
| vived.
President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor was at the strike
headquarters again in the afternoon
with Secretary Morrison and closeted
with the advisory board of the Anal
gamated association for more than
three hours. Before he left the meet
ing he gave his promise to support
the strike, and later issued a state
ment in part as follows:
"Since the arrival of Secretary Nor
rison of the American Federation OF
Labor and myself, we have been IN al
most continual conference with the
advisory board Of the Amalgamated
association. We have made
| thorough investigation of the present
strike and the cause which led to the
strike and we unhesitatingly declare
orr Judgment that the position of the
mathematical association is absolute
Iv justified and essential to it's contln-
uance and effectiveness as union OF
workers in trade, as we'll as a protect
or of the rights and interests OF us
! members"