The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-15
Circulation Statement
The Labor w mr.


The unfortunate conditions existing
in the iron, steel. and tin industries,
and the probability that worse is to
come amount almost 10 a national dis
aster. On both economic and ethical
grounds the strike against the Steel
Trust is unjustihable and the men who
are engineering It are assuming
grave responsibility in menacing the
country with a movement which easily
might result in a financial panic, to be
followed by business depression and
lower wages. if not the loss Of employ
ment by hundreds Of thousands Of
woTkingmen.
As hitherto explained, the strike is
one Of principle" on the part Of the
AmaIgamated Association. The men
are satisfied with the wages they are
receiving. They are without griev-
ances against their employers: but che
organization IS determined that every
plant controlled by the trust shall be
unionized whether the non-union
workers desire IL or not Justice 10
their employees demands that the cor
porations involved in the trouble
should take the course they are pur-
suing, and il is not likely that they viii
ever submit 10 the demand Of the As
sociat ton in this matter. Today prob
ably fifty thousand operatives are af-
fected by the strike order which, so
far. is leveIed at the shops of the
American Sheet, Steel Company. the
American Steel Hoop Company, and
the American TinpIate Company. Later
rl4.
tie-up VIII be made as general as pos
sibIe unless the Steel Trust should sur
render in the Notwithstanding
nobody expects.
The situation is very discouraging-
The stoppage of production at the steel
plants viii mean suspension OF work in
q large number Of coal mines To add
TO the trouble, il appears probable that
a general strike OF the stationary en-
gineers Of Pennsylvania is at hand,
while there are uncomfortable indiCa-
lions that the employees Of the Reading
Railway system VIII also so on strike
and attempt 10 prevent operation
All of these things portend disturb
ance not only OF business conditions.
but of the peace and order OF many
public knows only too well what the
conconitants Of d railway strike are
practically certain 10 be, and as to the
industrial plants, II is reasonably safe
to assume that Mr. Morgan and his
associates viii endeavor 10 run them
with non-union labor Il that can be OBJ
tanned. With the history of the Home
stead affair before US. II is not diff
cult TO conceive that such an effort
would be the signal for disorder and
violence, which might be met with the
military forces Of the State
The record seems to show that the
iron. steel, and tin workers who are,
or soon viii be, idle on their own mo-
ton are without just cause Of com
plant against the employing corpora
lions. Consequently they wiz receive
scant sympathy from the American
public On the contrary. they VIII be
severely blamed for precipitating a
business crisis at q time when crop and
other conditions are preCaTIOus enough
TO cause uneasiness without any such
added strain. But the die appears TO
be cast and a battle royal, We are
sOTry to say, Is 10 be looked for PTesi-
dent Shaher, Of the AmaIgamated AS
sociauon, talks confidently Of a speedy
victory, but conservative observers Of
events do not share his expectations.
His organization has decided TO Try
conclusions with the strongest, brain
lest, and most resourCefuI group Of men
IN the United Statesmen Of kind 10
carry the war into Africa, and get it
over All Of the force is not on one
side in this contest Interesting and
even sensational developments may &C
cur The Steel Trust Will not permit
its vast interests 10 be ImperiIed by the
action Of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton without a stout fight.