Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-19
LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE
Situation in Steel Strike Assumes
Ominous Appearance.
STRIKERS BECOMING IRRITABLE
Clash With Non-Union Men May
Occur at Any Time.
MORE MILLS START UP
Special From a Stafr Correspondent.

persisted In 1t means the beginning of the
trouble stage of the strike. The Amalga-
mated Association has given the steel
trust an indication of it's power, a peaceful
object lesson, thus far, but no one hopes
for continuation of peace If the trust at
tempts wholesale reopening of the steel
mills with non-union men.
At half dozen places the tension be-
tween the strikers and the non-union work
ers is almost at breaking point. Rioting
has been expected in several towns for the
past forty-eight hours. The outburst at
wensville last night may be the prelim-
mary of sanguinary proceedings before the
week is over. The killing of one Amalga-
mated man in this region would probably
be enough to start the ball rolling,
The week begins today with the strikers
wonderfully encouraged and jubilant. The
action of the Milwaukee men Saturday, fol-
lowing closely upon the strike at Joliet,
was exceedingly gratifying to the men.
Notwithstanding unfavorable press reports
from South Chicago, the strike managers
here profess to believe there is a possibility
of getting out the men in the Federal steel
mills at that place.
Pressure From Lateral Source.
Another step in this direction is now
taken by the Amalgamated officials. Pres
sure is being brought to bear to get the ore
and coal handlers in those mills to strike,
thus crippling the mills until the steel
workers can be won over by the strikers.
The biggest game in the whole strike sit
uation, however, is being played in the
Pittsburg district. If the strikers win in
this game they will very nearly bring the
trust to terms. 1t is a long shot, however,
and victory is by means in oh The
game is to cause partial tie-up of the big
Carnegie mills at Duquesne. This would
cut off the supply of steel for the Home
stead plants and shut down the immense
Carnegie works, besides throwing the
whole Monongaheia valley into turmoil. For
two days there have been persistent ru-
mors that there was dissatisfaction in the
Duquesne mills. These and all the Carne-
gle mills, 1t must be remembered have
been non-union since the Homestead trage-
dy. The management has persistently
weeded out every vestge of unionism. 1t
was rumored a few days ago that the
strike fever which prevails among the
works on the opposite side of the river was
injecting Duquesne, and that five Amalga-
mated lodges had been formed there This
report was generally disbelieved. 1t was
reiterated daily, however with added de-
tails. and eliminated In the statement that
strike would occur last night at Du-
quesne. So every one interested in the
strike went to Duquesne Sunday afternoon
to see the strike come off. The steel trust
managers had become worried by that time
and they rushed forty uniformed coal and
iron police from their adjacent mills to
Duquesne placing them about the plant.
Strike Did Not Materialixc.
When the whistles blew there was no
strike. The men came quietly to work, and
after the mills started the coal and iron
police were withdrawn, leaving a small
guard on duty. II is absolutely certain that
the Amalgamated Association is keepinp
up secret efforts to get at the Carnegie
mills, and that the strike managers have
not despaired of ultimate success.
Offers of financial assistance and moral
support from all branches of labor in near
by states convince the strike managers
that the strike is attracting widespread at
tention, and that if the amalgamated is
forced into corner by the trust it will re-
ceive material help from the outside Grand
Master Hawley of the Switchmen's Union
of North America addressing two large
meetings of railway switchmen made a
most significant statement. He told the
pooling of railway interests meant the ut
ter annihilation of labors rights unless
labor organized. He indorsed the Anal
gamated strike and declared that when
the crucial moment arrived the yard men
would help their struggling brethren, al
though he deprecated strike of the switch
men at this time.
The organized steel workers in the plants
not owned by the steel trust have been
meeting and pledging the strikers 10 per
cent of their wages while the strike con-
tinues. Reports from a number of places
In Indiana and Ohio show similar action
The Elwood Tin Workers Association, al
though not connected with the organization
are voting on whether they Will handle i'm
ported tin plates brought in by the trust
to fill the supply cut off by the strike and
a majority are in favor of refusing to work
such plates.
KnobbIerx Strike in Sympathy.
The knobblers of the National rolling
mill who are not even organized are strik-
ing with the Amalgamated. Thus from
every side, every day come additional evil
deEces that labor is thoroughly aroused
and is determined to help the Amalgamated
Union fight the steel trust to finish.
The most important utterance of the
past few days upon the situation was
made by National Vice President Lewis
of the United Mine Workers of America.
This is the organization which conducted
the great coal strike last fall in the an
thracite region. Its branches now control
the soft coal mines in western Pennsylya-
MIA, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Vice
President Lewis, just returning from
meeting Of the national executive COM
mittee of the United Mine Workers, de-
ciares that the Morgan interests are now
seeking control of the mines and railways
Of the soft coal region, and that his as
sociation will be the next one drawn into
q fight with Morgan. He apprehends that
the concentration of the Morgan power in
these fields Is as much a menace to the
mine workers as the steel strust Is to the
Amalgamated, and that all labor In the
section named win have to Join the fight