Abilene weekly reflector., 1901-08-15
placed at s5,ooo,ooo by officials of the

President Gompers, OF the American
Federation of Labor, was at the strike
headquarters again yesterday after
noon with Secretary Morrison and
was closeted with the advisory board
OF the Amalgamated association for
more than three hours. Before he
left the meeting he gave his promise
to support the strike, but It was mot
until eight o'clock that he gave out
the following statement:
"Since the arrival of Secretary Nor
rison. Of the American Federation Of
labor, and myself, we have been in
almost continual conference with the
advisory board of the Amalgamated
Association of Iron, Steel and Tin
Workers. We made a thorough in
vestigation of the present strike, of
its members formerly in the employ
Of the United States Steel corpora
ton and its constituent branches;
the causes which led to the strike;
the present situation of the country
and we unhesitatingly declare our
judgment that the position of the
Amalgamated association is absolute
ly justified and essential to its con-
tnuance and effectiveness as union
of the workers in the trade, as well
as the protector of the rights and
interests of its members.
ave shall stand by the Amalga-
mated association in the present con-
fict to the full extent of our power,
both morally and financially; we shall
aid in every lawful way the men on
strike, or who may come out on
strike, to maintain the workers in
their right to organize and the exten-
sion of their organization, so that the
only power which stands for their
protection and advancement against
the avarice of concerted wealth may
be perfected and perpetuated. When
the overweening rich combine for
avarice, power and tyranny, is it not
the duty Of the workers to unite for
home, justice, right and humanity.
"The Amalgamated association will
not be crushed; she will not be con-
quered; she must not even be de-
feated."
President Gompers would not say
Just what the Federation of Labor
proposed to do, or in fact anything
beyond what was contained in the
written statement issued by him. 1t
is presumed, however, that all of the
federation men engaged in the iron
and steel trades will be called out
with the Amalgamated men. Mr..
Gompers and Secretary Morrison left
for Washington at 9:45 o'clock over
Ithe Baltimore & Ohio railroad. The
issuance of their statement cheered
the strikers, who welcomed it as a
victory that meant much to them.
Pittsburg, Pa, Aug. 1s.-The iron
masters are claiming victory in the
great steel strike. They base their
claim upon the refusal of the Anal
gamated men at South Chicago, Joliet
and Bayview to obey the general
strike order of President Shaffer
and their success in maintaining oper-
ations in other plants where it was
anticipated that there would be seri-
Gus trouble. The strike leaders meet
the claims of victory with the asser-
tion that their cause is making salts
factory progress and that they will
show themselves masters of the situa-
tion before the contest has progressed
much further. They do not conceal
their disappointment at the refusal
of their western brethren to join
with them in the strike, but none of
the leaders would discuss the defec-
tion. President Shaffer refused to
meet the newspaper men who sought
him and kept within the seelusion of
his home. The other leaders who
were seen intimated that there would
be developments to-day and through
out the week that would materially
change the situation. They would
not say, however, what they had in
mind or how their cause was to gain
In strength. 1t was said that they
were counting upon strong aid from
the American Federation of Labor
and other organizations of union la
Dor, but these bodies have not yet
given any public indication of what
they will do. The Amalgamated as
sociation has developed great
strength in the Wheeling district
and has made gains in some Of the
Pennsylvania districts. The strike
headquarters were closed yesterday
and last night and it was claimed
that no reports were being received
from the outlying districts us to the
- gress of the strike except in a
general way. The steel officials were
in communication with their SUPER
intendents and district managers and
at II o'clock made public the result
Of their reports. The latter showed
that South Chicago, Joliet and Bay
view at Milwaukee had voted to stay
in; that the Ohio works of the Ma
tional Steel company at Youngstown
and the King. Gilbert and Warner
plants of the National Steel company
at Columbus had resumed without
trouble; that the Homestead, Edgar
. Thompson. Duquesne. Upper and
Lower Union and Howard axle works
of the Carnegie group, employing
more than $4,000 men. had resumed
work without trouble; that the con-