New-York tribune., 1901-08-10
THE FEDERATION's PLEDGE
PRESIDENT GONIPERS REVIEWS THE
STRIKE SITUATION AND GIVES
REASONS FOR PRONIS-
ING SUPPORT.
ING SUPPORT.
rRr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE j

Inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Pittsburs Aug. 9-COnferences of labor Lead
ers ended, and have resulted in nothing but
promises President Shaner urged Samuel
GOmpers president Of the American Federation
of Labor, to make the Amalgamated strike the
one fight for unionism that would eclipse all
former efforts. Mr.. Gompers willingly prom
ised, but showed Nr. Shaffer that his hands We're
tied by an executive council which rules the
Federation. This council is composed of men
from various trades. He also showed him that
the Federation had a past; that the Amalga-
mated was only a small item. and that when II
came to sympathy strikes and financial aid the
Federation had always been slow in lending its
aid.
Mr. Gompars was at strike headquarters this
afteTnoon with Secretary Morrison and was in
conference with the advisory board of the Anal
garated Association for more than three hours
Before he left the meeting he gave his prom
ise 70 support the strike but it was not until
O'Clock that he issued the following statement:
Since the arrival Of Secretary Morrison OF
the American Federation of Labor and myself
We nave been in almost continual conference
with the advisory board of the Amalgamatad
Association OF Iron. steel and Tin Workers
we made thorough investigation of the pres
ent strike. Of its members formerly in the en-
pIoy Of the United States Steel Company and
/ its constituent branches: the causes which led
/ to the strike the present situa tiOn of the con
i trOversy, and we unhesitatngly declare our
I Judgment that the position OF the Amalgamated
J Association is absolutely justified and essential
| to its continuance and effectiveness as a union
OF the workers In the trade. as well as the
protector OF the rights and interests of it's mem
/ bers.
1t is true that the Amalgamated Association
in the .rst conferences asked that the United
! States steel Company sign the union scale of
wages for all the mills operated. owned and
controlled by that company. but it is also true
that the request was withdrawn and one sub
INT hot tho Ia shf lrrlr
To those mills only in which the members of the
AmaIgamated Association are employed, in
other words. which well known TO be union
mills. This the United states Steel Company re-
fused TO conCede. insisting that the scale should
apply only To those mills which were union last
year even refusing 10 allow two mills 70 be in
/ cIuded which by a species of heCtOTinE and sys-
tematIc opposition of the company had become
non-UniOn during the year.
Even the first demand for the scale TO be ap
/ piled generally throughout thu jurisdiction Of
the company was COmmendahle. for the obvious
reason that employer should be willing 70
/ pay a uniform wage TO men who perform IKE
/ work; but realizing that ir was demand for
those whom it did not fully represent the Anal
[ gamated Association modified its demand 70 the
I extent already stated.
II appears that the company took the position
IL did with an avOWal that il would not allow
the extension of the union TO non -unionists.
Such position and avOwal are tantamOunt TO
declaring that notwithstanding the growth OF
the craft. the organization had reached status
beyond which IL could not extend.
Now, any one at al familiar with Industrial
DEVELOPMENT and economic organization IS
equally aware that status is never possible. Or
ganized labor advances or reCedes, never stands
still II therefore follows that If the trust, bv
its great wealth, can prevent the extension and
/ growth of the Amalgamated Association. it
encompasses its disintegra tion and destruction
The ONLY power then standing between the trust
/ and workers "A protector are the tender
T merCies OF its directors. Against such a Calam-
ity the sense of justice ard humanity revolt and
against which We solennly protest
We shall stand nv the AmaIGnmated A.
b Tn he the full
I extent q our power. both morally and inan-
/ CtnIIy; we =hnII aid in every lawful way the
men strike. who come ont on
strike to maintain the workers In their
right organize and the extension of their
organization. that the only power which
stands for their protection and advance
ment against the avariee of concentrated
wealth may he perfected and perPetuated-
when the OverweenfnE rich combine for
avarice. power md tyranny. - tt not the
duty OF the workers to unite for home JUS
tfce. right and humanttys
If the trust should succeed in its purpose
to crush the AmaiGamRted Association the
xirtOrv would dearly bought
The fight of the brave Beers NAV end I'm
I their undOfnE. hut the spirit of Justice, the
Hove q freedom and right suddenly looms
mp another part OF our worlds these REin-
cIpIes ind IOdEement In the hearts of other
men, who will carry the battle until
they are enthrOned In the conscience and
everyday IIfe OF all peoples; with the
AmaIEamnted Association. organization
may he defeated I'm n contest. but "a will not
he conquered
The AmaIEamnted Association will not be
crushed, viii not be conquered. she
must not even be defeated.
President Gompers would not say just what
the Federation of Labor proposed to do or, in
fact anything more than contained in his
statement Ii is thought possible by some OF
the strike leaders. however, that all Federation
men engaged in the iron and steel trades viii
he called out with the Amalgamated men. Mr..
Gompers and Secretary Morrison started for
Washington at 9.45 O'Clock over the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. The statement cheered the
strikers who welcomed 10 a victory that
meant much to them
rs it possible that the Federation OF Labor
will turn over to the Amalgamated AssOCia-
Catarrh OF the StOmaCh-DOctors using Mana
cea Water In their own families report il cures
when ali medicines fail Then why experiment.?
Get Man-a-cea the wonderful Manganese Spring