Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-08-09
FREELAND, PA, AUGUST o, 1901.
Great Strike impending.
From the wnkesbarre Record.

From the wilkesbarre Record.
Unless all indications are deceptive
prolonged and devastating strike is
impending in the steel industries OF the
United States. The efforts made to
bring the great Steel Corporation and
the Amalgamated Association together
have failed. Arbitration was suggested
but declined, and there is now, appar-
emily, only one way to peaceful settle
ment OF the differences between the con-
hicting interests, and that is by conciia
tion. 1t ought to be possible for
disinterested third factor to interpose
with propositions OF mediation, with
view to conciliating the warning factors.
That the leaders OF the Amalgamated
Association realize the magnitude of
the threatened strike, as well as the in
evitable consequences Of such suspen-
sion, is manifested in the statement pub
lished by authority Of President Shaffer.
The representatives Of the Steel Cor
poration, on the other hand, claim that
they are fighting for the right to them
selves control the business of the great
industries in which they have invested
millions and tens OF millions of dollars.
They charge that the Amalgamated
Association is endeavoring to control
the affairs OF their employers as well as
their own, and that the employers will
resist to the death any such demands.
In this strike the question OF wages
and hours of work do not figure at all.
The union scale of wages has been and
is being paid. 1t is not even a strike
over the right Of the workingmen to
unite, for the corporation has recog-
nized this right. The question OF recog-
nizing the union is not at issue either,
for the corporation has recognized the
organization in frequent conferences
and agreements.
1t would seem to the impartial and
dispassonate observer that there is an
opportunity here for intervention to
bring together these warning elements.
The Steel Corporation and the Amalga-
mated Association are surely not so far
apart as to render Cancellation impos-
sible and compromise impracticable.
In such contest as is here threatened
hundreds OF thousands OF workingmen,
and hundreds OF millions Of money, will
be affected, apart from the men and the
capital concerned in the steel industry.
One of the great evils Of such contests
as that now being precipitated is the
injury done TO those who are in no wise
interested in the particular industry in
volved. Unless the differences between
the Steel Corporation and the Amalga-
mated Association are adjusted prob
ably $50, 900 steel workers will be thrown
into idleness.
That is bad enough, but the suspen-
sion Of these mills will be the means OF
depriving OF employment possibly a
million OF men in other industries that
are, directly or indirectly, dependent
upon the product of the steel mills for
their employment. The great industries
OF country like ours are so interviewer
that they are largely dependent upon
each other to keep the great industrial
machinery in motion.
This great pending strike can still be
prevented. Those who have the power
to avert this strike and fail to exert that
power are assuming frightful responsi-
bility.