The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-18
Question of General Strike of
Union Labor
Employed by the Steel Colossus
Still Undetermined.
is NOT CONCILIATORY.
Temper Of the Men Points to
Further Trouble.
McKeesport Plant Failed to
Start This Morning.

Pittsburg. April 1s.-The strike situa-
tion st cKeesport today was quiet
pending the decision of the national ad-
visory board OF the Amalgamated asso-
ciation which is in session here and ex-
pected to decide todaE whether or not
there shall be a general strike Some
apprehension was felt when : O'Clock
neared, that being the crucial time set
by Manager Samuel NJ. Cooper on which
the men should return to work or call
and get their money and consider them
selves discharged But two mer applied
for work however. and as rhsy quickly
yielded to the persuasion Of the strikers.
The attempts to resume operations was
for the time abandoned Troubla was
feared if any number of men had shown
q disposition to return to work.
A committee of the strikers congre-
gated about the mill and the entire po-
lice force of the city was out in citizens
clothes ready to quen any disorder, but
their services We're not needed. The
strikers, acting upon the advice of the
labor leaders, did not call for the wages
due them, as required by the manage
ment, but decided to wait until the reg
ular pay day. April o.
The national advisory board got to-
gether about 10 o'clock with twelve Of
the fifteen members present together
with ali the vice presidents of the or
ganization. Two members of the board,
those representing No. 4 district in IL
linoiS and No at Birninghau Ala
p were not called to the present meeting
because none of the American Sheet
Steel plants is located in those districts.
One other, John Ward of Young ngstoV7n.
O.. had not arrived when the conference
n "a Ia U
Those present were President Shaffer,
Secretary John Wilson, Assistant Sec
retary Tighe, and John Price. Pittsburg;
j. H. M organ. Cambridge: Elias jenkins,
Youngstown; Ben 1 Davis, PittshuIg
and the following district vice presi-
dents. d r. Reese, district No. I. Pitts
burg, Walter Larkins. No ,, Martins
Ferry o. Charles H. Davis. No. 3. New
port. KY. Glenn Jarvis, No. S. Anderson,
Ind; John ChappeH. No. 8, New castle
Previous to the meeting. there was 4
formal discussion Of the situation. the
general attitude OF the board was .ar
from cOncihatcry- The trend of serti-
nent seemed to be that the union men in
all the sheet mills Of the United Stale
Steel corporation should be called out
and that If that did not have any effect
on the company that every union man
in the plant controlled by the company
should be ordered to join the strike If
the board decides to order rhe men cut
a formal notification TO the officers of
the United States Steel corporation and
to the officers OF all the underlying
companies win be drafted notifying thern
that within a reasona bic time the failure
of Anne crfcan Sheet Steel company 10 set
lie with the men Will result in 4 general
strike. In this way the association eX-
poets to enlist the efforts of the entire
trade and exhaust every means to secure
a settlement before the difficulty spreads
beyond the plants of the ore company.
One member of the board said that the
whole question seemed to simmer down
fraf nf 1iy4r
pany had admitted to the board that the
men had been discharged because they
were members of the Amalgamated as
sOciation and for no other reason.
IF this is the case" said he. the com
pany has fired a. direct shot at organ nized
labor IL it. as the American Sheet Steel
company. is determined to stand in that
light and to declare open war against its
men there seems to be no way out of a
determined struggle Tt cannot drive out
organized labor nor can it shift the fiEht
to this one little plant 1t viii force the
war on all plants of the company"
Tt is reported that Il ouble IS brewing
among the men employed on the Nc
1<essport terminal railroad. the property
Of the American Sheet Steel company
and the National Tube conDanv. The
grievance Of the men is one Of hours and
II has been referred to a committee of
The Brotherhood of Railway Vrai--1ns n.
AS Yet The comTlittee has failed 10 Sc
cure a satisfactory settlement
"A RAY OF HOPE
At II o'clock there was a rumor about
the amalgamated headquarters that
there was some Indications of an AMIGA
bic arrangement of the difficulty and
that it was now possible that a general /
suspension Of the union plants Of the
sheet combine can be averted. Members
Of the board however. were positive in
their assertions that there could be no I
settlement Of the trouble unless all the /
men at the McKeesport /
works We're reinstated including George I
Holloway. the president of the amalga- |
mated lodge This. 1t was said was the I
Of the association. President /
Shaffer said no hasty action would be I
taken by the board The members he. I
said, are willing to listen to any argu- \
ments that may be presented "A de- /
cision is not expected until late this af- I
tevncon-
IN SECRET CONFERENCE
Shortly after y O'Clock John Jarrett /
chief Of the VIM. J. Brennan, ESQ. coun- |
sci for the Amalgamated association,
went into secret session with the ad- /
visory board. It is said that Attorney
Brennan was present for the purpose /
Of making a draft of the peace agree
metn that would be a part Of the out
standing contracts Of the American
steel company when turned over to the
United States steel corporation
The Frost Arrived.
The. frost which has been predicted for