The age-herald., 1901-07-19
ShafGr Receives Encouraging News from the Men at
 DuncanViIIe MESSAGE WAS 4 SURPRISE
The Storm Center of the Great Steel Strike Has Moved from Pttsburu to the Little Village of
 Wellsville, Ohio.

Pittsburg, Pa, July 1S.-Most important of all news regarding the steel workers strike that reached Pittsburg today was the action of the men employed in thu, Duncanville plant of the American Steel Hoop Company. A telegram was received by President Shaffer from the men in the morning asking if they should strike. The message was a surprise for the Amalgamated people, as they were not looking for this news so soon. President Shaffer answered telling the men not to come out until they were organized. If | organized they should strike for they were needed. In the afternoon a tele- gram was received from Duncanville asking that an organizer be sent to them at once. Vice President Pierce started | for Duncanville this evening to com plete the organization. meeting is ex- pected to be held tonight. The Duncan | vile plant is the last of the hoop plants to remain at work and the Amalgamated Association officials say If they are suc- cessful in closing this plant they will be masters of the situation as far as the Steel Hoop Company is concerned at l least.
 Action of the Ohio Board of Arbitration in offering to bring about a settlement of the strike created some talk today in steel circles. M. M. Garland, former pres | fdent of the Amalgamated Association and at present collector of the port, said: 'I connot see what there is in this ques- tion to arbitrate The question cannot be settled except by the complete back down | of one side or the other on a matter of | principle"
 The situation throughout this district
 remains practically as announced early
 in the year. In the immediate vicinity of
 Pittsburg the evident intention c<-r, the
 company to attempt the re-opening or
 the Deweeswood plant at McKeesport is
 the only incident so far calculated to
 cause uneasiness. The men claim to be confident that enough men cannot be se- cured to operate the mill and say no op- | position will be made to any who may wish to go in. But the police authorities have taken every precaution in order to cope with any trouble that may arise.
 At WeIIsviIIe.
 The following was received from Wells | vile tonight:
 "The storm center of the great strike | was today moved from Pittsburg to this | little village. News that the Wellsville | plant of the American Sheet Steel Com | pany was now in shape to run fiiSI and l that men could be imported from Ven | dergrift. Pa, and other points to won ~- | all mills caused President Shaffer of the l Amalgamated Association to rush here | from Pittsburg to give courage to the
 striking mill men"
 The Amalgamated officials. Trustee l Morgan Vice President Chappele and
 President Shaffer were almost smothered
 by the crowd which greeted them. A
 procession of several thousand people fol-
 lowed them to the city hall, where a | public meeting was held and at which
 President Shaffer was the principal
 speaker About 200O people were crowded
 into the hall. There were present brawny
 workmen from East Liverpool. Wheeling, | Steubenville and other river points
 President Shaffer earnestly urged his
 hearers to refrain from violence and
 strong drink. and continued:
 "Just before the last conference we had the employees in Pittsburg National | Trustee John Morgan, who Is here to-
 day, and will bear me out. was called | with me into a private conference with
 those representing the United States Steel | Corporation and we were plainly told
 that we did not understand the magni- | tude of the work we were about to under
 take. We were told the United States
 Steel Corporation had in reserve a fight
 ing fund of s2O0 eco. 900. or as it was put
 to us a reserve to bolster up the stocks
 of that corporation should there be
 trouble with the workers.
 No Idle Boast.
 ..rbis was no idle boast it now seems, | for last week the stocks of the steel cor poration went down and now they have been shot up again. showing the world that at least part of the s200. 900 has been put into circulation to uphold the stock"
 In conclusion MT. Shaffer said:
 If the mills In Wellsville remain idle for a short time some of the political | leaders will have something to say. Bus | mess men, too. will have something to | say and we will win"
 The situation at the Wellsville plant was perhaps not satisfactory to the | friends of labor. Ten men who come out | with the strikers at first, returned and it, was feared they would induce others to | go in.
 1 A dispatch tonight from Monessen says:
 'In spite of all efforts to the contrary | the tin mill here is still running at full | capacity and so far as present appear ances indicate it promises not to be af- | fected in the slightest by the strike. The 800 employees are satisfied with the voiun- tary advance made by the combine and will continue to work along non-union lines Of the five hundred striking steel hoopmen may have left for their homes | as they are of opinion that the contest is to be long and bitter. The hoop mill is closed down with the exception of about tOventv men who are making some needed