The Van Buren press., 1901-07-06
GREAT Strike IS NOW ON.
The Amalgamated Association Of
Iron, Steel and Tin Work.
ers Declare War.
II NAY Be The GREATEST EVER KNOWN.
Upon Its Outcome VIII Depend the
Life of the Organization of LABOR
InvOlved-The Battle Ii Against
the Gigantic United states steel
Corporation.

Pittsburgh, Pa, July 2.--As the re-
suit of the refusal of the American
Sheet Steel Co. and the American
Steel corporation, to sign the workers
new scale at Saturdays conference,
circulars were sent out from the ma
tional hearquarters of the Amalgam-
ated Association of Iron, Steel and
Tin Workers, declaring a strike at
all the plants of the two combines.
The great strike is now on, but it will
be several days before its actual ex-
tent in known
The American Steel Hoop Co.'s main
offices are in this city. The company
has three non-union plants in this
city, and non-union plant at Mones-
sen and one at Duncanville, though
the employees Of the latter are ready
for organization as soon as the Anal
gamated people will take them in
Other plants of the company are
claimed by the Amalgamated people
as union,
An UnaOlved Problem.
What the strike just inaugurated
may eventually lead to is problemat-
ical. Three months ago, when q
strike occurred in the wood plant OF
the American Sheet Steel Co., at Nc
Keesport, because the company re-
fused to allow its men to become
members of the Amalgamated asso-
citation, President Shaffer threatened,
If the McKeesport strikers could not
win with their own strength, he would
order a strike in every plant of the
company. II the latter would not
yield, he would then call out the men
in every plant Of the American Steel
Co. Such course would result in the
greatest strike the world has ever
seen, involving several hundred thou.
sand men.
Situation VIII Develop Gradually.
For the first few weeks the situation
will not show the strength of the as
sociation, Almost all the plants OF
the company, union and non-union,
will be compelled to shut down dur
ing the early part of July to give the
men a rest. They have been working
steadily since the first of the year
many of them without n weeks ces
sation. Union and non-union alike
they are demanding a short vacation
and the prediction is made that the
companies will be unable to keep any
one at work for two or three weeks
after Tuesday. The heat is intense
and the men, one vice-president, said
are almost in state of revolt. II
will be after, perhaps, the first of Au
gust, when the combine makes u Sc
rious attempt to start up In full, that
the real battle will begin II no settle
ment has been reached at that time
Can Not Well Del y.
The company can not well delay op
Grating longer than that, on account
of the present flood Of orders. il
fact, the urgent orders now on the
books can scarcely wait through July
Thus the association has almost {
month more to prepare for the com
ing struggle. 1t is the boast of the
Amalgamated association officials thai
BY that time they will control so pei
cent. of the capacity of the combna
tion plants.
The fight is not for wages, but fol
organization Either the Amalgnm
ated association must bow TO the will
OF the greater combine, or else Tho
greater combine will have to give W
Its non-union mills.
Members Of the advisory board OF
the Amalgamated association declare
that the association has II surprise ir
store for the combine.