The sun., 1901-07-03
STEEL STRIKE QUIET.
Persistent Rnmors That Settlement
May Soon be Effected.
MEN PREPARE FOR A FIGHT
A Circular Mailed to the Association
Lodges Calls For an Assessment
Upon the Members of
Each Lodge.

Pittsburg, July 2.-The second day Of
the strike of the sheet steel and steel
hoop workers of the Amalgamated as
sociation was without many interest
ing or exciting features. 1t was evil
dent that neither side anticipated early
developments, as there was no unusual
activity about the combine offices, and
the utmost quiet prevailed at the head
quarters OF the workers. At President
Shaffer remarked, the conditions of the
present strike We're peculiar, and no de-
cided results We're expected for ten
days or two weeks. BY that time the
manufacturers, having all necessary
repairs Mt their mills completed, would
he anxious to resume operations. The
struggle would then begin in earnest.
The belief is quite general, however,
that the real test will not come until
the close of the hot weather and the
general resumption of business IN the
early fall. and in the meantime II is
thought that the conflicting interests
will see their way clear to recede from
the present positions.
That President Shaffer of the Anal
galnatcd association Is preparing for
the rainy day which may come II the
strike is prolonged indefinitely Is evil
dent from circular mailed TO the asso-
citation lodges. The circular directs
the lodges to lay assessments upon
their members, the money to be used
for the relief OF such members of the
association as may be out of work.
To Swell the strike Fund.
The money collected by the assess
ments of these lodges will be forward
ed to Pittsburg. where II will be placed
in the general fund of the association.
The latter has for years been creating
n strike fund Systematically and me-
thodically. This fund is said now to
amount to between S200.000 and $780,
900.
The combine officials do not appear
10 he worrying over the situation and
say they do not recognize II condition
of n strike as yet. Some of the officers
intimate that there may he Il renewal
of negotiations at any time and set
tlement effected. In outside circles the
belief is growing that the strike will
be called off before il gets fairly well
under way.
Outside the combine plants there is
little apprehension over the situation.
Among the independent companies in
pittsburg who have closed down, but
wha. are ready TO sign, are:
Iug X Co. limited will sign; the
PttSburg Forge and Iron company,
who are satisfied to grant the mems
demands: A. NJ. Byers X 60. of the
south side, mt present closed for re-
pairs, hut ready to sign the scale when
ana Brown x Co, who are closed for
repairs.
Cut In Prices.
An announcement that the sheet COM
bine has cut prices occasioned surprise,
ms it is known that all the mills have
been busy and many orders remain un-
| filled. The heaviest cut is on No 2S.
| the standard gauge. which Is reduced
| from S3.3l per lOU pounds to 81 10.
The lighter gauges have been cut in
| price from 81 TO 81 Il ton. The move
puzzled the Amalgamatcd officials, and
| President Shaffrr said:
1T has been done merely for the pllr-
| pose of having an effect on the indie
pendent sheet manufacturers who have
signed our scale"
The advisory board of the Amalga-
mated association has not vet been call
ed to meet to consider the situation,
but n meeting will be held soon if the
no disposition TO reopen negotiations.
President Shaffer Says the call for am
other conference Will not come from
the Analgamated association. as the
ultimatum of that organization was
! given at the last conference.