Evening journal., 1901-08-10
FEDERATION To
help STRIKERS
President GOmperS Promises
Aid to Steel Workers
Order 10 Remove McKCCSpOrt Plant Is
Heard by Men in Spirit
Of Defa ice

r President Samuel Gompers has
pledged the American Federation OF
Labor to the support of the Amalga'
mated Association After a conference
with President shaffer lasting for the
greater part Of two days he issued q
statement last night specifically up
holding the position OF the Amalga.
mated Association, and pledging the
moral and financial support Of the
Federation in the strike against the
United States Steel Corporation now
IN progress.
Pittsburg, Aug. 10.-There were
gravely important developments in the
strike situation yesterday. The United
States Steel Corporation moved decis
lively In its strike campaign with a
peremptory order directing that the
great Devices Wood plant at McKees'
port be dismantled and removed to the
Kishmenetas valley. President Com
pers, of the American Federation OF
Labor. after two-days' conference
with President Shaffer and his asso-
ciates, issued a formal statement last
night specifically pledging the Fedora
tion to the moral and financial sup
port Of the Amnlgamated. His written
review of the train of events leading
up to the industrial quarrel sustains
the course of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation, and declares that nothing re.
mains for labor but 10 battle for the
cause of unionism.
The publication Of the order to dis
mantle the Devices Wood plant was a
great surprise, and McKeesport re-
ceived It at first with doubt Actual
preparations were made later in the
day for the dismantling of the mill,
and there Is little room for doubt that
# will be torn down and taken apart
piece by piece. The strikers heard
the order In a spirit OF defiance. They
simply said that il showed that the
Steel Corporation was convinced that
Il could not reopen the plant in the
face of the opposition Of the Amalga-
mated Association.
The business men OF McKeesport say
the loss wSl be something which can
not be replaced Many OF the company
officials here are inclined TO blame
Mayor Blacks utterances for the move
made by the head OF the combine. The
mayors proclamation. they say, while
1t did not in itself indicate hostility 10
the trust. was so twisted and miscon-
etrued throughout the country that II
hasdoneth town an almost irreparable
injury in the eyes Of capitalists who do
not know the actual conditions
President Gompers would not say
just what the Federation of Labor
proposed TO do. or in fact anything
beyond what was contained in the
written statement issued by him. It
is presumed. however. that all of tho
Federation men engaged In the iron
and steel trades will be called out with
the Amalgamated men.
Estimates place the number Of mon
who went out under the first call at
$4,000. which the general strike order
will increase to $4,000 The National
Tube company has $4,000 workers, the
Federal Steel company $4,000. while
the National Steel company has 1000.
making a total Of $4,000. The plantc
which will be affected are the Ameri-
can Tin Plate company American
Steel Hoop plants. American Sheet
Steel plants. American Steel and Wire
mills. Federal Steel company's plants
and National Tube company Ohio
will have $4,000 idle men, Pennsylve-
MIA 1900, Indiana 10000. Illinois So
600. making a total of $4,000. while
New York. Michigan. West Virginia.
Wisconsin, Iowa and other states viii
have $4,000 idle men.