The Topeka state journal., 1901-04-17
Appears to Have Been Inaugu-
rated at McKeespOrt.
TO BE NO BACK DOWN.
President Shaffer of the Anal
gamated Association
Win Ask Authority to Order a
General Strike.
The Organization Has a Mem
bership OF $4,000.

Pittsburg, April 17.-Quiet prevails
this morning about the W Devices
Wood plant of the American Sheet Steel
company at McKeesport. There was an
absence of idle men lettering on the
streets and it was evident that the
strikers had retired to their homes to
await the decision of the national adj
visory board in session here today, as
to the advisability of calling out the
employees Of the other mills controlled by
the American Sheet Steel company TO
aid them. The strikers had an exciting
night. 1t was reported that the company
would make an attempt to bring OUT
side men to MckeespOrt and that a
score or more of men were on barSes
across the river awaiting an opportunity
to be smuggled into the works Patrols
were thrown out and every avenue OF
approach guarded. but the report was
evidently without foundation as the e2-
pected move did not develop. The han-
mer house was the only department IN
operation and unless the SneeC mus re-
sumo work soon the men in this depart
ment viii have no material to work on
after Friday of this week
During the night Manager Cooper
posted an order notifying all employees
in the run out force, bar mill and sheet
mill to report for work on Thursday,
April IS. at Z a. M. or consider them
in the latter case to call at the office and
get their money "A high board fence has
been built around No. mill. and 1t IS
reported that an attempt Will soon be
made to start it. The plant has sixteen
mills. The members of the national adj
visOry board and vice presidents of the
amalgamated association who had been
called together by President Snaffer 10
consider measures in connection with the
strike were slow in assembling Previous
to the meeting Mr.. Shaffer said he would
ask for power to call out at his discre-
ton the employees Of the American Sheet
Steel company and then If he deems
necessary as a last resort 10 extend the
strike order to all the plants of the
United States Steel corporation He did
not hesitate to declare his intention Of
carrying out has prerogatlve OF calling
out the employees Of the great combine,
if the resolution was passed by the board.
Said he: 7 could not yield the point
demanded of me at Mex eesport and
would rather die fighting than lie down.
The issue has been drawn, there can be
no backing down now
We have received kilograms from our
members in different sections OF the
country endorsing the stand we have
taken and saying they win stand by us
if it comes to a general strike
President Shaffer also wired President
Gompers of the American Federation of
Labor explaining the situation at length
and asking for any assistance the fedora
tion could give if the conflict came
Fifty thousand men is considered by
labor authorities to be a fair estimate
of the membership Of the amalgamated
association. The association is, accord
ing to the statement of Secretary John
Wilson, in a more prosperous condition
financially than ever iu3its history. OF
the total membership 5000 are employ
ed by the Republic Iron g. Steel COM
pany which Is not member of the
Morgan combine and by the indepen-
dent mills plants here and elsewhere
OF the American Sheet Steel COM
pany's plants, 65 per cent of the total
capacity is in organized mills. The com
pauy operates eighteen large plants and
a number of small ones, some six of the
thirty plants owned by the combine be
ing shut down and partially dismant1ed-
Twelve Of the plants are union mills
The most important Of the non-union