Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-09-27
STRIKE THAT FAILED
President Skaters Statement
Finally Made Public.
The PRESS BITTERLY DENOUNCED.
AmnIgnmnted President Says other
Labor ORGANIZATIONS Did Not Give
the support Promised ut
the Outset

INC SuBbort PROMISED at
the Outset
PITTSBURG, Sept. 2I.-From an adj
vance copy of the statement by Presi-
dent Shaffer of the Amalgamated as
ISOLATION we learn the following con-
corning the history of the late strike of
steel and tin workers from its incep-
ton and the terms of the settlements:
when we had almost completed ar
engagements with the representatives of
the American Tin Plate company for
scale rates and conditions at the con-
ference held in Cleveland, the question
of signing for Monessen was preached
and after discussion it was agreed by
both sides that the matter was to be
settled by the sheet steel conference
If the Sheet Steel company filed for ALL
the American Tin Plate company would
do likewise. Thus, you perceive, the
scale question was not settled complete
ly with the last named company and
could not be until the other company
had settled. The tin plate people knew
that we had decided to enforce article
10, section 80, consequently the charge
/ tidl W Z DIOhe our agreement must rest
upon the action of the sheet steel con
ference.
I'VE were in fairly good condition to
win without help. but looked for aid
from other labor bodies, some of which
were pledged, and to the general public.
but especially relied upon the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, with which
body lvo hava boon affiliated ovo,. cinco
its inception and toward whose support
we have never failed to contribute.
Our strike advanced, and we were
confident of winning until the newspa-
pers deliberately and maliciously pub
Gshed statements which were replete
with lies. Our people began to doubt
and upbraid, some who had been Off
Gals deserted us and afterward, like j.
d. Hickey of Milwaukee, accepted the
terms of the trust and scabbed. Hun
dreds who dared not sleep at home
went to other places, and in nearly ev-
cry mill the trust tried to run were
many Amalgamated association men
from striking mills. We knew our
cause would be lost, but proceeded,
feeling sure we could win if support
could be secured for the faithful strik-
ers. The American Federation gave us
not one cent. The report that financial
help came from the national lodge of
the Mine Workers is absolutely false.
We received nothing.
'Perceiving that lack of money, loss
of public approval, desertion by hun
dreds of our own people and neglect by
other organizations would render it i'm
possible to gain Il decisive victory. we
endeavored TO save what we could. |
arranged for Mr.. Gompers of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor TO meet Mr..
Morgan to effect n settlement Mr..
Morgan gave up his vacation went to
New York and waited for Mr.. Com
perS, who failed to appear. nor has he
since explained why he neglected our
interests. We were called upon at the
national office by John Mitchell of the
United Mine Workers, Mr.. Easley of
the Civic Federation, Mr.. Henry White
of the Garment Workers and Professor
jerks of Cornell university. These
gentlemen inquired carefully into our
strike, and Mr. Mitchell stated that if
we would present proposition which
he outlined he would demand accent
ance by the trust or call out the min
ers, and he said he felt sure Mr.. Sar-
gent would call on the trainmen to
strike also. We sent the proposition to
the members of the executive board.
which voted in favor of the proposition.
1--WE waited for the coal miners and
railroad men to be called out. They
were willing to come, as thousands as
sured us, but they have not been called,
and the trust was more sure that with
other organized labor bodies against
us we must be defeated Our people
became disheartened. They sent let
tiers and kilograms asking the board to
settle. That body gave full power to
the national officers, and the latter re-
quested your president to seek a con-
ference. He was successful after many
difficulties. The conference was held
in New York Sept. ii and a settlement
made"