New-York tribune., 1901-08-05
ASSOCIATES DEFEND SHAFFER
yICE-P PRESIDENT REESE SAYS HE DID ALL
HE AGREED TO Do-CONDITIoNs -..-
IN THE MILLS.


IN THE MILLS
Pittsburg. Aug. 4-"As anxious as the mem
bers Of the executive board of the Amalgamated
Association were 10 settle the present steel
strike. their refusal 10 accept the terms of MI.
Morgan was the only alternative left 10 them at
the, last moment. For the association g have
agreed to the proposition would have declared
all Of the hoop combination mills now idle as
non-union. would have meant the desertion Of
the thousands of workmen who were employed
in them and who organized and came out on a
strike since the trouble began. To have de-
serted these men now would have been the
deathblow of the organization. and it would
have died in dshonor. To fight the trust in an
honorable battle, with good chance to win.
means at least chance for life, but. if beaten.
a demise of the ANA lgamated Association with
honor"
This was the explanation of President
David Reese. of the Amalgamated Association.
who returned from New-York to-day. after at
tending the conference there with the officers Of
the United States Steel Corporation.
EXECUTIVE BOARD A UNIT.
As to the agreement which President Shaffer
is alleged to have signed with Mr.. Morgan, and
which il was charged, he had failed TO keep,
Mr.. Reese said that il had been proved conclu-
SlNe!N mat Mr. SnaUer nad done al slndt he
agreed 10 do. The board is a unit in all things,
and IL has no internal troubles, as has been
charged. This proposition of Mr.. Morgan had
been discussed by the members in a free and
dispassionate manner. II was agreed that a
settlement Of the strike preferable TO long
and bitter contest. and the board was willing
to concede all that it could in an honorable
manner. 1t willing to accept the propo-
sition that the trust retain non-unon the
Old Meadow and Salisbury mills at the time of
the conference in the Lincoln but it could not de-
sert Wellsville, McKeesport and such other mills
it knew were organized to a man. The man
ufacturers were willing 10 give the Anal lgamated
Association the Welsville. McKeespOrt, Salts
burg and Old Meadow mills at the Hotel Lincoln
conference, but would not consent to any more.
WHAT WOULD HAVE STOPPED STRIKE.
Had they added the Lindsay McCutcheon and
the Painter mills of the hoop combination the
strike would never have gone any further. Since
then the Amalgamated Association has organ
lied and got out all the men in the hoop COM
bnation. with the exception Of one mill. These
men haxe shown their desire to join the Anal
gamated Association. and the trust officials said
they would not interfere with their men if they
wanted to join the organization. II proved
by the organization that the men did want TO-
and the executive board took the officers of the
trust at their word and offered TO compromise
on the scale being signed for all mills that were
known TO both sides 10 be fully organized.
The proposition was declined. 1t was declined
without any explanation from the officials. and
in return they offered worse terms than had
been rejected by the board at the Hotel Lincoln
conference.
HOW MILLS STAND.
Concerning the actual strike status in this
city there seems to be little or no change The
mills strike are still idle. with no indication
OF attempt by the combination to start any
of the plants. No fires are being started and
the only evidence OF WORK about any OF the
plants is that of men making necessary repairs
There seems 10 be no concern among the strik-
ers at the failure of the late conference and
all seen believe the men will stand by the as
sociation TO the end.
sample OF the condition of the men is that
at the Lindsay McCutcheon mill. one of the
plants which caused much of the discussion be
tween the two sides 1t was learned to-day
that not a man among the strikers who wants
TO work is idle. Out of the five hundred men at
this place not more than one hundred are out
of work They have secured employment in the
numerous independent plants. Those who are
Idle are enjoying much needed vacation
When the general strike order is issued among
the drst 70 go out Will be the Arnalgamated
.ak the Rer'ffblit Iron Works on the south
Side. This mill is branch of the National Tube
Company which has plants all over the coun
try The skilled men at the Republic mill are
said to be well organized
SITUATION AT M'KEEsPoRT
From McKeesport this announcement is made
tonight:
The Amalgamated Association is rapidly gain
inc NTH in AcK -.
that they added at least two hundred new mem
bers to its forces at two meetings held this
afternoon. The meeting OF National Lodge con
slstIng or employees Of the Boston Iron and Steel
Works. WAS largely attended. and although no
definite statement was given out in regard. to
the number OF new members taken into the
lodge the conservative estimate is placed AT
one hundred, while others say nearly double this
number were added TO the lodge. The members
Of the lodge claim they now have the entire Bos-
ton mill organized with the exception of two
men. and these latter positively refuse to have
anything TO do with the organization. Union
Lodge, composed OF employees OF the National
Rolling Mill. at it's meeting secured. ii is re-
ported. one hundred new members. The strikers
last night claiming that everything was
coming their way and that If a general strike
order is issued the National Tube Company will
be unable TO turn wheel and that they would
have between eight thousand and ten thousand
more men out. The tube workers are organized
by the American Federation OF Labor, which
organization viii readily respond the call of
the Amalg mated Association. The business
men of Mckeesport are greatly depressed by the
situation, and they fear if a general order is
issued from strike headquarters that their bust
ness will be nearly runed-at least for the time
helng.-as about fifteen thousand men would be
idle.
STRIKERS FESTIVE AT WELLSVILI1E
The report from Wesville. Ohio. is that the
strikers ore in a restive mood tonight The ar
rest Of eight OF their number and the fact that
warrants are in the possession Of the police for
nine more who are at present in hiding in the