Abilene weekly reflector., 1901-08-15

in speedy victory over the Amalga-
mated association.
| Secretary Williams gave out an in
terview last night in which he urged
the blame for the strike upon the. re-
fusal of the United States Steel cor
poration to arbitrate and declared
that before the strike was over thou
sands OF men in other trades would
be drawn into it. He said: I'VE
agreed to arbitration because the
business men and citizens Of Pitts
burg urged us to do so. We were
willing to risk the interests Of our Or
ganizaton in the hands OF others in
this dispute il there was any pros
pect for peace. This arbitration be-
ing turned down fiat and uncondi-
tionally, those who have been urging
MS to submit to It will have a chance
to prove their interest and friendship
for us in our inevitable battle with
the greatest trust that was ever or
ganized. tell you this question will
have to be settled in some way. II
not by peaceful strike, then by legis-
lation. II that fails, the ballot will
be tried. II all else fails, | believe
that it will result in an appeal to the
bayonet. | tell you, there is condi-
tion existing to-day that places this
country on the eve of one of the
greatest revolutions that ever could
occur in the history OF the world"
Mr.. Williams said that the strike
had been studiously avoided by the
officers of the Amalgamated associa-
tion. 1t had been as studiously en-
couraged by the officials of the man
ufactllrers' organization. The battle
was now in the hands of the men,
and it was up to them as to what
the outcome would be. Every labor
organization in the country was with
the Amalgamated association in this
struggle. The American Federation
of Labor had taken steps to aid in
the fight to the full limit of its power.
The Knights of Labor, represented
by President Simon Burns, of labor
assembly No. 300, had come forward
with money and encouragement.
Pittsburg, Pa, Aug. 13.-The strug-
gle for mastery between manufacture
ers and men in the steel industry is
now fairly launched and on the first
show of strength advantage is with
the former. The general strike order
issued by President Shaffer, of the
Amalgamated association, has so far
been obeyed by only about $4,000
men, according to the best figures OBJ
tainable here. The first two prelim.
mary calls were answered by about
$4,000 men, SO that the total number
now out is in the 4eighborhood Of
10000. The strikers made gains here
yesterday over the showing of Sun.
day night and their prospects for fur
ther accessions at both McKeesport
and Wheeling during the week are
very favorable. The action of the
Amalgamated men at Chicago, Joliet
and Bayview in refusing to come out
and their failure to secure any re-
cruits in the Carnegie group through
out the Kiskiminotas valley and the
big plants at Youngstown and Colum-
bus, O., have been markedly dsap-
pointing to them. They are keeping
up the fight, however, in a spirited
manner and claim that they have
strength in reserve which will sur
prise their opponents. They assert
that they have gained foothold in
the Carnegie mills in this city and at
the time desired the men will come
out. They are pressing their advan-
tages at McKeesport and Wheeling
and their organizers are still at work
in those two cities. President Shaffer
has decided to personally visit Wheel
ing and will go there Wednesday to
address mass meeting of his follow
ers. He plans to spend to-day here
directing the fight and comforting
with his assistants as to plans for
the future. An appeal for financial
aid has been made to organized labor
and the general public and it is ex-
pected that the responses to it will
be liberal. The Amalgamated lead
ers were not disposed to do much
talking yesterday. They would not
discuss the desertion of their west.
ern fellows, although Mr.. Shaffer
made what was evidently intended
for a brief reference to them in a
short statement he gave out at noon.
Another declaration in the same inter-
view was regarded as highly signifl-
cant here. II was to the effect that
no effort would be made to call out
members OF the American Federation
Of Labor and that any action on their
part must he voluntary.
The men who are directing the
fight in the field for the steel corpora
ton and its constituent companies
would give no indication Of their
plans for the future and would only
discuss the situation generally. A
statement alleged to have been given
out officially by them at noon was