Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-08-23
CHEERS THE STRIKERS.
steel Workers In the Enst Given New
Hope by Action OF Men
mt Joliet.

interest in the steel strike has shift
ed to the west, where Joliet finally
| swung into line with the strikers, and
| Milwaukee appointed to-day as the
time for a final vote on the question.
The news that came out of the west
| cheered the strikers throughout the
| districts in this vicinity as no other
| development since the labor war was
declared. In their enthusiasm they
count on favorable action at Milwau-
kee to-day, and carrying their hopes
still farther, say that they will yet
win Chicago over. These successes
they declare, with apparent conf
| dence, will make them masters of the
situation and win the strike.
| The steel operators, on the other
hand, say that tie strikers are near
| ly at the flood tide of their success,
and that when the ebb comes it can
never be stopped. They do not seem
to be disturbed by recent events, and
with confidence equal to that of
the strikers talk of the certainty of
ultimate success. They assert that
popular sentiment has never been be-
hind the strikers, and that the gen.
eral interest which was once aroused
by the contest is quickly waning.
They claim that they are more than
holding their own in the nonunion
| plants that were unaffected, or have
been started since the strike began,
and are perfectlng plans for reopen
ing several plants now idle. They
also claim that many of their men,
particularly at McKeesport, Wheel
ing and Bellaire, were forced out by
intimidation, and will come back as
soon as the excitement dies out and
their safety is assured. Talk of peace
has been dropped for the time being,
and it is agreed that, in its present
aspects, the situation indicates a pro-
longed> and stubborn contest.
Two hundred men employed in the
National galvanizing works of the Ma
tional tube works at McKeesport
struck Friday. They were the last
remaining workmen in the affected
trades in that city. and the tie-up is
now as complete as possible there.
Many of the tube workers, although
on strike, have refused to join any
union, and the opinion is expressed
that there will soon be break among
the strikers. The leaders plan an
other rally for tonight to reenthuse
the men and check any break that
may be possible. They have asked
President Shaffer to go there and
speak, but he has not yet said def
nitely that he will do so. The or
ganizers are working indefatigably
to keep the men in line. They are
also extending their operations to
Duquesne and Homestead, the two
great strongholds of the Carnegie
company, and claim to be gaining
ground in both places.
The recent gains here and at Joliet
will bring the total number of men
brought out by the third and final
call of President Shaffer up to about
10000, and press the grand total to
something over 10000. Thousands of
the men out have found other work,
and the exact number now idle is
unknown. The Amalgamated associa-
tion is organizing series of employ
ment bureaus, and plans to place
many more of the idle men. Presi-
dent Shaffer announced Friday that
after September 1, idle Amalgamated
men would receive strike benefits OF
four dollars a week apiece, and that
some provision would be made for
men outside the organization.
Referring to the status of the men
In the western lodges who have re-
fused to strike, President Shaffer de-
clared himself Friday as follows:
"The men of the Chicago lodges OF the
| Amalgamated association who refused tc
! obey the strike order will be placed with
|, | out the pale of the organization. Notices
| will be sent to all the lodges to receive nc
communication from them and to send
none to them and to accept no working
cards from them. Such notification will
be given at once. A date will be set al
which the intercourse must cease, the date
to cover the recent detection of the men in
, the trust plants of the west"
Joliet, H., Aug. 17.-Three separate
industries are closed in Joliet as re.
company's mills are shut down with
the exception of the blast furnaces
] The vote of the Amalgamated mem
| bers Thursday night resulted in this
, suspension. About $500 men are af
, fected. When President Shaffer first
l issued his order for strike, members
, of Swansea lodge, employed in the
: Great Western tin plate mills, an aux
+ iliary of the American Tin Plate com
pany, promptly struck. Since ther
that plant has been idle, throwing out
| of work about 500 men. An independ
t ent strike is on at the plant of TIL,
. Pressed Steel Car company plant, in
volving nearly 500 men. These mer
= originally struck about six weeks ago
, and August 1 the differences were
5 patched up under an agreement to gc
, back for two weeks under piece worl
schedule. The men found this unsatis
e factory, and on August IA went out
+. Since that time the entire plant hai
: been closed. 1t is probable that, as {
) result of the strike in the Illinois stee
: works, there wilrDe shutdown short
: ly in the three local plants of the
: American Steel and Wire company