The Minneapolis journal., 1901-08-16
Hopes of Strikers Revived by
Action at Joliet.
TRUST ACCEPTS GAGE
Ready for Long Siege If Such Is
to Come.
WHEELING PLANTS MAY MOVE
One Section of Employees of National
Tube Works Will Not
Strike.

Pittsburg Aug. 16.-The reversal OF
front by the men of Joliet has cheered the
steel strikers more than any other event
of the week and their hopes again seem
high. 1t has ended for the time being
Rll talk Of peace by compromise and given
the fight the aspect Of a prolonged one.
The strikers declare in their enthusiasm
that they will force the Milwaukee men
to join with them and that in the end the
Chicago steel workers, rather than lose
the hallmark Of unionism, will finally re-
consider their action and swing into line.
This optimistic program remains to be
carried out, however.
The loss at Joliet has had no apparent
effect upon the men who are directing
the field operations of the steel corpora
tion. One of them remarked when he
heard the news from Joliet: well, it
seems to be settling down to a long
drawn-out fight and guess we can win
at that sort of a game"
To Reopen at MOnessen.
There we're no developments to-day in
the situation in western Pennsylvania,
Ohio, or West Virginia. McKeesport and
Wheeling continue silent, while here III
Pittsburg and vicinity no effort was made
to add to the force at the mills, which
are working either partly or in full with
non union men. The steel corporation is
preparing to reopen the steel works at
Monessen. White men are being brought
up from the south and it is by Monday
expected a start will be made. Every
precaution to guard the non-union men
is being taken, as it is feared that when
they arrive some of the strikers and their
sympathizers cannot be held in check by
their leaders.
The American Tin Plate officials have
plans for resumption at some Of their
idle plants, but have carried no more of
them out yet. The strikers claim that the
lower union Carnegie mill and the Lind
say McCutcheon mills are impaired, but
this the steel officials deny.
Words From Shaffer.
President Shaffer, when asked If Trus-
tee Pierce had gone east to do some or
ganizing, said:
II will not talk on Mr.. Pierce's trip"
will he go to Duncanville?" was asked.
The response was:
The Amalgamated association never sough.
to organize those men, They sent word for
Us to send an organizer there We did So
with the result that is already known. We
have not troubled ourselves about them since
They do not amount to a row Of pins, and if
they come into the association 1t must be
voluntarily. l have received a telegram from
Mr.. Tighe stating that the Joliet men are out
md that he will go to Milwaukee.
Have you any word from Vice Presi-
dent Davis of Chicago?" was asked Mr.
Shaffer replied:
I have not heard from Mr. Davis and do
not know his position. I know what is going
on in every mill in the country, and am sat
isted with the situation. l have reports from
the local mills supposed to be in operation and
of their failure in turning out work 1t looks
nice TO see the flames of these mills going up
but our men know there is nothing going on
in them that amounts to anything. Mr. Tighe
has the right to bring back the charters of
western lodges where the men refuse to go
out, and will do so if necessary. If l were
one Of these men I would be ashamed of my
self
telegram from McKeesport announces
that the fires Of the Monongahela blast
furnaces will be drawn tomorrow and 400
men will be without employment. The
order to close down resulted from the
among the Carnegie men at Homestead
and Duquesne and claim they have a foot
hold. They may hold a meeting at the
latter place on Saturday night The
steel managers say their position at these
two places is impregnable.
Plants May Leave Wheeling.
Wheeling is stirred by a statement that
the steel corporation is planning the re-
moval of several of its plants to towns
where there is less labor sentiment The
steel workers at the Riverside plant are
the only ones still at their places.
Plans for the relief CT strikers are being
perfected at McKeesport and Wheeling
Only $275 has been raised at the former
place, but more is promised Wheeling
has named a relief committee Contribu
tions are coming in to Secretary Williams
mere, but no plan for aiding the men who
are out has been announced.
1t is reported that the tube weIders of
the National Tube Works at McKeesport
nave refused to join any union and that
they Wlll return to work whenever the
strike SHOWS any weakness The knob
Dlers are to meet on Sunday and vote on
continuance of the strike. Discussing
strike benefits to-day President Shaffer
said:
Under our constitution our men will. on
Sept. l, commence to receive $14 a week
apiece There is no provision for men out
side of the Amalgamated, but they will be
looked after.
Every McKeespOrt Plant Closed.
The 500 employees of the National CAL
Tanizing works, an adjunct of the National
Tube company, at McKeesport, joined the
,trikers to-day. This closes every plant
N McKeesport.
Referring to the status of the men in
he western lodges who have refused to
prlke, President Shaffer declared himself
io-day as follows:
Ihe men of the Chicago lodges of the
tmaIgamated Association who refused to obey
ne strike order Will be placed without the
paie OF the organization. Notices will be
jent to all the lodges to receive no communi-
satlon from them and to send none to them
and TO accept no working cards from them
sucn notlncation will be given at once A
aate WIN be set at which the intercourse must
eease, the date to cover the recent detection
pf the men in the trust plants of the west.