The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-16
PROGRESS OF THE BIG STRIKE Many Thousands Of Men
 are Now Idle. THE MOVEMENT SPREADING All Mills of U. s. Steel Cor
 poration Affected. workmen in Some Mills Are Out Who Were Thought to Be Safe for the Corporation-other
 Surprises.
THE MOVEMENT SPREADING


 Pittsburg, July 15.-Reports received from all sources connected with the great strike of the steel workers today indicate that the members of the Amal- gamated Association had matters well in hand, and that the strike order was generally obeyed. The telegrams from various points where the mills of the American Tin Plate Company, the American Steel Hoop Company and the American Sheet Steel Company are located, told of the shutting down of these plants in large numbers. In many classes the plants had been shut down by the first strike. which af- fected the sheet steel and the steel hoop companies only. The last order brought out all the union plants of the American, Plate Company with the single exception of the new mill in Monessen, which Is still running. At the Amalgamated Association head quarters it was stated that 74.ooo men would be actually idle in the mills of the three companies.
 The hoop companies supposedly non- union mill, known as the Painter, was closed this morning in all It's branches. The tie-up at this mill was said to have been a surprise to the mill owners and officials in charge of it. The other plant, known as the Lindsey & McCut- cheon mill in Allegheny was shut down completely in the pudding and bar mills. The finishing department of the mill was working during the day. as the men are not in the union, but it Is claimed by the workers that the em- ployes in that department will not go to work in the morning.
 The hoop company's mill at Monessen has been non-union since 1t was built two years ago, and the company says the men there, will remain loyal.
 While all the mills of the United States Steel Corporation are included in the general conflict. the three com panies are the first attacked. What the next move would be the workers would not say. It is announced to- night that the circular letter which was expected to be sent out calling on the men in the mills of the Federal Steel Company, the National steel Company and the National Tube Com pany to come out would not be issued at present.
 The most interesting report to the Amalgamated Association today was the dispatch from New York which said that a conference or the manu- fActurerG WAS lO Uc uci0 ANS" ~ O- A~ tomorrow at which Warner Arms. the President of the Tin Plate Com pany, was to present a detailed ac- count of the experiences of the comit- fee that met the Amalgamated Asso- citation last week. It was stated that the question of again extending the olive branch to the strikers or Of taxing mn inc fight and crushing the associa- lion would be determined. Generally sneaking. the workers, from President Shaffer down. seem to be looKlns ior some sort of settlement .
 When President Shaffer was inIorm- ed of the granting of the adVance to the McKeesport Tube Workers' "ho afe unorganized, he said:
 "I anticipated such action on the mart of the manufacturers and have warned our men to guard against being tlinded by such dust throwing meth ods. expect that similar advances will be given to the men in other works of the United States Steel Corporation that have not been affected by the strike order. in the hope that the Wprk- ers may refuse to come out should we decide to extend the strike to all the plants of the corporation"
 In addition to the very general and, in some instances, rather unexpected compliance to the strike order .the Amalgamated Association tonight has added two more mills to its list, both of which were claimed by the com panies to be beyond the reach of the organization. When the William Clark Sons Company's mill. which operated all day non-union came to shift turns tonight, none of the skilled men report ed for duty and the plant had to be closed down. Later the following was received concerning the mill considered by the manufacturers upcxceDtionaliy loyal:
 ''Monessen. Pa.-The Monessen Steel Hoop plant is closed, and has been or ganized by district delegates of the Amalgamated Association. The dele gates arrived in town this morning and went to work immediately. By 3 o'clock this afternoon they had all the local men in the association and left this afternoon for Pittsburg after advising the men to stand firm. The men held a meeting tonight to elect officers and name their lodge"
 The conquest of these two plants Is considered by the association people as an instance of their strength and an indication that President Shaffer's as- sertion that surprises would follow the strike order was not without reason.