The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-28
STEEL STRIKE NOT GENERAL
Accessions to the Ranks Of the Idle
Not Wha+ Leaders Expected
WESTERN MEN REFUSE TO QUIT

President Shaner's General Strike Order
Obeyed by About IA 900 Men-Actlon OF
Western Workers In Refusing to Go Out
Great disappointment to the Leaders
Federation Men Not to Be Called Out
Pittsburg, Penp.-The struggle FOR
mastery between manufacturers and
men in the steel industry is now
fairly launched. and on the first show
of strength the advantage is with the
former. The general strike order is
sued by President Shaffer, of the
Amalgamated Association, on Monday
was obeyed by only about $4,000 men,
according to the best figures obtain
able here. The first two preliminary
calls were answered by about 10000
men, so that the total number now
out approximates 10000.
The action of the Amalgamated men
at South Chicago, Joliet, and Bay
View, In refusing to come out, and
their failure to secure any recruits in
the Carnegie group, throughout the
Kiskiminetas Valley and the big
plants at Youngstown and Columbus,
Ohio. have been markedly disappoint-
ing to the strike leaders, They are
keeping up the fight, however, anu
claim that they have strength IN re-
serve which will surprise their op-
ponents. They are pressing their ad-
vantages at McKeesport and Wheel'
ing, and their organizers are at work
in those two cities.
An appeal for financial aid has been
made to organized labor and the gen.
eral public, and it is expected that the
responses to it will be liberal.
The Amalgamated Association also
issued an appeal to its local lodges,
urging the members who are employed
to give literally to the cause.
The men who are directing the fight
in the field for the steel corporation
and it's constituent companies would
give no indication Of their plans for
the future, and would only discuss the
situation generally.
Their reports showed that the Car
negie group, South Chicago, Bay View,
Joliet, Youngstown, Columbia, the
Kiskiminetas Valley group, Wells
Vile, and Monesson were going along
full-handed. Bellaire, their adV1ces
showed, was badly crippled.
They admitted the loss of the Ma
tional Rolling Mill, at Mckeesport,
which they had expected to hold, and
that the Boston Mill and Mononga-
hela Steel Works, at McKeesport, and
the Republic and Elba Mills here were
tied up. Their tube men at Wheeling
were out. They claimed that many
of their men at McKeesport desired
to work, but were being terrorlzed Dy
the disorderly element.
Officials of the National Tube Com
pany and Mayor Black clashed at NC
Keesport over the question OF protec-
ton for non-strlkers and property. A
large crowd Of strikers assembled
around the works and their pickets
intercepted the tube workers on their
way to the mills. There was some ex-
cftement, and the mill officers, claim
Ing that their men were being threat
ened and in danger Of violence, called
on Mayor Black to clear the streets
that he would interfere only to stop
actual rioting and assault. Two other
appeals were made to him, but he in
sisted that there was no danger OF an
outbreak. The strikers say that 1t Is
only a question of time when material
will give out and the tube men must
quit. Otherwise it Is believed that
there would be serious trouble in Nc
Keesport. -,
The Executive Committee of the
Amalgamated Association will proba-
bly, make an exhaustive investigation
of the action taken by the lodges at
South Chicago, Bayview and Joliet in
refusing to make the strike.
President Shaffer said that he would
not call out the members Of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor. and that
their action must be voluntary.