Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-08-15
THE BIG CONFLICT.
zhs Result Of the Steel Strike Still
In the Balance.
GENERAL SITUATION SUMMARIZED.
~ Chartiers Mills ut Carnegie to BE Dis
nsutied and Removed Because Of the
Strike - Western Steel Workers
Charged with DislOyalty.

flttSDurS, Ihs, mug if'-Ne'."SA
ode moved decisiveiy yesterday in the
great industrial conflict between EN-
ployers and employees in the steel
trade and the result is still in the
balance. The strikers made gains at
Pittsburg, McKeesport, Wheeling and
Bellaire in the last "a hours, but in
the main the advantage is still with
the mill owners. Both sides claim
TO be preparing moves that will bring
confusion to opponents. but neither
side has shown its hand. The gen
eral situation can be briefly sum
married as follows: Ten men, five
Of them skilled, quit at the Lower
Union mill Of the Carnegie company
In Pittsburg and joined the strikers.
Their detection represented the first
break in the Carnegie forces of more
than $4,000 men. The strikers were
iubilant over the incident, but the
company claims to have filled their
places at once and there will be no
more assertions ut any of the plants.
The Bellaire plant, with which the
men struck on Sunday, was finally
closed down yesterday, working short
handed until Monday afternoon.
When another start will be made is
problematical. Several hundred boys
employed at the National tube works
at McKeesport went out during the
night and day and their action mate
rally aided the effort Of the strikers
TO finally tie the plant up. The works
are going ahead short-handed, but the
ranks Of the workers are thinning and
the supply Of material is limited.
The strikers made gains Mt Wheeling
and the steel officials admitted yes
terday that Benwood would be closed
down. Clark's mill here is moving
along full-handed, Lindsey & Nc
Cutcheon is operating with u small
crew and the managers are planning
to open Painters and increase the
force at Lindsey & McCntcheon's. A
break in the ranks Of the men who
struck at Painters is expected, but
the strike managers deny that one
will occur. Another break is report
ed us possible at Newcastle. but there
are as yet no positive Indications OF
H. The American Tin Plate com
pany has small force at the Cres-
cent plant in Cleveland and is also
planning resumption at other points
with non-union men. The steel cor
poration has ordered that the Char
tiers plant at Carnegie be dismantled
and removed to Leechburg. So far
good order has prevailed, although
the steel officials assert that there has
been intimidation at Wheeling, Nc
Keesport and Pittsburg. Both sides
express their confidence in ultimate
victory and are actively carrying for
ward their respective campaigns.
President Shaffer, of the Amnlga-
mated association, will leave to-day
for Wheeling, where he is to address
the strikers. The number of men out
az n result of the general order is now
roughly estimated at 10000 and on
the three orders at 620O0 Many
strikers have found work in indie
pendent mills or at other occupations
and many are idle merely because the
skilled men are out.
The CHARTERS plant at Carnegie Is
owned by the American Sheet Steel
company. The orders TO tear II down
went out yesterday afternoon. 1t will
be removed to I.eechburg in the Kis-
kiminOtns valley. Inc strikcrs were
called together Monday by Superin.
tendent John Henry and preliminary
notice of the company's plan served
on them. Eighty strikers responded
and Mr.. Henry told them that the
Ares would be lighted and all prepare
tions made for start yesterday. lie
said that at two o'clock the whistle
would be blown and II the men failed
to respond tie fires would never be
relighted. The programme as out
lined was carried out, but when the
whistle sounded the men did not re-
spond. The fires were at once drawn
and the order to dismantle and re-
move the mills was given. The Off
cials of the company said that the
plant would be down and moved
within two weeks.
The steel corporation held 1t.
ground at Chicago, Joliet, Bayview
Youngstown, Columbus, the Kish
minotas valley and the Carnegie
group, with the exception of the in
stance named The strikers are con
sidering plans for breaking the deci
sion Of Chicago, Joliet and Bayviev
to stand with the steel companies
but what they plan to do has not beer
made clear. They are charging som'
Of the western men with both dishon
esty and disloyalty and there Is a gen
eral desire among members Of thu
Amalgamated here for some form o
inquiry.
EstablIshIng County Poor Farm.