The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-07-26
PRESIDENT SHAFF[R I'LL.
Head of Amalgamated Association
Feels Effects of Strain
of the Strike.
CRITICAL STAGE OF STRIKE IS REACHED
DEVELOPMENTS Of Next ~ Hours Ex-
pccted to Have Important Bearing
ON the Great Struggle-Desperate
Attempt to BE Made to Start Wells
VILE Plant.

willie Plant.
Pittsburgh, Pa, July 22.-Some I'M
easiness was felt at Amalgamated
Headquarters Saturday over the indis-
position of President Shaffer. He has
worked very hard during the past few
weeks, and, while his illness is not Sc
rious, it comes at most inopportune
| time and occasions some concern
among his fellow officers. Mr.. Shatfer
was at his office as usual Saturday
morning, but he is feeling very poorly.
| He attributes his indisposition to the
great mental worry he has been forced
to undergo for the past while, and he
will see no person unless the business
is imperative.
| Crisis Reached.
| The steel strike has reached the crit
ical stage and the developments OF the
next 72 hours are expected to have an
important bearing on the great strug-
gle.
By Monday night the results of the
attempts of the combine officialsto re-
sumo operations at Wellsville and Nc
Keesport should be known, and upon
the success or failure of this the out
| come of the struggle will greatly de-
pend.
No More TempOrizfnE.
So far the contending forces appear
to have been watching each other, but
the statement from j. P. Morgan has
changed the complexion of the situa-
ton. Everybody is talking about this
now, and at Amalgamated headquar-
tiers all is hustle and activity. 1t is
now realized that the combines will
| not indulge in any further temporiz-
ing, and long struggle may be looked
| for.
|, At Wellsville the company is strain
| ing every point to get the plant into
| operation, and the latest dispatches
from there state that they claim they
| will have full force at all furnaces by
Monday morning. 1t is said that they
have the men imported from Pitts
burgh and will bring them to the
works by that time.
To Try to Start Up Monday.
Everything seems to depend for the
next development upon the outcome of
the company's efforts at resumption
on Monday. A large number of rail-
road tickets from here to Wellsville
have been purchased within the last
few days, which are reported to be for
the new force. At Wellsville no men
have as yet appeared, but it is reported
that they are quartered at East Liver
pool and will be moved from there be-
fore Monday morning. The strikers
at Wellsville are watching all incom-
ing trains, and it is now hoped that
no trouble will take place when the
| new men arrive. The strikers are said
to be FESTIVE and what may happen
when they see the new men come in to
take their places it is difficult to pre-
diet. The company is taking every pre-
caution to obviate trouble. A high
fence surrounds the mill property and
| carloads of lumber have been taken
into the mill, presumably for the pur-
pose of housing the new men within
the mill.
Secret Meeting Called.
A secret meeting of the strikers has
been called, which will be presided
over by Vice President Chappell.
At McKeesport a force of men are
still at work clearing up and get
ting the De Wees Wood plant in
shape for early operation. It is said
that sheet mills and and the bar
mill have been completely .overhauled
and are ready for resumption at any
time. While it is not known positive
ly that the works will be started up
on Monday, it is generally believed
that it is the intention of the man
agement to do so.
Saturday afternoon the Amalga-
mated association held large meet
ing at McKeesport to forestall, if
possible, the efforts expected next
week to start the works. President
| Shaffer, Secretary McTighe and other
officials were present and addressed
the strikers. President Shaffer coun-
seled tolerance, sobriety and total
abstinence from any acts tending to
| violence.
President Shaffer will not discuss
the possibilities at the National Tube
company plant. Neither Will he say
when he will be ready with the gen.
eral order to the other companies.
"We will not carry the fight any
further can we can avoid" said Mr..
Shaffer. "We have no desire to en-
barrass the business interests of the
country unnecessarily. If we are
forced to it we will go further even
than the members of our own trade,
but we hope to be able to secure
settlement without res sorting to these
measures"
| The situation in the closed Pitts
burgh mills is practically unchanged.
The Painter and Lindsay and Nc
Cutcheon mills are closed.
Dispatches from outside points
show no material change. At Dun
cansville the visit of Vice President
: Pierce proved fruitless. At meet
Ing of the employees of the Portage
Iron company, Friday night, it was
decided by large vote to continue at
work.
The plants at Monessen, Apollo,
Vandegrift and Scottsdale are still
running and there seems no prospect