The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-16
Circulation Statement.
The strike Situntion.


The conditions surrounding the strike
of the AmaIgamated Association Of
Iron. Steel. and Tin Workers against
the Morgan Steel Trust are distinctly
more discouragiug today than they
have been at any previous time IN
deed, there is reason 10 apprehend that
the country Is on the verge Of labor
war which might attain proportions SUI
fiCient TO wreck the present favorable
business situation and cause widespread
loss and disaster
SO far both parties To the controversy
appear TO be determined and unyield-
ing. Outside influences are busy cIamor-
ing for d settlement through mediation
OF arbitration, but unless the strikers
should show some disposition to make
concessions there does not appear TO be
much. # any. hope that the attitude OF
the corporations comprised in the trust
can be changed.
The strike Is spreading, even the men
Of non-Union plants having Joined with
their fellows of the AmalgamaIed As
ISOLATION. and judging by the experience
of the last two days. the tie-up can be
made general throughout the shops and
mills of The steel combination When
ever President Shafer chooses to 50 or
der
There can be no possible doubt that
the trouble is a very serious one. Wall
Street yesterday was IL d completely
demoraIized condition. and II required
the strenuous eNertious OF the Morgan
Rockefeller interests 10 stem the toe Of
stock depression. which might easily
have become q panic IF the market had
not been strongly and intelIiseutIy sup
ported after the uenacing decline Of the
morning. The p-ssimistjc views OF New
York bankers and brokers have been
adopted in London. where there has
been an uncomfortable slump in Steel
Trust securities. which are held over
there in large blocks, as a result Of AIr
NorEan's missionary efforts some
months aSo- Lord de Eothschild is
quoted as declaring that the Americans
must settle their strike if they expect
CapeI Court to look with favor on their
shares and bonds OF any sort IN thu
near future. All Of these price move
ments, collateral facts, and utteraEces
are encouraging the strikers TO believe
that they have the situation by the
throat and that it VIII be possible for
them to drive the Trust TO an early and
unconditional surrender. The gravity
Of the prospect is recognized by the
steel and tin masnates, and conferences
are being held in New York. with q
view TO determining what is best TO be
done in the circumstances How the
Trust can find any way to recede from
the position IL has taken with regard
To uniOuizinE non-union plants is rather
difficult TO conceive But the threat To
the prosperity Of the country which
would be involved in q stoppage Of so
large a percentage OF the national steel
output as the Trust controls is a con
sideration sufficiently alarming perhaps
To overcome the natural unwiIIinguess
Of the employing corpora tons TO sur
render principle which they look upon
as vital 10 the successful operation Of
their business
1t is certain that if political pressure
can be made useful il viii be applied
Senator Hanna was at Canton vester-
day in close conference with President
Mckinley. He said that his visit was
merely social, but It may be surmised
that it was something more, and that
the strike and how 10 settle It occupied
the attention Of the two friends 10 the
exclusion of other topics Even if
there are to be future meetings between
representative Of the warning inter
ests. with a view To some accommoda-
ton. it is too early in the fight to
consider such things The actzI
strength Of the AmaIeamated Associa-
ton and its ability 10 close all Of the
Trust plants are still undecided. When
that has been made clear possibly some
action may be taken in the direction Of
q new conference, but as the case
seems to stand, there Smoothing imme-
GiateIy in sight but war 10 the knife