River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-09-12
ACUTE STAGE REACHED.
Strike Situation at McKeesport
Causes Apprehension Strikers
Keep Mills Closed.
pICEETs STOP HUNDREDS OF WORKERS.
National Tube Works Unable to Oper-
About AmaIGnmated Headquarters
-COntinued Session of Executive
Board Taken as Hopeful Sign.


Pittsburg, Pa, Sept. 10--The air OF
mystery surrounding the amalgan-
ated headquarters during last weeks
conference of the general executive
board still pervaded the rooms Mon-
day. The members of the board
were again on hand early, but all eff
forts to secure information as to
subjects under discussion, or to get
an expression from any of them,
were futile. President Shaffer had
nothing to say" to all interroga-
tories.
The continued session of the Anal
gamated executive board is regarded
as hopeful sign. 1t is now felt that
the strikers will accept any honor
able terms made by the steel people,
and visit of the Amalgamated Off
cials to New York at any time to
deal directly with President Schwab
is not improbable.
The situation at McKeesport is
looked upon with apprehension, and
an outbreak is feared at any mo-
ment. Locally there is no change.
All the mills started by the combine
were running The strikers are not
interfering with the workmen and
everything is quiet. The crucial test
in the strike will come when the
steel company starts in earnest to
open its closed mills. This, it is said,
will be done in a few days and t.
combine officials claim that when the
strikers realize how many of the old
men are at work they win tumble
over one another to get back to their
old places.
Reaches an Acute Stage.
The strike situation in McKeesport
reached an acute stage Monday
morning and serious trouble was
feared as a result of the efforts of
the striking tube workers to prevent
men from returning to work as they
did Saturday. The effort was almost
perfectly successful, and where last
week from 500 to 200 men went back
into the mill, not more than dozen
were able this morning to elude the
multitude of pickets and get back
into the mill. There was great ex-
element in MeKeesport Monday
morning as a result of this turning
out of the strikers, more than at
any time yet.
Something over 1000 strikers con-
gregated about the great plant Of
the National Tube company shortly
after midnight and remained there
until Monday morning, when the, en-
ployes who went to work last week
reported for duty at seven o'clock
in the morning. Every approach to
and around the main entrance more
than GOO strikers and sympathizers
gathered. The streets adjacent to
the mills were crowded, and as men
approached to go to work they were
met and turned back. Almost all of
the great force who returned last
week reported for duty again and
there were many more who were
willing to go back, but these were
met by the pickets as they advanced
near the mill and forced to return
home. Not over a dozen escaped the
vigilance of the pickets and succeed
ed in getting into the mill.
No Arrests Made.
About so police were on duty about
the mill, but no arrests were made.
As n result of the disturbances Mon
day morning the big tube mill is idle
.
the National Tube company viii do
now is a matter of conjecture 1t is
believed by many that an attempt
will be made to start the mill with
imported men, and that an appeal
win be made to Sheriff Mckinley for
protection.
At the meetings of lodges of the
Federation of Labor in McKeesport,
Sunday the question of returning to
work in the tube mill was voted on.
The butt welders voted to return,
but were prevented from doing so
Monday morning by the strikers who
gathered about the mill The en-
ployes of the rolling mill of the Ma
tional Tube company voted to a man
not to return.
AZ Demmler a crowd of fully 500
strikers gathered about the plant,
and, while they were orderly. they
refused to obey the orders of the 80
deputy sheriffs on guard. Fewer
workmen reported from McKeeSport
than last week, though more men
came by boat from Duquesne.
Mills at Bay View start Up.
Milwaukee, Sept. 10.-Thirty-five
Amalgamated association men re-
turned to work at the plant of the
Illinois Steel company in Bay View
Monday. Many others are uneasy
and are expected to return in few
days 1t is said that three of six Of
the company's mills, the Top and
Bottom, the 12-inch and rail mills,
were started Monday morning.
Among those who passed through the
gates to report for duty were J. d.
Hickey and J. F. Cooper. the two men
who went to Pittsburg ten days ago
TO learn the real racts in regard to
"a