The age-herald., 1901-09-24
Compelled to SsttIe by Lack of Assistance from Other
 Organizations
SEVERELY CENSURES GOMPERS
Leader of the AmaIgamated Associa- ton Says That He Was Promised Aid, But Help Never Came
 From Any Source.

Pittsburg, September 23.--The Associat- ed Press has secured an advance copy of the statement of President shaffer of the Amalgamated Association giving history of the late strike of steel and tin workers from It's inception and the terms of the settlement President Shaffer says that the statements contained therein give a fair and truthful account of occurrences leading to and compelling a settlement of the strike. In part the circular is as fol- lows:
 "When we had almost completed ar engagements with the representatives of the American Tin Plate Company for scale rates and conditions at the confer ence held in Cleveland the question of signing for Monessen was broached, and after discussion 1t was agreed by both sides that the matter wasyto be settled by the sheet steel conference; if the sheet steel company signed for all the Ameri- can Tin Plate Company would do like wise. The scale question was not sett' completely with the last named comp and could not be until the other con had settled. The tin plate people knew that we had decided to enforce article XIX, section 35, consequently the charge that we broke our agreement must rest upon the action of the sheet conference.
 In Condition to Win.
 We were in fairly good condition to win without help, but looked for aid from other labor bodies, some of which were pledged, and to the general public, but especially relied upon the American Federation of Lah E. with which body we have been affiliated ever since its incep- tion and toward whose support we have never failed to contribute.
 "Our strike advanced and we were confident of winning until the news- papers deliberately and maliciously published statements which were re- plete with lies. We knew our cause would be lost, feeling sure we could win if support could be secured for the faithful strikers. The American Federation gave us not one cent. The report that financial help came from the National Lodge of the Mine Work- CTS is absolutely false-We received nothing"
 "Perceiving that lack of money, loss of public approval, assertion by hundreds of our own people and neglect by other organizations would render 1t impossible to gain a decisive victory, we endeavored to save what we could. I arranged for MT. Gompers, of the American Fedora tion of Labor, to meet MT. Morgan to ef- feet a settlement. MT. Morgan went to New York and waited for MT. Gompers, who failed to appear, nor has he since explained why he neglected our interests. We were called upon at the national of- flee by John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers, MT. Easley of the Civic Fede- ration, Henry White of the Garment Workers and Professor Jenks of Cornell University. These gentlemen inquired carefully into our strike, and MT. Mitch ell stated that if we would present proposition which he outlined he would demand acceptance by the trust or call out the miners, and he said he felt sure MT. Sargent would call on the trainmen to strike also. We sent the proposition to the members of the executive board, which voted in favor of it.
 Accepted MitcheII's Proposition.
 "I notified Messrs. Mitchell and Easley of the acceptan of the proposition, and on September received the following telegram
 "'New York, Sept. 4, 1901. "'Theodore J. Shaffer, Pittsburg:
 "'We have had an extended confer ence with Messrs. Schwab, Cory, Pres ton, Graham and McMurtrie of the United States Steel Corporation, and presented your proposition for the settlement of the present strike. 1t was rejected. We can, however, se- cure settlement on the following basis: The signing of the agreement for all mills which were union last year except Old Meadow, Saltsburg, Hyde Park, Crescent, lrondaIe, Ches- ter, Cambridge, Star and Monessen. There will be no discr:mrn ation against the unemployment of any one by the company by reason of his connection with the strike and no questions will be asked as to the membership of any man In the union. We are convinced that these are the pest conditions which can be secured as the result of this strike and the last offer of an agreement which the company will en- tertain and that we must be In a posi- ton to accept these conditions today or all negotiations will be off. From the facts demonstrated to us of the present situation of the strike, that is in the mills already in operation and several others which will be in opera tion within a day or two, we are strongly of the opinion that the inter- est of your trade and your organlza- ton demands that these terms be &C., cepted. We unquaIIfedIy recommend their acceptance by you and at once.'
 Gompers' Recommendation.
 MT. Gompers Cby phone) said to your president:
 MT. Shaffer. I, as an individual, re- commend that you take a stand for the proposition. I have done the same and would do so again
 We refused to hold further telephonic intercourse with him and waited for the miners and railroad men to be called out. They were willing to come. as thousands
 (Contfnuod on Second paRel