New-York tribune., 1901-09-01
STRIKERS CLAIM VICTORY
ONE DEPARTMENT OF DUQUESNE STEEL
WORKS CLOSED.

MANAGERS. HOWEVER. DENY THE STATE
MENTs OF THE LABOR LEADERs-RE-
PORTED CONFERENCE BETWEEN
PRESIDENT sCHwAB AND
SIMON BURNS.
Pittsburg Aug. 31.-The strikers tonight are
claiming the biggest victory since the fight be-
gan in the closing down of the open hearth de
partment Of the Duquesne Steel Works The
Amalgamated people say that the open hearth
men have struck. and the entire plant will have
70 close down when the men fail TO return on
Sunday night for work. The Carnegie steel peo-
PIE make light OF the matter. and say the close
down Of the open hearth department to-day was
merely the usual Saturday afternoon close
maintaining that the men will be on hand for
work on Sunday evening heretofore. and that
no s.oppage will result. They say the trouble at
the plant Friday night has been greatly exag-
gersted and that. instead Of a large number of
men having quit work. only few boys were
escorted from the mill by policemen, and the
places OF those elected were filed at once
Until tomorrow night 1t will not be known
certainly which side is right in it's contention
the Amalgamated people say they are able to
tie up the plant and the steel company says 1t
will resume without any material inconvenience
, TALK BETWEEN SCHWAB AND BURNS.
Aside from the Duquesne incident. the report
ed conference by long distance telephone be-
tween President Schwab Of the Steel Corpora
ton and Simon Burns president OF the Window
Glass Workers Association. was the only other
! happening to cause comment. 1t seems that the
two men really communicated with each other
by telephone. but what the subject or the result
is not known. Mr. Burns is mysteriousy
silent
II is learned from another source that In the
conversation Mr. Schwab told Mr.. Burns that
he would not consent to meet any representa-
tives of the Amalgamated Association until all
the mills OF the United States Steel Corporation
made idle by the order of President Shaffer are
put in operation again by the former employees
Of the corporation returning to their work. He
told Mr. Burns. II is said. that the striking men,
bers OF the Amalgamated Association are no
longer employees of the United States Steel Cor
poration; hence. there is reason why he
should meet any representative OF the associa-
ton: but If they voluntarily re-enter the employ
of the corporation. IL is said Mr.. Schwab is will.
ing to listen TO any grievance they may desire
TO lay before him with reference 20 their work
and wages And II is further intimated that he
will consent TO allow these grievances to be sub
mitted by the officers Of their union.
Mr.. Burns called on President Shaffer this af-
ternoon. He refused TO say what passed al the
conference but he is hopeful that President
terms OF settlement.
The feature of the proposal which ii is said
iinpresses the president of the steel corporation
Is putting the men back TO work at once and
then adjusting any differences.
SHAFFER AND THE STRIKE
w e Porter. of McKee's Rocks, who was a
delegate to the recent convention Of the AmaIga-
mated Association at Milwaukee. says:
note article in THE Labor World of this
week stating that this strike is Shaffer's strike.
wish it positively stated that every delegate
at the Milwaukee convention. including myself
knew that the strike would be called in case the
steel combine failed to agree TO the terms of
the wage settlement as laid down in the con-
vention. You cannot make It too strong that
the present strike had the lndorsement or every
delegate. President Shaffer cannnOt take up the
refutation of the article, but every delegate to
the convention should and is willing to do so.
The steel corporation to-day continued to add
TO the number of men at work in several of the
plants that have reopened since the strike
began hut the Amagamated people insist that
the additions of no value and that the strike
situation remains without change
Neither side 10 the controversy expects much
10 daveIon until after Labor Day outside of
the Duonesne plant. After Monday. however, it
is probable that decided and effective moves will
be made.
THE TROUBLE AT DUQUESNE.
An early report came from Duquesne that the
men had gone strike at i o'clock. This proved
untrue Last evening a committee of employees
to the foreman not to recharge the furnaces, as
they were going strike this morning at the
end of the turn. The foreman Immediately in
formed the officials of the mill OF the intentions
of the men, and hurried conference was held
II was then decided to make wholesale dis
charges In an effort 10 stay the tide OF union
Sentiment The men discharged We're two help
ers, twenty Iadlemen. two engineers, three cleo
tricians two boss stokers and two brakemen.
Eleven of the discharged men were escorted
from the works by policemen. and were not al
lowed to talk to their fellow-workmen while
going out of the mills.
The open hearth department of the Carnegie
mill closed at o'clock, but the rest OF the
plant continued in operation The strikers say
they have all the day men in line. and expect
to have all the night men soon. The managers
say they viii start up tomorrow evening as
usual.
1t is reported that John Jarrett secretary OF
the labor bureau of the American Sheet Steel
Company. has gone TO Europe to secure skilled
laborers TO replace the strikers. but the report
is discredited in labor circles. 1t Is known that
Mr.. Jarrett has been ill for some time, and 1t is
said that his mission to Europe is in search or