Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1901-08-14
GREAT STEEL STRIKE GROWS
THOUSANDS OUT OF WORK.
New Strike Was Generally Obeyed
Where Workers Were Organized
President Shaffer Speaks-Trust
Is Removing Mills.

itsobui e, aug. uc SIcdI Stttl
strike, on the general order of Presi-
dent Shaffer of the Amalgamated AS
ISOLATION, has become effective. and
thousands of workers have left their
places to return at some indefinite
time in the future, either victorious
over the iron masters or in humble de-
feat.
The order to strike was generally
obeyed wherever the workers were or
ganized and enrolled in the lodges of
the Amalgamated Association.
The policy of the American Fedora
ton of Labor has not been fully dis
closed yet. ana that fact contributes
another element of uncertainty to the
situation. The action of the executive
board of the mine workers at Indianap-
oils in resolving to support the strike
cheered the Amalgamated men, and
they are confident that the federation
will aid them to the fullest extent
The closing hours of labor lacked
spectacular action. This city, which
is the strike center, was calm and un-
disturbed. There was no violence.
The police issued an order sus pending
for the time being the vacation sys-
TEN. They do not anticipate trouble,
but want to have every man here ready
for duty in case trouble comes. They
say President Shaffer has counselled
peaceful methods, and they hope the
strikers and their sympathizers will
heed his advice.
The strikers held a series of demon.
STATIONS in the outlying towns and
President Shaffer said final word OF
encouragement to his industrial troops
Great throngs of workers turned out
to greet and cheer the leader and
promised to maintain the contest upon
which they have entered. A striking
development of the day was an official
announcement of the American Tin
Plate company to the effect that GER
tain plants crippled by the strike
would be dismantled and removed to
Monessen.
Almost at the same time it was un.
officially announced there was a
chance that the plant of the American
Steel Hoop company at Warren, Ohio
would be torn down and removed to
vicinity more favorable to the cor
poration. The order directing that the
Dewees-Wood plant at McKeesport be
dismantled was already being carried
out and the announcement from the
American Tin Plate company created
marked impression.
Representatives of the strikers in
sisted that the company was not act
ing in good faith in the announcement
and that even if 1t was it would not
win with such methods. Opponents
of the strikers counted the removal Of
the plant another victory. and declared
the strike must fail in the face of sucl
decisive action.
President Shaffer has begun his fina
tour among the strikers, and shortly
before noon reached New Castle. Two
thousand workmen paraded there be
fore his arrival and were lined uI
around the station as he arrived. In
the afternoon he spoke to 5000 people
in the amphitheater at Cascade park
and submitted an offer for the sub
mission Of the issues of the strike to
arbitration. This was his formal ten
der for arbitration:
"Now, in our willingness to settle
the matter we are ready to arbitrate
Let the Amalgamated Association Sc
lect one man and the trust select one
man, the two to select the third. We
will abide by the decision of the three
| wish this TO be generally known"
In his speech, President Shaffer said
the strike was matter of wages and
labor conditions, notwithstanding the
efforts of the opposition to pr ejudice
the labor cause by allegations to the
contrary.
He added: "The trust will not per.
NIT the extension of unionism, because
it states the Amalgamated Association
might become too strong. We can
make our own deductions relative to
the meaning of this expression"
President Shaffer stated that the
newspapers had been criticizing him
because he had not stated whether or
not there would be an effort to call
out the carpenters, railroad men and
all other organizations in an effort
to gain favorable termination of the
strike.
He added: 1--WE don't want a revo.
luton. This is merely a strike.
wish it to be understood that stand
/ for no violence. Our interest will not
permit acts antagonistic to country
and law. We will avoid them If the
trust will permit us. 1t is often asked
of me: Will you win out? The Anal.
gamated Association will win out or
1t will cease to exist. We realize that
wages are at stake and labor condi-
lions are at issue. If our organization
dies, l hope it will not have died in
vain
Gompers Not Loquacious.
Washington, Aug. IL. - President
Gompers and Secretary Morrison of
the American Federation of Labor
have returned from Pittsburg, where
they were in conference with Presi-
dent Shaffer and others in the steel
strike. Mr.. Gompers declined to dis.
cuss the strike situation or plans at
this time.
Il propose to act, not talk" he said.